Olive skin

[Selene]

I'm curious to know what the undertone of olive skin is, because I'm having trouble finding a face products (i.e. stuff like foundation, powder, and concealer) in exactly the right shade. Pink based colors don't match, and the yellow based colors I have tried so far look too orange. The only thing that matched my skin perfectly was MAC Studio Stick foundation in NC35, but I can't use it because I'm allergic to it. :-( I have tried other MAC formulations in NC35 and nearby shades, but they are just not the same on me, even though they are supposed to be the same color.

Does olive skin actually have green undertones, or is that just an expression, not to be taken literally? In general, how is it qualitatively different from most east asian skintones? My mother's side of the family is from east asia, and I notice that their skintones appear different from my relatives on my father's side of the family, who have olive skin, and who I seem to take after more when it comes to skin tone. I can't pinpoint exactly what the difference is, though.

Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[ette]

Olive skin is yellow/green/grey undertones. I have a yellow-olive complexion and I find that the "C" tones in MAC work really well for me. I mix C25 and C40 and its my perfect match.
The difference between yellow and olive skin is that yellow may apper more "milky" while olive skin is more "white". If you are olive, you tan easily, and brown, when yellow undertones tan you can still see the yellow undertone of their skin. For bronzer I love NARS Casino, or Laguna when I get tanner, and warm shades like golden olive, jewel purple or cream look best for clothes. I have light olive/yellow skin. HTH.