Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Waterproof Foundation 5N2 Cardamom dupes and alternatives Laura Mercier
4.2 (2,336)·Deep tan · 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%).
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.
Matches: Very close colour· Same neutral undertone· Same natural finish
Differences: Does not claim not settling into lines· Does not claim colour stability· Not marketed for combination/oily skin
Score details
Shade match
93
Finish & visual result
100
Wear & performance
63
Skin suitability
60
Very close colour · Natural · Medium coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 2% ingredient overlap
Differences: Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim colour stability · Not marketed for combination/oily skin · Contains drying alcohol
Matches: Very close colour· Same neutral undertone· Same natural finish
Differences: Does not claim not settling into lines· Does not claim colour stability· Not marketed for combination/oily skin
Score details
Shade match
91
Finish & visual result
100
Wear & performance
63
Skin suitability
60
Very close colour · Natural · Medium coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 2% ingredient overlap
Differences: Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim colour stability · Not marketed for combination/oily skin · Contains drying alcohol
$39Ulta Beauty(product price)$15 less (28%)4.3 (1,754)
Matches: Very close colour· Same neutral undertone· Same medium coverage
Differences: Matte rather than natural finish· No long-wear claim· Does not claim not settling into lines
Score details
Shade match
94
Finish & visual result
81
Wear & performance
51
Skin suitability
60
Very close colour · Matte · Medium coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 4% ingredient overlap
Differences: Matte rather than natural finish · No long-wear claim · Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim colour stability · Not marketed for normal/sensitive skin · Contains drying alcohol
Matches: Same natural finish· Same medium coverage· Both claim a blurring effect
Differences: Slightly cooler undertone· Does not claim not settling into lines· Does not claim colour stability
Score details
Shade match
81
Finish & visual result
100
Wear & performance
63
Skin suitability
60
Close colour · Natural · Medium coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 2% ingredient overlap
Differences: Slightly cooler undertone · Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim colour stability · Not marketed for combination/oily skin · Contains drying alcohol
$15.99Ulta Beauty(product price)$38.01 less (70%)4.5 (1,466)
Matches: Same neutral undertone· Both claim not settling into lines
Differences: Slightly deeper· Radiant rather than natural finish· Buildable rather than medium coverage
Score details
Shade match
89
Finish & visual result
70
Wear & performance
66
Skin suitability
100
Close colour · Radiant · Buildable coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 5% ingredient overlap
Differences: Slightly deeper · Radiant rather than natural finish · Buildable rather than medium coverage · No blurring effect claimed · Does not claim colour stability · Does not claim a lightweight feel
Retailer shade note: medium-deep with neutral undertones
Matches: Very close colour· Same natural finish· Both claim a lightweight feel
Differences: Slightly warmer undertone· Buildable rather than medium coverage· No blurring effect claimed
Score details
Shade match
88
Finish & visual result
89
Wear & performance
63
Skin suitability
20
Very close colour · Natural · Buildable coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 9% ingredient overlap
Differences: Slightly warmer undertone · Buildable rather than medium coverage · No blurring effect claimed · Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim colour stability · Not marketed for combination/dry/oily/sensitive skin
$16Ulta Beauty(product price)$38 less (70%)4.3 (699)
Matches: Same natural finish· Same medium coverage· Both claim a blurring effect
Differences: Slightly warmer undertone· No long-wear claim· Does not claim not settling into lines
Score details
Shade match
81
Finish & visual result
100
Wear & performance
40
Skin suitability
100
Close colour · Natural · Medium coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 4% ingredient overlap
Differences: Slightly warmer undertone · No long-wear claim · Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim colour stability · Does not claim a lightweight feel
$11.99Ulta Beauty(product price)$42.01 less (78%)4.4 (182,841)
Matches: Same neutral undertone· Same medium coverage· Both claim 12-hour wear
Differences: Matte rather than natural finish· No blurring effect claimed· Does not claim not settling into lines
Score details
