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Foundation Stick 30 dupes and alternatives Essence

Very fair · Warm · yellow 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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Only showing matches in powder form.

  • 11 matches have no formulation listed and are not shown.

Closest shade match: MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation NC5

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

Your shade
Essence
30Change shade
Depth and undertone: Very fair · Warm · yellow
Finish and coverage: Matte · Medium coverage
The match
MAC Cosmetics
NC5
Depth and undertone: Very fair · Warm · golden
Finish and coverage: Matte · Full coverage
Shade match
98out of 100
Colour
97
Depth
98
Undertone
100
Medium confidence· Digital matchWhy it matches
Best price
$39SephoraSephora
Costs $32.01 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty

SephoraView at Sephora

Closest overall alternative: Dior Forever Natural Matte Velvet Compact Foundation 1W IN

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

Your shade
Essence
30Change shade
Depth and undertone: Very fair · Warm · yellow
Finish and coverage: Matte · Medium coverage
The match
Dior
1W IN
Depth and undertone: Very fair · Warm · golden
Finish and coverage: Matte · Medium coverage
Overall match
86out of 100
Shade (Shade match)
96
Finish (Finish & visual result)
100
Wear (Wear & performance)
40
Skin (Skin suitability)
40
Best price
$64SephoraSephora
Costs $57.01 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty

SephoraView at Sephora

More matches

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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 · Estée Lauder

    Double Wear Stay-in-Place Matte Powder Foundation

    1N1 Ivory Nude
    Shade match 91
    $52Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty(product price)Costs $45.01 more

    Matches: Very close colourSimilar undertone (neutral vs warm)Same matte finish

    Differences: Full rather than medium coverageNot marketed for dry/sensitive skin

    Score details
    Shade match
    91
    Finish & visual result
    91
    Wear & performance
    40
    Skin suitability
    60

    Very close colour · Matte · Full coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 4% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Full rather than medium coverage · Not marketed for dry/sensitive skin

    Retailer shade note: light with neutral peach undertones

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match
  2. #4 · Lancôme

    Dual Finish Multi-Tasking Lightweight Pressed Powder Foundation

    130 Versatile Porcelaine Divoire I (N)
    Shade match 88
    $53Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty(product price)Costs $46.01 more

    Matches: Very close colourSame matte finishSame medium coverage

    Differences: Contains listed fragrance

    Score details
    Shade match
    88
    Finish & visual result
    89
    Wear & performance
    40
    Skin suitability
    100

    Very close colour · Matte · Medium coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 0% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Contains listed fragrance

    Retailer shade note: matte sand

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match
  3. Shade match 85
    $53Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty(product price)Costs $46.01 more

    Matches: Very close colourSame matte finishSame medium coverage

    Differences: Contains listed fragrance

    Score details
    Shade match
    85
    Finish & visual result
    89
    Wear & performance
    40
    Skin suitability
    100

    Very close colour · Matte · Medium coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 0% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Contains listed fragrance

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match
  4. Shade match 87
    $52Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty(product price)Costs $45.01 more

    Matches: Very close colourSame matte finishClaims 12-hour wear

    Differences: Olive rather than warm undertoneFull rather than medium coverageNot marketed for dry/sensitive skin

    Score details
    Shade match
    87
    Finish & visual result
    91
    Wear & performance
    40
    Skin suitability
    60

    Very close colour · Matte · Full coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 4% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Olive rather than warm undertone · Full rather than medium coverage · Not marketed for dry/sensitive skin

    Retailer shade note: light with warm subtle olive undertones

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match

Looking for a concealer in your shade?

The closest shade to Essence Foundation Stick 30 (Very fair · Warm · yellow undertone) in each concealer range, compared on measured colour, depth and undertone. Price never changes the order.

Closest concealers

  1. NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer

    Nougatine

    NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, shade Nougatine

    • Looks identical
    • Very fair · Warm undertone

    $36

  2. MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix 36HR Smooth Angles Hydrating Concealer

    NC5

    MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix 36HR Smooth Angles Hydrating Concealer, shade NC5

    • Very close colour
    • Very fair · Warm · golden undertone

    $30

  3. Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer

    100W

    Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer, shade 100W

    • Very close colour
    • Very fair · Warm · golden undertone

    $24

  4. L'Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer

    C2

    L'Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer, shade C2

    • Very close colour
    • Very fair · Warm undertone

    $16.99

  5. Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Matte Buildable Coverage Waterproof Concealer

    Whipped Cream 0.1 Golden

    Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Matte Buildable Coverage Waterproof Concealer, shade Whipped Cream 0.1 Golden

    • Very close colour
    • Very fair · Warm · golden undertone

    $31

  6. Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Longwear Liquid Concealer

    140

    Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Longwear Liquid Concealer, shade 140

    • Close colour
    • Very fair · Warm · yellow undertone

    $30

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

MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in NC5, against Essence Foundation Stick in 30. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shade30Closest shade matchNC5Score
Shade match55% of overall98
Colour97#f6dec5#f5dbc0Looks identicalColour difference 1.0 (0 is identical)
Depth98Very fairVery fairSameDepth difference: 1.3
Retailer descriptionFairVery fairSome differenceRetailer descriptions one depth band apart
Undertone100Warm · yellowWarm · goldenClosefrom retailer shade descriptions
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 83/100Shade match 98/100Medium 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 NC5.

Same or better

  • Near-identical swatch colour
  • Same warm undertone
  • 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

  • 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 shade 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

Why the closest overall alternative works

Dior Forever Natural Matte Velvet Compact Foundation in 1W IN, against Essence Foundation Stick in 30. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shade30Closest overall alternative1W INScore
Shade match55% of overall96
Colour95#f6dec5#f0d8bfLooks identicalColour difference 1.3 (0 is identical)
Depth95Very fairVery fairSameDepth difference: 3.0
Retailer descriptionFairVery fairSome differenceRetailer descriptions one depth band apart
Undertone100Warm · yellowWarm · goldenClosefrom 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 · 3 of 5 compared40
Longevity40Not listed24-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
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 overall40
Skin type40Combination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveCombination, oilyBoth marketed for combination/​oily skin
Overall match 86/100Shade 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 Dior Forever Natural Matte Velvet Compact Foundation in 1W IN.

Same or better

  • Near-identical swatch colour
  • Same warm undertone
  • Same matte finish
  • Same medium coverage
  • Claims 24-hour wear
  • Claims transfer resistance
  • Claims a lightweight feel

Different

  • Not marketed for dry/normal/sensitive skin
  • Fragrance is listed in the formula

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

0 shared ingredients; weighted similarity 0%. Ingredients only affect results through the filters.

AttributeYour shadeClosest overall alternative
Basemoderate siliconePowder-based, no silicone
FragranceNot listedListed (fragrance)
Drying alcoholNot listedNot listed
SPFNot listedNot listed
OverlapUnknown-based vs powder-based; silicone moderate vs none

Where to buy

Closest shade match

MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation NC5

Best price
$39SephoraSephora
Costs $32.01 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty

SephoraView at Sephora

Closest overall alternative

Dior Forever Natural Matte Velvet Compact Foundation 1W IN

Best price
$64SephoraSephora
Costs $57.01 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty

SephoraView at Sephora

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.