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Foundation Stick 203 dupes and alternatives Essence

Tan · Cool 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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Coverage

Finish

Formulation

Skin type

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Fragrance-free5No drying alcohol5Vegan0Cruelty-free0Oil-free0With SPF, applied. RemoveMineral0

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Only showing matches with SPF, without talc.

  • 25 matches have no SPF listed and are not shown.

Closest shade match: Estée Lauder Futurist Skin Tint Serum Foundation SPF 20 4C3 Softan

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

Your shade
Essence
203Change shade
Depth and undertone: Tan · Cool
Finish and coverage: Matte · Medium coverage
The match
Estée Lauder
4C3 Softan
Depth and undertone: Tan · Cool · rosy
Finish and coverage: Radiant · Light coverage
Shade match
96out of 100
Colour
94
Depth
97
Undertone
100
Medium confidence· Digital matchWhy it matches
Match price
$55Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $48.01 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty · product price; shade not separately priced

Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty

Closest overall alternative: BLK/OPL TRUE COLOR Mineral Matte Crème Powder Foundation SPF 15 Kalahari Sand

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

Your shade
Essence
203Change shade
Depth and undertone: Tan · Cool
Finish and coverage: Matte · Medium coverage
The match
BLK/OPL
Kalahari Sand
Depth and undertone: Tan
Finish and coverage: Matte · Full coverage
Overall match
79out of 100
Shade (Shade match)
85
Finish (Finish & visual result)
91
Wear (Wear & performance)
50
Skin (Skin suitability)
40
Medium confidence· Digital matchWhy it matches
Best price
$14.95Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $7.96 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 · BLK/OPL

    TRUE COLOR Mineral Matte Crème Powder Foundation SPF 15

    Heavenly Honey
    Shade match 77
    $14.95Ulta BeautyUlta BeautyCosts $7.96 more

    Matches: Very close colourSame matte finishAdds SPF 15

    Differences: Slightly warmer undertoneFull rather than medium coverageNot marketed for combination/oily/sensitive skin

    Score details
    Shade match
    77
    Finish & visual result
    91
    Wear & performance
    50
    Skin suitability
    40

    Very close colour · Matte · Full coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 6% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Slightly warmer undertone · Full rather than medium coverage · Not marketed for combination/oily/sensitive skin

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match
  2. #4 · BLK/OPL

    TRUE COLOR Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15

    Heavenly Honey
    Shade match 77
    $14.50Ulta BeautyUlta BeautyCosts $7.51 more

    Matches: Very close colourSame matte finishClaims a blurring effect

    Differences: Slightly warmer undertoneFull rather than medium coverage

    Score details
    Shade match
    77
    Finish & visual result
    81
    Wear & performance
    40
    Skin suitability
    100

    Very close colour · Matte · Full coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 8% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Slightly warmer undertone · Full rather than medium coverage

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match
  3. #5 · BLK/OPL

    TRUE COLOR Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15

    Yes Honey
    Shade match 76
    $14.50Ulta BeautyUlta BeautyCosts $7.51 more

    Matches: Very close colourSame matte finishClaims a blurring effect

    Differences: Slightly warmer undertoneFull rather than medium coverage

    Score details
    Shade match
    76
    Finish & visual result
    81
    Wear & performance
    40
    Skin suitability
    100

    Very close colour · Matte · Full coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 8% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Slightly warmer undertone · Full rather than medium coverage

    Retailer shade note: medium shade with warm undertones

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match

Looking for a concealer in your shade?

The closest shade to Essence Foundation Stick 203 (Tan · Cool undertone) in each concealer range, compared on measured colour, depth and undertone. Price never changes the order.

Closest concealers

  1. Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer

    440C

    Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer, shade 440C

    • Very close colour
    • Tan · Neutral · neutral pink undertone

    $24

    SephoraView at Sephora
  2. L'Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer

    W9.5

    L'Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer, shade W9.5

    • Very close colour
    • Tan · Cool undertone

    $16.99

    Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty
  3. IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Water-Resistant Concealer

    40.5 Deep

    IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Water-Resistant Concealer, shade 40.5 Deep