Shade match
89
Finish & visual result
70
Wear & performance
74
Skin suitability
40
Close colour · Matte · Medium coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 3% ingredient overlap
Differences: Matte rather than natural finish · No blurring effect claimed · Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim colour stability · Not marketed for combination/dry/sensitive skin · Contains drying alcohol
Matches: Very close colour· Same natural finish· Same medium coverage
Differences: Slightly warmer undertone· No long-wear claim· Does not claim colour stability
Score details
Shade match
85
Finish & visual result
88
Wear & performance
66
Skin suitability
20
Very close colour · Natural · Medium coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 6% ingredient overlap
Differences: Slightly warmer undertone · No long-wear claim · Does not claim colour stability · Not marketed for combination/normal/oily/sensitive skin
Retailer shade note: Tan with strong golden undertones
$22Ulta Beauty(product price)$32 less (59%)3.5 (42)
Matches: Same neutral undertone· Same natural finish
Differences: Slightly deeper· Buildable rather than medium coverage· No blurring effect claimed
Score details
Shade match
84
Finish & visual result
89
Wear & performance
40
Skin suitability
100
Close colour · Natural · Buildable coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 1% ingredient overlap
Differences: Slightly deeper · Buildable rather than medium coverage · No blurring effect claimed · No long-wear claim · Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim colour stability · Does not claim a lightweight feel
Matches: Very close colour· Same neutral undertone
Differences: Matte rather than natural finish· Buildable rather than medium coverage· No blurring effect claimed
Score details
Shade match
96
Finish & visual result
70
Wear & performance
40
Skin suitability
60
Very close colour · Matte · Buildable coverage
Ingredients (not scored): no ingredient list for one product
Differences: Matte rather than natural finish · Buildable rather than medium coverage · No blurring effect claimed · No long-wear claim · Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim colour stability · Does not claim a lightweight feel · Not marketed for dry/sensitive skin
Matches: Very close colour· Same neutral undertone· Both claim a blurring effect
Differences: Matte rather than natural finish· Buildable rather than medium coverage· Does not claim not settling into lines
Score details
Shade match
91
Finish & visual result
81
Wear & performance
38
Skin suitability
60
Very close colour · Matte · Buildable coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 4% ingredient overlap
Differences: Matte rather than natural finish · Buildable rather than medium coverage · Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim colour stability · Does not claim a lightweight feel · Not marketed for normal/sensitive skin · Contains listed fragrance · Contains drying alcohol
Retailer shade note: medium to deep skin with neutral undertones
Matches: Same neutral undertone· Both claim a blurring effect· Claims transfer resistance
Differences: Matte rather than natural finish· Full rather than medium coverage· Does not claim not settling into lines
Score details
Shade match
91
Finish & visual result
73
Wear & performance
48
Skin suitability
60
Close colour · Matte · Full coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 10% ingredient overlap
Differences: Matte rather than natural finish · Full rather than medium coverage · Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim colour stability · Not marketed for dry/sensitive skin
Retailer shade note: MD5.5 - Medium-deep to deep with neutral undertones
Matches: Same neutral undertone· Both claim a lightweight feel
Differences: Slightly deeper· Matte rather than natural finish· Full rather than medium coverage
Score details
Shade match
90
Finish & visual result
55
Wear & performance
63
Skin suitability
100
Close colour · Matte · Full coverage
Ingredients (not scored): no ingredient list for one product
Differences: Slightly deeper · Matte rather than natural finish · Full rather than medium coverage · No blurring effect claimed · Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim colour stability
Matches: Very close colour· Both claim a blurring effect· Both claim 12-hour wear
Differences: Olive rather than neutral undertone· Matte rather than natural finish· Full rather than medium coverage
Score details
Shade match
83
Finish & visual result
66
Wear & performance
79
Skin suitability
60
Very close colour · Matte · Full coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 2% ingredient overlap
Differences: Olive rather than neutral undertone · Matte rather than natural finish · Full rather than medium coverage · Does not claim colour stability · Not marketed for dry/sensitive skin · Contains listed fragrance
