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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%).

Filters, 2 applied

Coverage

Finish

Formulation

  • Liquid0
  • Stick0
  • Powder0
  • Serum0
  • Gel0

Preferences

Fragrance-free1No drying alcohol1Vegan, applied. RemoveCruelty-free0Oil-free0With SPF0Mineral0

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Only showing matches with full coverage, vegan.

  • 24 matches have no vegan claim listed and are not shown.

Closest shade matchClosest overall alternative: Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation M20N

The equivalent shade and the most similar foundation overall.

Your shade
Essence
203Change shade
Depth and undertone: Tan · Cool
Finish and coverage: Matte · Medium coverage
The match
Smashbox
M20N
Depth and undertone: Tan · Neutral
Finish and coverage: Natural · Full coverage
Overall match
77out of 100
Shade (Shade match)
90
Finish (Finish & visual result)
67
Wear (Wear & performance)
40
Skin (Skin suitability)
100
Shade match
90out of 100
Colour
98
Depth
99
Undertone
65
Medium confidence· Digital matchWhy it matches
Match price
$45Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $38.01 more

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

Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty

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

  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

  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

  4. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

    Hazelnut

    NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, shade Hazelnut

    • Close colour
    • Tan · Cool undertone

    $36

  5. Maybelline Fit Me Natural Finish Concealer

    050 Café

    Maybelline Fit Me Natural Finish Concealer, shade 050 Café

    • Very close colour
    • Tan

    $10.99

  6. Revlon ColorStay Skin Awaken Concealer

    Cinnamon

    Revlon ColorStay Skin Awaken Concealer, shade Cinnamon

    • Very close colour
    • Tan

    $14.99

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

Why the closest match works

Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation in M20N, against Essence Foundation Stick in 203. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shade203Closest matchM20NScore
Shade match55% of overall90
Colour98#af7854#ad7753Looks identicalColour difference 0.5 (0 is identical)
Depth99TanTanSameDepth difference: 0.7
Retailer descriptionMediumMediumBoth described as mediumThe retailers describe the same depth
Undertone65CoolNeutralSome differencefrom retailer shade descriptions
Finish & visual result25% of overall · 2 of 4 compared67
Finish56MatteNaturalSome differenceNatural finish rather than matte
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 · 4 of 5 compared40
Longevity40Not listed16-hour wearSome differenceThe match claims long wear; your product does not list it
Transfer resistance40Not listedClaimedSome differenceThe match claims transfer resistance; your product does not list it
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 overall100
Skin type100Combination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveCombination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveBoth marketed for combination/​dry/​normal/​oily/​sensitive skin
Overall match 77/100Shade match 90/100Medium 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 Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation in M20N.

Same or better

  • Near-identical swatch colour
  • Full rather than medium coverage
  • Claims 16-hour wear
  • Claims transfer resistance
  • Claims not settling into lines
  • Claims colour stability

Different

  • Neutral rather than cool undertone
  • Natural finish instead of matte

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

5 shared ingredients; weighted similarity 7%. Ingredients only affect results through the filters.

AttributeYour shadeClosest match
Basemoderate siliconeWater-based, high silicone
FragranceNot listedNot listed
Drying alcoholNot listedNot listed
SPFNot listedNot listed
OverlapUnknown-based vs water-based; silicone moderate vs high

Where to buy M20N

Match price
$45Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $38.01 more

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

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.