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Foundation Stick 160 dupes and alternatives Essence

Light medium · Cool · rosy undertone

Closest shade match is the equivalent shade, scored on colour, depth and undertone only. Closest overall alternative is the most similar foundation overall, scored on shade match (55%), finish and visual result (25%), wear and performance (15%) and skin suitability (5%).

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Fragrance-free5No drying alcohol6Vegan2Cruelty-free2Oil-free0With SPF0Mineral2

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Only showing matches made for normal skin, with medium coverage, without silicones.

Closest shade match: Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Waterproof Foundation 2C2 Soft Sand

The equivalent shade: scored on colour, depth and undertone only.

Your shade
Essence
160Change shade
Depth and undertone: Light medium · Cool · rosy
Finish and coverage: Matte · Medium coverage
The match
Laura Mercier
2C2 Soft Sand
Depth and undertone: Light medium · Cool
Finish and coverage: Natural · Medium coverage
Shade match
95out of 100
Colour
93
Depth
97
Undertone
100
Medium confidence· Digital matchWhy it matches
Best price
$54SephoraSephora
Costs $47.01 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty

SephoraView at Sephora

Closest overall alternative: Ulta Beauty Collection Velvet Veil Minerals Powder Foundation Medium Neutral

The most similar foundation overall: shade match 55%, finish and visual result 25%, wear and performance 15%, skin suitability 5%.

Your shade
Essence
160Change shade
Depth and undertone: Light medium · Cool · rosy
Finish and coverage: Matte · Medium coverage
The match
Ulta Beauty Collection
Medium Neutral
Depth and undertone: Light medium · Neutral
Finish and coverage: Matte · Medium coverage
Overall match
85out of 100
Shade (Shade match)
88
Finish (Finish & visual result)
100
Wear (Wear & performance)
40
Skin (Skin suitability)
100
Medium confidence· Digital matchWhy it matches
Best price
$16Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $9.01 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty

Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty

More matches

Show
Overall alternativesShade matchesRanked by the overall match: the most similar foundation on shade, finish, wear and skin suitability together. Each row leads with its overall match; the shade match is beneath it.

Ranked by the overall match: the most similar foundation on shade, finish, wear and skin suitability together. Each row leads with its overall match; the shade match is beneath it.

  1. #3 · Dior

    Forever Hydra Nude Foundation

    2CR Cool Rosy
    Shade match 91
    $60Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty(product price)Costs $53.01 more

    Matches: Very close colourSame cool undertoneSame medium coverage

    Differences: Slightly deeperNatural rather than matte finishContains listed fragrance

    Score details
    Shade match
    91
    Finish & visual result
    76
    Wear & performance
    40
    Skin suitability
    100

    Very close colour · Natural · Medium coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 4% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Slightly deeper · Natural rather than matte finish · Contains listed fragrance

    Retailer shade note: light skin with pink undertones

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match
  2. #4 · Smashbox

    Dual Filter 2-In-1 Longwearing Concealer + Foundation

    Light Medium 12 Cool
    Shade match 94
    $41Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty(product price)Costs $34.01 more

    Matches: Very close colourSame cool undertoneSame medium coverage

    Differences: Natural rather than matte finish

    Score details
    Shade match
    94
    Finish & visual result
    64
    Wear & performance
    40
    Skin suitability
    100

    Very close colour · Natural · Medium coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 8% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Natural rather than matte finish

    Retailer shade note: light medium cool

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match
  3. #5 · about-face

    THE PERFORMER Skin-Focused Foundation

    LM1COOL
    Shade match 94
    $25Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty(product price)Costs $18.01 more

    Matches: Very close colourSame cool undertoneSame medium coverage

    Differences: Natural rather than matte finishNot marketed for sensitive skin

    Score details
    Shade match
    94
    Finish & visual result
    68
    Wear & performance
    40
    Skin suitability
    80