Retailer shade note: deeper skin with very warm, golden or olive undertones
Matches: Very close colour· Same natural finish· Both claim a blurring effect
Differences: Slightly warmer undertone· Full rather than medium coverage· No long-wear claim
Score details
Shade match
85
Finish & visual result
85
Wear & performance
51
Skin suitability
20
Very close colour · Natural · Full coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 4% ingredient overlap
Differences: Slightly warmer undertone · Full rather than medium coverage · No long-wear claim · Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim colour stability · Not marketed for combination/dry/oily/sensitive skin
Retailer shade note: Tan with strong golden undertones
Matches: Very close colour· Claims transfer resistance· Both claim not settling into lines
Differences: Matte rather than natural finish· Full rather than medium coverage· No blurring effect claimed
Score details
Shade match
88
Finish & visual result
55
Wear & performance
60
Skin suitability
100
Very close colour · Matte · Full coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 3% ingredient overlap
Differences: Matte rather than natural finish · Full rather than medium coverage · No blurring effect claimed · Does not claim colour stability · Contains listed fragrance
Differences: Slightly lighter· Slightly cooler undertone· Radiant rather than natural finish
Score details
Shade match
79
Finish & visual result
70
Wear & performance
66
Skin suitability
100
Close colour · Radiant · Buildable coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 5% ingredient overlap
Differences: Slightly lighter · Slightly cooler undertone · Radiant rather than natural finish · Buildable rather than medium coverage · No blurring effect claimed · Does not claim colour stability · Does not claim a lightweight feel
Retailer shade note: medium-deep with cool undertones
Matches: Both claim a blurring effect· Both claim 12-hour wear· Claims transfer resistance
Differences: Slightly deeper· Slightly cooler undertone· Matte rather than natural finish
Score details
Shade match
81
Finish & visual result
66
Wear & performance
79
Skin suitability
60
Close colour · Matte · Full coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 2% ingredient overlap
Differences: Slightly deeper · Slightly cooler undertone · Matte rather than natural finish · Full rather than medium coverage · Does not claim colour stability · Not marketed for dry/sensitive skin · Contains listed fragrance
Retailer shade note: deeper skin with a balance of warm & cool undertones
Matches: Very close colour· Both claim a blurring effect
Differences: Slightly warmer undertone· Matte rather than natural finish· Buildable rather than medium coverage
Score details
Shade match
82
Finish & visual result
81
Wear & performance
38
Skin suitability
60
Very close colour · Matte · Buildable coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 4% ingredient overlap
Differences: Slightly warmer undertone · Matte rather than natural finish · Buildable rather than medium coverage · Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim colour stability · Does not claim a lightweight feel · Not marketed for normal/sensitive skin · Contains listed fragrance · Contains drying alcohol
Retailer shade note: medium to deep skin with warm undertones
The closest shade to Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Waterproof Foundation 5N2 Cardamom (Deep tan · Neutral undertone) in each concealer range, compared on measured colour, depth and undertone. Price never changes the order.
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
Ulta Beauty Collection Moisturizing Complexion Stick in Dark Neutral, against Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Waterproof Foundation in 5N2 Cardamom. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.
ComparedYour shade5N2 CardamomClosest shade matchDark NeutralHow they compareScore
Shade match55% of overall96
Colour60%93#a46042#9d6044Very close colourColour difference 1.7 (0 is identical)
Overall match 89/100Shade 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.
Tarte Timeless Hydrating Foundation in 53S Deep Sand, against Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Waterproof Foundation in 5N2 Cardamom. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.
ComparedYour shade5N2 CardamomClosest overall alternative53S Deep SandHow they compareScore
Shade match55% of overall93
Colour60%89#a46042#a0603cVery close colourColour difference 2.5 (0 is identical)
Overall match 92/100Shade match 93/100Medium 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.
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.
Ulta Beauty
Sephora$12 less (22%)
