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Foundation Stick 280 dupes and alternatives Essence

Very deep · Neutral 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, 3 applied

Coverage

Finish

  • Matte2
  • Natural matte0
  • Natural0
  • Radiant0

Formulation

Skin type

Preferences

Fragrance-free2No drying alcohol2Vegan0Cruelty-free0Oil-free0With SPF1Mineral0

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Only showing matches with full coverage, in powder form, without talc.

  • 7 matches have no formulation listed and are not shown.
  • 2 matches have no ingredient list listed and are not shown.

Closest shade matchClosest overall alternative: MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation NC65

The equivalent shade and the most similar foundation overall.

Your shade
Essence
280Change shade
Depth and undertone: Very deep · Neutral
Finish and coverage: Matte · Medium coverage
The match
MAC Cosmetics
NC65
Depth and undertone: Very deep · Warm
Finish and coverage: Matte · Full coverage
Overall match
77out of 100
Shade (Shade match)
87
Finish (Finish & visual result)
81
Wear (Wear & performance)
40
Skin (Skin suitability)
60
Shade match
87out of 100
Colour
94
Depth
97
Undertone
65
Medium confidence· Digital matchWhy it matches
Best price
$39SephoraSephora
Costs $32.01 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty

SephoraView at Sephora

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. Shade match 75
    $14.95Ulta BeautyUlta BeautyCosts $7.96 more

    Matches: Same matte finishAdds SPF 15

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

    Score details
    Shade match
    75
    Finish & visual result
    91
    Wear & performance
    50
    Skin suitability
    40

    Close colour · Matte · Full coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 6% ingredient overlap

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

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match

Looking for a concealer in your shade?

The closest shade to Essence Foundation Stick 280 (Very deep · Neutral undertone) in each concealer range, compared on measured colour, depth and undertone. Price never changes the order.

Closest concealers

  1. Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer

    52 Deep Neutral

    Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer, shade 52 Deep Neutral

    • Very close colour
    • Very deep · Neutral undertone

    $32

  2. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Long-Wear Blur Concealer

    16 Deep

    Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Long-Wear Blur Concealer, shade 16 Deep

    • Very close colour
    • Very deep · Neutral undertone

    $36

  3. Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer

    560W

    Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer, shade 560W

    • Very close colour
    • Very deep · Neutral · neutral golden undertone

    $24

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

    45.5 Deep Ebony

    IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Water-Resistant Concealer, shade 45.5 Deep Ebony

    • Very close colour
    • Very deep · Cool undertone

    $30

  5. NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer

    Dark Coffee

    NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, shade Dark Coffee

    • Close colour
    • Very deep · Neutral undertone

    $36

  6. Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Full Coverage Concealer

    550 Suede C

    Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Full Coverage Concealer, shade 550 Suede C

    • Close colour
    • Very deep · Cool undertone

    $32

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

Why the closest match works

MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in NC65, against Essence Foundation Stick in 280. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shade280Closest matchNC65Score
Shade match55% of overall87
Colour94#634338#67463dVery close colourColour difference 1.6 (0 is identical)
Depth97Very deepVery deepSameDepth difference: 2.1
Retailer descriptionDeepDeepBoth described as deepThe retailers describe the same depth
Undertone65NeutralWarmSome differencecandidate undertone inferred
Finish & visual result25% of overall · 3 of 4 compared81
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
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 overall60
Skin type60Combination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveNormal, combination, oilyBoth marketed for combination/​normal/​oily skin
Overall match 77/100Shade match 87/100Medium 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 MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in NC65.

Same or better

  • Very close colour
  • Same matte finish
  • Full rather than medium coverage
  • Claims a blurring effect
  • Claims 12-hour wear
  • Claims not settling into lines
  • Claims colour stability
  • Claims a lightweight feel

Different

  • Slightly warmer undertone
  • Not marketed for dry/sensitive skin

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

7 shared ingredients; weighted similarity 11%. Ingredients only affect results through the filters.

AttributeYour shadeClosest match
Basemoderate siliconePowder-based, moderate silicone
FragranceNot listedNot listed
Drying alcoholNot listedNot listed
SPFNot listedNot listed
OverlapUnknown-based vs powder-based; silicone moderate vs moderate

Where to buy NC65

Best price
$39SephoraSephora
Costs $32.01 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty

SephoraView at Sephora

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.