Olive and tan skin (Mediterranean, North African, South Asian, light mixed-heritage) almost always has a golden or olive undertone and a T-zone that shines. It's made up with a golden or neutral foundation (never pink), a tinted powder, a peach or coral blush, a golden highlighter and brick or warm nude lips. Pale pinks and silver shimmer grey it. Here's the complete guide.
This article is part of our complete guide to makeup for Black and Brown skin, designed for skin from light to deep.
Olive and tan skin: golden or olive undertone, almost always
Against white fabric, olive skin looks golden (warm undertone) or greenish (olive). Rarely pink. That's why the "beige" foundations of classic beauty aisles, built on a pink base, make it dull: the depth is right, the undertone is wrong. Three-minute test: Know your undertone.
The complexion
- Foundation: golden or neutral, velvet finish (the T-zone shines), tested on the jawline in daylight. At NEW BLACK, olive and tan skin often finds itself in Trois-Îlets or Santa Maria. Guide: Foundation for Black skin.
- Concealer: peach under the eyes (the under-eye circles of olive skin lean green or brown), never light.
- Powder: tinted, T-zone. A translucent powder greys olive skin. Guide: Powder for Black skin.
- Summer: a neighbouring deeper shade or a mix.
Blush
Peach, coral, apricot, golden brick. Pale pink disappears; fuchsia can work on a cool undertone, which is rare. Placed high on the cheekbone, blended towards the temple. Fleur Corail is the NEW BLACK shade for olive skin. Guide: Blush for Black skin: which colour.
Light
Light gold or golden champagne highlighter; never silver or cool pink. Tops of the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, inner corner of the eye. Constellation (luminous gold) or Éclipse (warm gold).
Eyes
Copper, bronze, terracotta, khaki, plum: the brown eyes of olive skin stand out with warm tones and contrasts. Dark brown brows, never black. Details: Eye makeup for brown eyes on olive and Black skin.
Lips
Caramel or brown-peach nude every day, brick, terracotta or burgundy in the evening. Sheer or caramel gloss for light. Candy pinks go grey. Guide: Lip gloss for Black skin: which colour.
The typical mistakes on olive skin
- A pink "beige" foundation: dull complexion.
- A foundation too golden on an olive undertone: orange.
- Translucent powder.
- Pale pink blush.
- Silver highlighter.
- Black on the brows.
What NEW BLACK does
NEW BLACK is a French makeup house designed in Paris for Black and Brown skin tones, from light to deep: olive and tan skin finds golden and neutral shades here without a pink base. No-transfer fluid foundation (Trois-Îlets, Santa Maria), matching compact powder, Fleur Corail blush, Constellation highlighter, Datte gloss.
Frequently asked questions
What foundation for olive skin?
A golden or neutral foundation, never pink, velvet finish, tested on the jawline in daylight.
What colour blush for olive skin?
Peach, coral, apricot or golden brick. No pale pink.
Which highlighter for tan skin?
Light gold or golden champagne, in touches on the high points. No silver.
Olive skin and the grey cast: why?
Most often a pink-based foundation on a golden or olive undertone, or a translucent powder. Correct the undertone and switch to a tinted powder.
What lipstick colours on olive skin?
Brick, terracotta, burgundy, caramel; pale pinks dull the face.
Written by the NEW BLACK editorial team · Reviewed by Charlotte Mambo, NEW BLACK makeup artist · Updated 9 September 2026
