What is your skin tone? Maybe you have olive skin, and you don't have an idea! Well, below are a few things to note and understand about this cute skin tone.
What is Olive Skin Tone?
While we are all aware of the basic skin colors, olive skin tone is still a mystery to many. There is so much to learn about skin tones to help us make skincare choices.
The majority of us only know about the fair, white, black, and brown skin colors. Others don't even have an idea that olive skin color exists as it remains a mystery skin type.
Our skin's complexion mainly depends on the undertone of your skin. This means for one to have an olive skin tone, there is a blend of neutral undertones with a green-tinted skin pigment that gives that olive tint to your skin.
Most people think that they can achieve this skin tone by bathing in the sun or using tanning products, but that's not the case. You just don't get an olive skin tone; you have to be born with it. This is a natural skin tone shared by different ethnicities across the globe. It is a common skin tone for people from Latin America, parts of Asia, and the Mediterranean.
It is easy for one to confuse between golden tanned skin and olive-toned skin and, therefore, ensure that you understand the different types of olive skin tone and how you can take good care of it.
The Different Types of Olive Skin Tone using Fitzpatrick Scale
Olive is the color of the skin that ranges from beige and moderate brown hues, but the green skin pigment that is evident on the skin surface is the most recognizable characteristic. In Type III, IV & V, the olive skin tone falls on the Fitzpatrick Scale, and the undertones have shades of red, yellow, and gold.
The Fitzpatrick Scale is a numerical catalog used to range from the lightest complexion to the darkest skin color. Since olive is a neutral color, the center of this scale falls. But the olive-colored skin itself comes in three distinct colors, which are located on the scales of types III to V.
Have you ever tried to match foundation or concealer to your skin and noticed how tricky it could be? Below is a detailed description of each type of olive skin tone
Type III Pigmentation
This skin type is characterized by pink to medium beige skin that tans easily.
People with type III pigmentation have a unique balance between the two different types of melanin, Eumelanin, and pheomelanin that determine the skin and hair color. This balance results in a wide variety of potential skin tones.
Type III pigmentation is a skin type that is less likely to burn to sun exposure than types I and II. And even though this type of skin tone is moderately at the risk of developing sun exposure-related diseases, it is important to still protect yourself from the sun.
Type III skin tone is frequently found in Latin America, The Mediterranean, and parts of Asia.
Type IV Pigmentation
Fitzpatrick skin type IV is for people with dark hair and a skin tone ranging from beige to moderate brown.
This type of skin rarely burns and tans easily, thus making their risk of developing skin cancer less than skin type I to III. Skin IV olive tone is prone to an overactive production of melanin following certain skin rejuvenation procedures.
The skin tone is typical among people from the Mediterranean but is also frequent in Latin America and Asia.
Type V Pigmentation
People with type V pigmentation have skin tones that range from olive to tan. The skin does not burn easily and tans rather easily.
They are prone to developing skin cancer, but the risk is lower when compared to people with skin type 1 to 3. Skin type V has an olive or dark skin tone. It is typical among people from the Indian subcontinent, parts of Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean.
Where does the Olive Skin Tone come from- Olive Skin Tone Ethnicity
We all know to which area we assign both the black and the white skin, but this can be different for the olive skin tone. The black skin tone is assigned mostly for people in Africa, while the white and fair skin is for people in Northeast Asia and Europe.
So, where did this skin tone originate from? Ethnicities carrying the olive skin tone are scattered among different regions across the globe. These regions include;
The Mediterranean
The Mediterranean constitutes the Mediterranean Basin that covers three continents Asia, Europe, and Africa.
People find in these regions are characterized by short to medium height, dark hair, and skin tone that ranges from cream to olive and dark brown.
Middle East
Ethnicities of the Middle East with an olive skin tone include Syria, Egypt, Yemen, Kuwait, and UAE.
Apart from people with an olive skin tone, you will also find other skin types in these areas like fair, brown, and even black.
Latin America
In Latin America, there are different skin types compared to other regions because different ethnic groups have migrated to this region.
Latin American countries where you will find people with olive skin tone include Paraguay, Colombia, Argentina, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Mexico.
Indian Subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent consists of people from areas like Pakistan, India, Srilanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
The Indians and Pakistan precisely share the olive skin tone of Type III and IV, while the olive-skinned individuals in Bangladesh and Srilanka fall on the Fitzpatrick scale of Type V.
How do you tell you to have an Olive Skin Tone?
There is no fixed way or rule in which a person can determine the unique olive skin type because different levels of melanin can give different skin colors.
Even though there are numerous shades of different skin types, you cannot get the olive skin type artificially; you have to be born with it. With this skin type, it is important to understand the type of skincare routine and what type of makeup you should use.