    Very close colour · Natural · Medium coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 4% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Natural rather than matte finish · Not marketed for sensitive skin

    Retailer shade note: light medium with cool pink undertones

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match
  4. #6 · Ulta Beauty Collection

    Velvet Veil Minerals Powder Foundation

    Medium to Tan Warm
    Shade match 73
    $16Ulta BeautyUlta BeautyCosts $9.01 more

    Matches: Very close colourSame matte finishSame medium coverage

    Differences: Slightly warmer undertone

    Score details
    Shade match
    73
    Finish & visual result
    100
    Wear & performance
    40
    Skin suitability
    100

    Very close colour · Matte · Medium coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 2% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Slightly warmer undertone

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match

Looking for a concealer in your shade?

The closest shade to Essence Foundation Stick 160 (Light medium · Cool · rosy undertone) in each concealer range, compared on measured colour, depth and undertone. Price never changes the order.

Closest concealers

  1. IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Water-Resistant Concealer

    30.5 Tan

    IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Water-Resistant Concealer, shade 30.5 Tan

    • Very close colour
    • Light · Cool undertone

    $30

    Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty
  2. Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Full Coverage Longwear Concealer

    Silk 2.5

    Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Full Coverage Longwear Concealer, shade Silk 2.5

    • Very close colour
    • Light medium · Cool · pink undertone

    $39

    SephoraView at Sephora
  3. Dior Forever Skin Correct Full-Coverage Concealer

    3 Cool Rosy

    Dior Forever Skin Correct Full-Coverage Concealer, shade 3 Cool Rosy

    • Very close colour
    • Light medium · Cool · rosy undertone

    $42

    SephoraView at Sephora
  4. Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer

    Tone 3.6

    Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer, shade Tone 3.6

    • Close colour
    • Light · Cool · pink undertone

    $17

    SephoraView at Sephora
  5. Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Multi-Use Concealer

    Taffy

    Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Multi-Use Concealer, shade Taffy

    • Close colour
    • Light · Cool · rosy undertone

    $36

    SephoraView at Sephora
  6. L'Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer

    370 Biscuit

    L'Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer, shade 370 Biscuit

    • Very close colour
    • Light medium

    $15.99

    Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty

Concealer shade colours are sampled from retailer swatch images, so check the shade on the retailer page before buying.

Why the closest shade match works

Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Waterproof Foundation in 2C2 Soft Sand, against Essence Foundation Stick in 160. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shade160Closest shade match2C2 Soft SandScore
Shade match55% of overall95
Colour93#e0af98#e5b19dVery close colourColour difference 1.8 (0 is identical)
Depth97Light mediumLight mediumSameDepth difference: 1.6
Retailer descriptionLight mediumLightSome differenceRetailer descriptions one depth band apart
Undertone100Cool · rosyCoolClosefrom retailer shade descriptions
Finish & visual result25% of overall · 3 of 4 compared70
Finish56MatteNaturalSome differenceNatural finish rather than matte
Coverage100MediumMediumSameSame medium coverage
Skin-like finishnot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists a skin-like finish
Blurring40Not listedClaimedSome differenceThe match claims a blurring or smoothing effect; your product does not list it
Wear & performance15% of overall · 4 of 5 compared40
Longevity40Not listed12-hour wearSome differenceThe match claims long wear; your product does not list it
Transfer resistancenot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists transfer resistance
Settling40Not listedClaimedSome differenceThe match claims not settling into pores or fine lines; your product does not list it
Colour stability40Not listedClaimedSome differenceThe match claims colour stability (no oxidation); your product does not list it
Comfort40Not listedClaimedSome differenceThe match claims a comfortable, lightweight feel; your product does not list it
Skin suitability5% of overall100
Skin type100Combination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveCombination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveBoth marketed for combination/​dry/​normal/​oily/​sensitive skin
Overall match 81/100Shade match 95/100Medium confidence· Digital match

Weights are each part's share of the overall match and each attribute's share of its part; an attribute neither product lists is not comparable and its weight goes to the others in its part. Confidence reflects data quality, not similarity. Price and ingredients are not part of either score.