    • Close colour
    • Tan · Cool undertone

    $30

    SephoraView at Sephora
  4. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

    Hazelnut

    NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, shade Hazelnut

    • Close colour
    • Tan · Cool undertone

    $36

    SephoraView at Sephora
  5. Maybelline Fit Me Natural Finish Concealer

    050 Café

    Maybelline Fit Me Natural Finish Concealer, shade 050 Café

    • Very close colour
    • Tan

    $10.99

    Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty
  6. Revlon ColorStay Skin Awaken Concealer

    Cinnamon

    Revlon ColorStay Skin Awaken Concealer, shade Cinnamon

    • Very close colour
    • Tan

    $14.99

    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

Estée Lauder Futurist Skin Tint Serum Foundation SPF 20 in 4C3 Softan, against Essence Foundation Stick in 203. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shade203Closest shade match4C3 SoftanScore
Shade match55% of overall96
Colour94#af7854#ae744dVery close colourColour difference 1.6 (0 is identical)
Depth97TanTanSameDepth difference: 1.7
Retailer descriptionMediumMedium tanSome differenceRetailer descriptions one depth band apart
Undertone100CoolCool · rosyClosefrom retailer shade descriptions
Finish & visual result25% of overall · 2 of 4 compared43
Finish12MatteRadiantDifferentRadiant finish rather than matte
Coverage80MediumLightCloseLight coverage rather than medium (buildable: one step of tolerance)
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 · 3 of 5 compared40
Longevity40Not listed8-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
Comfortnot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists a comfortable, lightweight feel
Skin suitability5% of overall40
Skin type40Combination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveNormal, combinationBoth marketed for combination/​normal skin
Overall match 72/100Shade match 96/100Medium 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 Estée Lauder Futurist Skin Tint Serum Foundation SPF 20 in 4C3 Softan.

Same or better

  • Very close colour
  • Same cool undertone
  • Light rather than medium coverage
  • Claims 8-hour wear
  • Claims not settling into lines
  • Claims colour stability
  • Adds SPF 20

Different

  • Radiant finish instead of matte
  • Not marketed for dry/oily/sensitive skin

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

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

AttributeYour shadeClosest shade match
Basemoderate siliconeOil-based, no silicone
FragranceNot listedNot listed
Drying alcoholNot listedNot listed
SPFNot listedSPF 20
OverlapUnknown-based vs oil-based; silicone moderate vs none
View full match

Why the closest overall alternative works

BLK/OPL TRUE COLOR Mineral Matte Crème Powder Foundation SPF 15 in Kalahari Sand, against Essence Foundation Stick in 203. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shade203Closest overall alternativeKalahari SandScore
Shade match55% of overall85
Colour89#af7854#b57f59Very close colourColour difference 2.5 (0 is identical)
Depth93TanTanSameDepth difference: 3.6
Retailer descriptionMediumNot statedNo depth word in one descriptionNot compared
Undertone70CoolUnknownSome differencefrom retailer shade descriptions
Finish & visual result25% of overall · 2 of 4 compared91
Finish100MatteMatteSameSame matte finish
Coverage80MediumFullCloseFull coverage rather than medium (buildable: one step of tolerance)
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 · none of 5 comparable50
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)
Comfortnot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists a comfortable, lightweight feel
Skin suitability5% of overall40
Skin type40Combination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveDry, normalBoth marketed for dry/​normal skin
Overall match 79/100Shade match 85/100Medium 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 BLK/OPL TRUE COLOR Mineral Matte Crème Powder Foundation SPF 15 in Kalahari Sand.

Same or better

  • Very close colour
  • Same matte finish
  • Full rather than medium coverage
  • Adds SPF 15

Different

  • Not marketed for combination/oily/sensitive skin

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

3 shared ingredients; weighted similarity 6%. Ingredients only affect results through the filters.

AttributeYour shadeClosest overall alternative
Basemoderate siliconehigh silicone
FragranceNot listedNot listed
Drying alcoholNot listedNot listed
SPFNot listedSPF 15
OverlapBoth unknown-based; silicone moderate vs high
View full match

Where to buy

Closest shade match

Estée Lauder Futurist Skin Tint Serum Foundation SPF 20 4C3 Softan

Match price
$55Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $48.01 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty · product price; shade not separately priced

Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty

Closest overall alternative

BLK/OPL TRUE COLOR Mineral Matte Crème Powder Foundation SPF 15 Kalahari Sand

Best price
$14.95Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $7.96 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty

Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty

How these matches are scored

30 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.