The medium skin tone covers a range of colors, but we generally group them into two; olive skin vs. tan skin.
If you have medium skin like me, you may wonder in which of two groups you fit, tan skin vs. olive skin, because the colors overlap as the seasons change.
But, then, the undertones do not change, and you retain your natural color beneath.
I have come up with a way to distinguish tan vs. olive skin, and I’m excited to share it.
Table of Contents
Is Olive and Tan Skin the Same?
Olive skin and tan skin are not the same, although they are pretty close in the skin color spectrum (1)
Olive skin is light skin with a dark hue, giving it a sort of evening beige color. It has yellow, golden, and green undertones. Some people refer to it as light tanned skin.
In the YouTube video below, makeup guru Tia Obed explains five olive tone skin tests. She also demonstrates the clothes’ colors that go well with the olive skin shade.
Tan skin is pale brown skin with golden undertones. It is lighter than deep skin tones but darker than fair skin and olive skin tones.
Persons with light brown shades like those of the Caribbean and Mediterranean ethnicity skin have this skin tone. The Indian skin tone glow also belongs to this category.
Check out this video of skin tone names.
How to Get a Golden Tan for Olive Skin?
While olive skin is already gorgeous, you may want to deepen that golden touch with some tan. Luckily, olive skin tans easily.
The first way to tan is pretty natural and free – use the sun! Strategic sunbathing should get you that sun-kissed golden glow without skin damage and the skin cancer risk of prolonged UV exposure.
I liked how this Medical News Today article explains how to sun-tan safely. (2)
A fake tan is also a great option, especially if you don’t have time to go out and bask in the sun or the weather is not favorable.
This article on Elle explains that you can get a fake tan and make it last as long as possible, so long as you get the color and application formula right. (3)
Read the article to see the specifications that tanning expert Kirstie Kirkham, the MineTan founder, has for each skin type and color to avoid getting the wrong products for your golden olive undertone.
You may also watch this board-certified dermatologist explaining how you can DIY tan at home and achieve great results.
But, you must also be mindful of the condition of your skin, whether sensitive skin, oily skin, or dry skin, and of your natural complexion.
Also, get some quality sunscreen to protect your skin from sun exposure, increasing your risk for cancer.
FAQs
Does olive skin tan easily?
Is olive skin tone rare?
Why is the skin undertone important?
Failing to balance out and blend your products to your natural skin causes demarcation, differentiating your natural shade with the foundation color.
Conclusion
The debate on olive skin vs. tan skin has always been prominent due to the closeness of color of the two skin tones.
But, you can differentiate between tan skin and olive skin by their undertones and the intensity of the dark hue.
Olive skin is light with a slightly dark shade and yellowish, greenish undertones, while tan skin is darker with warmer undertones.
Do you have olive skin or tan skin? Let us know below!
Resources
- 1. Available from: https://www.sephora.com/contentimages/productpages/pdfs2017/StudioUndertoneFinder_v3.pdf
- 2. How to tan safely: 9 tips to minimize the risks [Internet]. www.medicalnewstoday.com. 2020 [cited 2022 Jun 9]. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-to-tan-safely
- 3. How To Choose The Right Tan For Your Skin Type [Internet]. ELLE. [cited 2022 Jun 9]. Available from: https://www.elle.com.au/beauty/fake-tan-skin-type-19101
- 4. Iwuala C, Taylor SC. Structural and functional differences in skin of colour. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 2021;