How scoring works

If you switch

To Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Waterproof Foundation in 2C2 Soft Sand.

Same or better

  • Very close colour
  • Same cool undertone
  • Same medium coverage
  • Claims a blurring effect
  • Claims 12-hour wear
  • Claims not settling into lines
  • Claims colour stability
  • Claims a lightweight feel

Different

  • Natural finish instead of matte

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

3 shared ingredients; weighted similarity 5%. Ingredients only affect results through the filters.

AttributeYour shadeClosest shade match
Basemoderate siliconeno silicone
FragranceNot listedNot listed
Drying alcoholNot listedNot listed
SPFNot listedNot listed
OverlapBoth unknown-based; silicone moderate vs none
View full match

Why the closest overall alternative works

Ulta Beauty Collection Velvet Veil Minerals Powder Foundation in Medium Neutral, against Essence Foundation Stick in 160. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shade160Closest overall alternativeMedium NeutralScore
Shade match55% of overall88
Colour96#e0af98#dbab95Looks identicalColour difference 1.2 (0 is identical)
Depth96Light mediumLight mediumSameDepth difference: 2.2
Retailer descriptionLight mediumNot statedNo depth word in one descriptionNot compared
Undertone65Cool · rosyNeutralSome differencefrom retailer shade descriptions
Finish & visual result25% of overall · 2 of 4 compared100
Finish100MatteMatteSameSame matte finish
Coverage100MediumMediumSameSame medium coverage
Skin-like finishnot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists a skin-like finish
Blurringnot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists a blurring or smoothing effect
Wear & performance15% of overall · 1 of 5 compared40
Longevitynot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists long wear
Transfer resistancenot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists transfer resistance
Settlingnot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists not settling into pores or fine lines
Colour stabilitynot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists colour stability (no oxidation)
Comfort40Not listedClaimedSome differenceThe match claims a comfortable, lightweight feel; your product does not list it
Skin suitability5% of overall100
Skin type100Combination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveCombination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveBoth marketed for combination/​dry/​normal/​oily/​sensitive skin
Overall match 85/100Shade match 88/100Medium confidence· Digital match

Weights are each part's share of the overall match and each attribute's share of its part; an attribute neither product lists is not comparable and its weight goes to the others in its part. Confidence reflects data quality, not similarity. Price and ingredients are not part of either score.

How scoring works

If you switch

To Ulta Beauty Collection Velvet Veil Minerals Powder Foundation in Medium Neutral.

Same or better

  • Near-identical swatch colour
  • Same matte finish
  • Same medium coverage
  • Claims a lightweight feel

Different

  • Neutral rather than cool undertone

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

1 shared ingredient; weighted similarity 2%. Ingredients only affect results through the filters.

AttributeYour shadeClosest overall alternative
Basemoderate siliconePowder-based, no silicone
FragranceNot listedNot listed
Drying alcoholNot listedNot listed
SPFNot listedNot listed
OverlapUnknown-based vs powder-based; silicone moderate vs none
View full match

Where to buy

Closest shade match

Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Waterproof Foundation 2C2 Soft Sand

Best price
$54SephoraSephora
Costs $47.01 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty

SephoraView at Sephora

Closest overall alternative

Ulta Beauty Collection Velvet Veil Minerals Powder Foundation Medium Neutral

Best price
$16Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $9.01 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty

Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty

How these matches are scored

31 similar shades scored two ways: the shade match on colour, depth and undertone; the overall match on shade match, finish and visual result, wear and performance and skin suitability. Ingredients are shown for information and used by the filters only. Prices are shown next to every match and never change a score. How scoring and confidence work.

Shade colours are sampled from Beautler’s processing of retailer swatch images and are a digital approximation. Prices and stock were last checked when the product was imported; the retailer page is the source of truth.