Skincare solutions for olive complexions

If you fall into the olive skin type category, your warm tones contain characteristics of both pale and darker complexions. The good news? Medium skin tones aren’t as sensitive as fair skins and can tolerate anti-ageing actives better for maximum benefits. Here’s how to maintain a fresh, smooth appearance when you have an olive complexion.

Your biggest skin concerns

More melanin means increased risk of pigmentation, which can become apparent as early as 25. Be careful when dealing with blemishes or scratches, as your skin is accustomed to increasing the production of melanin at the slightest aggravation. “There is also concern over the skin colour itself, which can appear greyish over time,” adds Dr Véronique Delvigne, scientific director at Lancôme.

Skin care treatment tips

Clay-based cleansers and kaolin masks help with oiliness, while hyaluronic acid and oil-free moisturisers keep skin comfortably hydrated. Regular exfoliation stimulates natural cell turnover, just be mindful of your formula. Mechanical or grainy scrubs can be coarse in texture, while chemical exfoliators (such as lactic and glycolic acid) dissolve dead skin cells on the surface. The latter also has replenishing benefits to plump up dehydrated skin and boost radiance. Resurfacing your skin also reduces congestion, which causes breakouts. And don’t forget to slather a daily broad-spectrum SPF—it’s is essential for protecting against premature ageing signs like fine lines and wrinkles, age spots and skin cancers.

Benefits of olive skin types

Pigmented skin’s thicker outer layer offers greater protection against external aggressors, and although the skin may be oilier, “the benefit is a tendency to age at a slower rate than your dry skin counterparts”, says Dr Diana Howard, vice-president of research and development for Dermalogica. If you’ve been diligent with skin health, you can expect to see the first signs of ageing “around the mid to late 20s, firstly with uneven skin tone and then visible fine lines”, she adds.

Olive skin essentials:

Neutrogena Deep Clean Foaming Cleanser, SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector, Dior Prestige Satin Revitalizing Eye Creme