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Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation NC38 dupes and alternatives MAC Cosmetics

Medium · Warm · peach 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%).

Only showing matches with medium coverage, with a natural finish, without silicones.

Closest shade match: Dior Forever Hydra Nude Foundation 3W Warm

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

The match
Dior
3W Warm
Depth and undertone: Medium · Warm · golden
Finish and coverage: Natural · Medium coverage
Shade match
97out of 100
Colour
95
Depth
97
Undertone
100
Medium confidence· Digital matchWhy it matches
Match price
$60Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $21 more

Your shade $39 at Sephora · product price; shade not separately priced

Closest overall alternative: Smashbox Dual Filter 2-In-1 Longwearing Concealer + Foundation Medium Tan 21 Warm

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

The match
Smashbox
Medium Tan 21 Warm
Depth and undertone: Medium light · Warm
Finish and coverage: Natural · Medium coverage
Overall match
80out of 100
Shade (Shade match)
95
Finish (Finish & visual result)
58
Wear (Wear & performance)
67
Skin (Skin suitability)
76
Match price
$41Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $2 more

Your shade $39 at Sephora · product price; shade not separately priced

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 · NARS

    Light Reflecting Foundation

    Syracuse
    Shade match 97
    $55SephoraSephoraCosts $16 more

    Matches: Near-identical swatch colourSame warm undertoneClaims a blurring effect

    Differences: Natural rather than matte finishMedium rather than full coverageDoes not claim transfer resistance

    Score details
    Shade match
    97
    Finish & visual result
    62
    Wear & performance
    58
    Skin suitability
    40

    Looks identical · Natural · Medium coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 9% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Natural rather than matte finish · Medium rather than full coverage · Does not claim transfer resistance · Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim colour stability · Not marketed for oily skin · No SPF

    Retailer shade note: MD1 - medium to medium-deep with warm undertones

    High confidence· Digital match

    View match

Looking for a concealer in your shade?

The closest shade to MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation NC38 (Medium · Warm · peach undertone) in each concealer range, compared on measured colour, depth and undertone. Price never changes the order.

From the same range

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

    NC30

    MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix 36HR Smooth Angles Hydrating Concealer, shade NC30

    • Close colour
    • Medium light · Warm · golden undertone

    $30

Closest concealers

  1. Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer

    380W

    Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer, shade 380W

    • Looks identical
    • Medium · Warm · golden undertone

    $24

  2. Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place 24-Hour Concealer

    4W

    Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place 24-Hour Concealer, shade 4W

    • Very close colour
    • Medium · Warm · golden undertone

    $38

  3. Make Up For Ever HD Skin Full Cover Multi-Use Waterproof Concealer

    2N35

    Make Up For Ever HD Skin Full Cover Multi-Use Waterproof Concealer, shade 2N35

    • Looks identical
    • Medium · Neutral · neutral golden undertone

    $35

  4. Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Full Coverage Longwear Concealer

    Khaki 6.25

    Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Full Coverage Longwear Concealer, shade Khaki 6.25

    • Very close colour
    • Medium light · Warm · peach undertone

    $39

  5. Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Matte Buildable Coverage Waterproof Concealer

    Toasted Almond 5.3 Golden

    Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Matte Buildable Coverage Waterproof Concealer, shade Toasted Almond 5.3 Golden

    • Very close colour
    • Medium · Warm · golden undertone

    $31

  6. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

    Caramel

    NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, shade Caramel

    • Very close colour
    • Medium · Warm undertone

    $36

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

Dior Forever Hydra Nude Foundation in 3W Warm, against MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation in NC38. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shadeNC38Closest shade match3W WarmScore
Shade match55% of overall97
Colour95#cc9867#c99465Looks identicalColour difference 1.3 (0 is identical)
Depth97MediumMediumSameDepth difference: 2.0
Retailer descriptionMediumMediumBoth described as mediumThe retailers describe the same depth
Undertone100Warm · peachWarm · goldenClosefrom retailer shade descriptions
Finish & visual result25% of overall · 2 of 4 compared58
Finish56MatteNaturalSome differenceNatural finish rather than matte
Coverage60FullMediumSome differenceMedium coverage rather than full
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 overall58
Longevity10024-hour wear24-hour wearSameBoth claim 24-hour wear
Transfer resistance40ClaimedNot listedSome differenceOnly your product claims transfer resistance; the match does not list it
Settling40ClaimedNot listedSome differenceOnly your product claims not settling into pores or fine lines; the match does not list it
Colour stability40ClaimedNot listedSome differenceOnly your product claims colour stability (no oxidation); the match does not list it
Comfort40ClaimedNot listedSome differenceOnly your product claims a comfortable, lightweight feel; the match does not list it
Skin suitability5% of overall76
Skin type76Normal, oilyCombination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveBoth marketed for normal/​oily skin
Overall match 80/100Shade match 97/100Medium 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 Hydra Nude Foundation in 3W Warm.

