I’ve used Oliveda skincare for months, so I was excited to try their makeup – Olive Rose Skin Tint. Since their skincare totally transformed my skin (read my Oliveda review here), I was thrilled when I heard they were launching makeup. If you’re not familiar with Oliveda, the brand is known for being waterless. Instead, they use extracts from the olive tree (hydroxytyrosol) in all of their skincare products, making them highly effective and bioactive. It only took a week or two to notice the overall glow in my skin after switching to Oliveda skincare, so I was excited about any makeup they’d roll out.
Oliveda’s first-ever makeup product was just released under the new Olive Rose makeup line: the Serum Hydroxytyrosol Skin Tint. In this post, I’m sharing my full review of the Serum Hydroxytyrosol Skin Tint, why I like it (and what I don’t like), how to find your shade, and a few tips to get the most even application.
Olive Rose Serum Skin Tint is Oliveda’s brand-new tinted base. It’s a true “no-makeup-makeup”. It’s like a tinted moisturizer but even lighter weight. It gives you a flawless complexion while still hydrating and protecting your skin – all the benefits of Oliveda skincare but in a sheer base.
If you love taking care of your skin and prefer a natural, “no-makeup” effortless beauty look, this is the product for you. It’s the ideal base for a minimalist makeup routine. It’s perfect for:
If you’re a fan of the Giorgio Armani Luminus Silk foundation, you will LOVE this. Olive Rose is strikingly similar in both feel and coverage, but it’s made with clean ingredients and smells better.
The key ingredients in the Serum Skin Tint are hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein (both from the olive tree), and hyaluronic acid.
Hydroxytyrosol is a superpowerful antioxidant and the key ingredient in all Oliveda products. It protects the skin from free radicals and environmental and UV-induced damage, and it also helps reduce wrinkles, enhance firmness, and improve skin elasticity. It’s the best ingredient you could ever put in skin care, and having it in your makeup base is next-level.
Oleuropein is another antioxidant found in olive tree extract. It has anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties, and it’s especially great for sensitive or irritated skin. It has calming and nourishing properties, which is common in skincare but not often in makeup, so this is a major plus.
Hyaluronic acid is the “great hydrator”. It helps the skin retain moisture throughout the day, which is great for preventing makeup from settling into lines and wrinkles. I particularly love this as someone with super dry skin because it gives me a fresh, dewy appearance. Lots of tinted bases dry out my skin, but this does not, even by the end of the day!
The Olive Rose Serum Skin Tint is VERY lightweight. If you don’t like the look of makeup, this is for you, since it’s like your skin but better. It evens skin and makes it glow, but it has even less coverage than tinted moisturizer. (If you like a little more coverage — but still not a true foundation — you’d likely prefer Crunchi’s tinted SPF.)
I imagine I’ll like this even more in the summer (I prefer slightly more coverage in the winter, so I typically go for an ILIA foundation for medium coverage or the Crunchi foundation if I want full coverage).
It actually smells fresh, even with no fragrance added. A nice change from the ILIA Serum Skin Tint that smells like dog food. (It has a similar texture and coverage if you are familiar with that product! I have a full review of all Ilia foundations here.)
No matter what coverage I use, my skin always feels dry by the afternoon, but the Olive Rose Skin Tint keeps my skin hydrated all day without feeling heavy or greasy. If you don’t struggle with dry skin, you could even skip your moisturizer when applying this.
The Serum Skin Tint uses clean ingredients with no added fragrance, parabens, alcohol, or silicones. There are 18 shades, so there’s a very good chance you’ll have a perfect color match. The best way to find your shade is with the Olive Rose Shade Finder. I am shade 04, and I’m debating going up a shade! If you’re on the fence, go up in a shade.
This isn’t necessarily something not to love, but it’s worth noting. The Olive Rose Serum Skin Tint has to be shaken VERY, VERY well before applying, and it can be hard to apply since it’s so drippy. Since it’s made without silicone, some separation is expected but it doesn’t impact performance.
The coverage may also be a con, depending on your personal preference. It feels more like tinted skincare than makeup – but that’s the point. If you like more coverage, I recommend Crunchi’s tinted SPF. It has more coverage while still providing the hydration and “no makeup” feel. (I have a full review of Crunchi makeup here.)
This doesn’t contain SPF, so I still have to layer one over it (this ONE SKIN Face SPF is my favorite non-toxic face sunscreen). It does have ingredients that provide some protective properties, but it is not a true SPF with zinc oxide, for example.
Olive Rose has a shade finder that takes you through a quiz to determine your perfect shade from their 18 options. Use the Olive Rose Shade Finder here.
Here are some tips for applying the Serum Hydroxytyrosol Skin Tint:
Shake the bottle thoroughly before use. Since Olive Rose Skin Tint is made without silicone, some separation is natural and expected.
Squeeze the dropper to collect the freshly mixed pigment and release about half a pipette into your palm or onto a beauty sponge.
Gently smooth the product onto clean skin like a serum using your fingers or a beauty sponge. Blend evenly for natural finish. If you want more coverage, simply layer the product in the desired areas. (You can also follow with a concealer. This non-toxic Crunchi concealer is a great option.)
Pro-tip: Since Olive Rose Skin Tint is already highly hydrating, you can skip your moisturizer before applying it, but it’s also fine to layer over a moisturizer like I do.
More makeup is coming to the Olive Rose makeup line; the Serum Hydroxytyrosol Skin Tint is just the beginning. Next up is a blush road, which looks like it may be similar to the Jones Road Miracle Balm, which has a cult following (for good reason—it’s great).
Oliveda has been a skincare powerhouse for years, and I am sure their makeup line will be the same. The idea is to become the go-to brand for those who believe makeup should enhance, not overwhelm.
Olive Rose started as a personal and family-inspired journey. Magda, who is the daughter of the Olive Tree People founder, Thomas Lommel, grew up on Mallorca, where her father introduced her to hydroxytyrosol through a black olive mask.
As a teenager, Magda struggled with skin issues and realized many cosmetics were water-based and had harmful ingredients. Magda called the line Olive Rose after her middle names.
Take the Olive Rose Shade Finder quiz here.
Like ALL Oliveda products, there is free shipping and a 365-day return policy.
If you’re interested in more Oliveda reviews, read the below:
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2 responses to “Olive Rose Review (makeup for those who hate makeup)”
Is this product sold in any stores in California? Can I be mailed a couple of samples to see what shade best fits me?
They are opening their first store near LA later this year! They don’t have samples but they do have a 365 day return policy and the Olive Rose is very forgiving so it’s hard to go wrong. 🙂