It is easy for one to confuse between the golden tanned skin and the olive-toned skin. The difference is the green tinge that is only present in olive skin tones. In the beauty world, there are plenty of misconceptions that olive skin is tan or caramel, but that is not valid. Olive skin is different from the other types of skin.
So, how can you determine if you have an olive skin tone?
- There is a green tinge to your skin.
- Your veins cannot be specifically viewed as green or blue.
- You tan more easily than people with fair skin.
- Foundations often look too orange, pink, or yellow on your skin, even if it is the right shade.
- Light shades of lipstick look bland on you, while the red ones appear magenta or pinkish on your lips.
- You look good in both silver and gold jewelry.
- The wrong colors make you look ashy or sickly.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Olive Skin Tone?
Just like the black, fair, or white skin tones have pros and cons, olive skin tone is no exception. It comes with specific advantages and disadvantages like other skin colors.
Advantages
- One of the main advantages of the olive skin tone is that it's not sensitive to sun radiations as compared to type 1 and 2 skin types. The reason is because of the production of melanin, a natural pigment that gives skin its color. It also absorbs UV radiation, thus protecting your skin from the harmful sun rays.
- Olive skin tends to be oily, and this protects the skin from harsh elements of the environment like dryness and wrinkles. The oiliness also helps the skin to appear more thick, smooth and gives a glowing and youthful appearance.
- Another advantage is that you have the freedom to select any jewelry and dress color to wear, provided it suits your skin color complexion.
Disadvantages
- Oily skin can be good and also bad because too much of it clogs up the pores, thus resulting in pimples and acne. This particularly affects the adolescent during their hormonal changes.
- And even though melanin protects the skin from the harmful sun rays, it doesn't leave the skin immune from damage caused by prolonged sun exposure.
- Once the skin is affected even by the slightest irritation, the skin tends to produce more melanin, putting it at risk of discoloration or getting blemishes.
- Due to the thicker dermis and subcutis of olive skin, these fat layers give the appearance of jowls among older people.
- Now that you have understood the advantages and disadvantages of having olive skin type, let's discuss ways of taking good care of it.
Recommended Skin Care Tips for Olive Skin Tone
How should I take care of my skin if I have an olive complexion? If this is a question that is constantly running on your mind, then you are in the right place.
If you belong to one of those ethnicities that have olive skin tone, then it is crucial to understand how to take care of your complexion as well as enjoy the benefits associates with that skin type. Below are some of the recommended tips to help you maintain the beauty of your skin;
- Face cleansing
At night, when going to bed, ensure that you use a foaming cleanser to remove the excess sebum and makeup.
In the morning, use a gentle cleanser to remove any residue left from the product applied during bedtime. Using cleansers help remove excess oil from your skin without causing it to dry out.
To cleanse your skin thoroughly, use a cleanser containing salicylic acid as it helps to eliminate dead skin and keep your pores clear.
- Get rid of unwanted facial hair and correct dark spot.
The trick to gently exfoliating is by sloughing away dead skin. Use a mild depilatory cream to get rid of unwanted facial hair as well as correct the dark spots.
To exfoliate, you need to apply the cream after your skin cleansing routine. Be careful as some methods are not gentle and might end up bruising or causing acne on your skin.
In case you have dark spots, the best skincare routine is to ensure that your skin is properly cleansed, exfoliated, and apply a dark spot serum to correct and fade the dark spots.
- Apply moisturizer
Taking a look at any skin routine for any skin tone, you will note that daily moisturizing is a must. To keep your olive skin glowing, you need to apply moisturizers that leave your skin feeling smooth and hydrated.
Apply a light, oil-free broad-spectrum moisturizer after washing in the morning to minimize skin dryness. Apply retinol and niacinamide-containing moisturizer at night to speed up skin surface cell turnover when you are sleeping.
Frequently Asked Question
- What countries have olive skin?
People with olive skin may come from countries like the Mediterranean, including Italy, the South of France, Spain, or Turkey, Mid-European countries like Belgium, Latvia, Estonia, or Germany, and Scandinavian countries like Russia, Finland, and Norway.
2. What undertone does olive skin have?
If you have an olive skin tone, then you might find your color in the three undertones.
Olive skin has cool, natural, and warm undertones with a green or yellow tinge. The green undertone is considered unique to olive skin only.
Conclusion
If you have olive skin tone, you are lucky because your skin is not that sensitive to the sun and tans easily and nicely. Even though your skin is less sensitive, you still need to apply sunscreen to avoid skin damage.
Understanding your skin undertone will help you select the right colors to wear and also help you select the right makeup.
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