Same or better

  • Near-identical swatch colour
  • Same warm undertone
  • Both claim 24-hour wear

Different

  • Natural finish instead of matte
  • Medium rather than full coverage
  • Does not claim transfer resistance
  • Does not claim not settling into lines
  • Does not claim colour stability
  • Does not claim a lightweight feel
  • Fragrance is listed in the formula
  • No SPF

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

4 shared ingredients; weighted similarity 8%. Ingredients only affect results through the filters.

AttributeYour shadeClosest shade match
BaseWater-based, high siliconeWater-based, moderate silicone
FragranceNot listedListed (fragrance)
Drying alcoholNot listedNot listed
SPFSPF 15Not listed
OverlapBoth water-based; silicone high vs moderate

Why the closest overall alternative works

Smashbox Dual Filter 2-In-1 Longwearing Concealer + Foundation in Medium Tan 21 Warm, against MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation in NC38. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shadeNC38Closest overall alternativeMedium Tan 21 WarmScore
Shade match55% of overall95
Colour93#cc9867#d29e6fVery close colourColour difference 1.9 (0 is identical)
Depth94MediumMedium lightCloseDepth difference: 3.2
Retailer descriptionMediumMedium tanSome differenceRetailer descriptions one depth band apart
Undertone100Warm · peachWarmClosefrom retailer shade descriptions
Finish & visual result25% of overall58
Finish56MatteNaturalSome differenceNatural finish rather than matte
Coverage80FullMediumCloseMedium coverage rather than full (buildable: one step of tolerance)
Skin-like finish40Not listedClaimedSome differenceThe match claims a skin-like finish; your product does not list it
Blurring40Not listedClaimedSome differenceThe match claims a blurring or smoothing effect; your product does not list it
Wear & performance15% of overall67
Longevity6024-hour wear16-hour wearSome difference16-hour wear claimed against 24-hour wear
Transfer resistance40ClaimedNot listedSome differenceOnly your product claims transfer resistance; the match does not list it
Settling100ClaimedClaimedSameBoth products claim not settling into pores or fine lines
Colour stability40ClaimedNot listedSome differenceOnly your product claims colour stability (no oxidation); the match does not list it
Comfort100ClaimedClaimedSameBoth products claim a comfortable, lightweight feel
Skin suitability5% of overall76
Skin type76Normal, oilyCombination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveBoth marketed for normal/​oily skin
Overall match 80/100Shade match 95/100Medium 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 Dual Filter 2-In-1 Longwearing Concealer + Foundation in Medium Tan 21 Warm.

Same or better

  • Very close colour
  • Same warm undertone
  • Medium rather than full coverage
  • Claims a skin-like finish
  • Claims a blurring effect
  • Both claim not settling into lines
  • Both claim a lightweight feel

Different

  • Natural finish instead of matte
  • Does not claim transfer resistance
  • Does not claim colour stability
  • No SPF

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

4 shared ingredients; weighted similarity 8%. Ingredients only affect results through the filters.

AttributeYour shadeClosest overall alternative
BaseWater-based, high siliconeWater-based, no silicone
FragranceNot listedNot listed
Drying alcoholNot listedNot listed
SPFSPF 15Not listed
OverlapBoth water-based; silicone high vs none

Where to buy

Closest shade match

Dior Forever Hydra Nude Foundation 3W Warm

Match price
$60Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $21 more

Your shade $39 at Sephora · product price; shade not separately priced

Closest overall alternative

Smashbox Dual Filter 2-In-1 Longwearing Concealer + Foundation Medium Tan 21 Warm

Match price
$41Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $2 more

Your shade $39 at Sephora · product price; shade not separately priced

Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty

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.