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Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation NC40 dupes and alternatives MAC Cosmetics

Medium · Warm · golden 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 with a natural finish.

Closest shade match: J.Cat Beauty Aquasurance Compact Foundation Soft Taupe

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

The match
J.Cat Beauty
Soft Taupe
Depth and undertone: Medium · Neutral · neutral golden
Finish and coverage: Natural · Full coverage
Shade match
96out of 100
Colour
99
Depth
99
Undertone
85
Medium confidence· Digital matchWhy it matches
Best price
$10.39Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
$28.61 less (73%)

Your shade $39 at Sephora

Closest overall alternative: Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Care and Glow Foundation 405W

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

The match
Lancôme
405W
Depth and undertone: Medium · Warm · golden
Finish and coverage: Natural · Medium coverage
Overall match
81out of 100
Shade (Shade match)
94
Finish (Finish & visual result)
67
Wear (Wear & performance)
70
Skin (Skin suitability)
40
Match price
$53Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $14 more

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

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 · Huda Beauty

    Easy Blur Natural Airbrush Foundation

    Cinnamon 440G
    Shade match 93
    $37SephoraSephora$2 less (5%)

    Matches: Very close colourSame warm undertoneClaims a blurring effect

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

    Score details
    Shade match
    93
    Finish & visual result
    62
    Wear & performance
    58
    Skin suitability
    87

    Very close colour · Natural · Buildable coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 16% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Natural rather than matte finish · Buildable rather than full coverage · Does not claim transfer resistance · Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim colour stability · No SPF

    Retailer shade note: Tan skin with a golden undertone

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match

Looking for a concealer in your shade?

The closest shade to MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation NC40 (Medium · Warm · golden 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

    NC42

    MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix 36HR Smooth Angles Hydrating Concealer, shade NC42

    • Very close colour
    • Medium · Warm · golden undertone

    $30

Closest concealers

  1. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Long-Wear Blur Concealer

    11.5 Tan

    Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Long-Wear Blur Concealer, shade 11.5 Tan

    • Looks identical
    • Medium light · Warm undertone

    $36

  2. NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Hydrating Face & Body Concealer Serum

    Medium Golden

    NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Hydrating Face & Body Concealer Serum, shade Medium Golden

    • Very close colour
    • Medium · Warm · golden undertone

    $12

  3. Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer

    Tone 08 W

    Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer, shade Tone 08 W

    • Very close colour
    • Medium · Warm · golden undertone

    $32

  4. Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Full Coverage Longwear Concealer

    Topaz 7

    Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Full Coverage Longwear Concealer, shade Topaz 7

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

    $39

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

    3N42

    Make Up For Ever HD Skin Full Cover Multi-Use Waterproof Concealer, shade 3N42

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

    $35

  6. Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating Face and Under-Eye Concealer

    5.5

    Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating Face and Under-Eye Concealer, shade 5.5

    • Close colour
    • Medium light · Warm · peach undertone

    $42

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

J.Cat Beauty Aquasurance Compact Foundation in Soft Taupe, against MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation in NC40. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shadeNC40Closest shade matchSoft TaupeScore
Shade match55% of overall96
Colour99#e09564#df9463Looks identicalColour difference 0.3 (0 is identical)
Depth99MediumMediumSameDepth difference: 0.5
Retailer descriptionMedium tanNot statedNo depth word in one descriptionNot compared
Undertone85Warm · goldenNeutral · neutral goldenClosecandidate undertone inferred
Finish & visual result25% of overall · 3 of 4 compared70
Finish56MatteNaturalSome differenceNatural finish rather than matte
Coverage100FullFullSameSame full coverage
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 overall52
Longevity4024-hour wearNot listedSome differenceOnly your product claims long wear; the match does not list it
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
Comfort40ClaimedNot listedSome differenceOnly your product claims a comfortable, lightweight feel; the match does not list it
Skin suitability5% of overall50
Skin type50Normal, oilyNot publishedSkin-type suitability not published for one product
Overall match 80/100Shade 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 J.Cat Beauty Aquasurance Compact Foundation in Soft Taupe.

Same or better

  • $28.61 less
  • Near-identical swatch colour
  • Similar undertone (neutral vs warm)
  • Same full coverage
  • Claims a blurring effect
  • Both claim not settling into lines

Different

  • Natural finish instead of matte
  • No long-wear claim
  • Does not claim transfer resistance
  • Does not claim colour stability
  • Does not claim a lightweight feel
  • No SPF

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

4 shared ingredients; weighted similarity 6%. Ingredients only affect results through the filters.

AttributeYour shadeClosest shade match
BaseWater-based, high siliconePowder-based, high silicone
FragranceNot listedNot listed
Drying alcoholNot listedNot listed
SPFSPF 15Not listed
OverlapWater-based vs powder-based; silicone high vs high

Why the closest overall alternative works

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Care and Glow Foundation in 405W, against MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation in NC40. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shadeNC40Closest overall alternative405WScore
Shade match55% of overall94
Colour91#e09564#d8935fVery close colourColour difference 2.2 (0 is identical)
Depth97MediumMediumSameDepth difference: 2.1
Retailer descriptionMedium tanMediumSome differenceRetailer descriptions one depth band apart
Undertone100Warm · goldenWarm · goldenSamefrom retailer shade descriptions
Finish & visual result25% of overall · 2 of 4 compared67
Finish56MatteNaturalSome differenceNatural finish rather than matte
Coverage80FullMediumCloseMedium coverage rather than full (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 overall70
Longevity10024-hour wear24-hour wearSameBoth claim 24-hour wear
Transfer resistance100ClaimedClaimedSameBoth products claim transfer resistance
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 overall40
Skin type40Normal, oilyNormal, combination, sensitiveBoth marketed for normal skin
Overall match 81/100Shade match 94/100High 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 Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Care and Glow Foundation in 405W.

Same or better

  • Very close colour
  • Same warm undertone
  • Medium rather than full coverage
  • Both claim 24-hour wear
  • Both claim transfer resistance
  • SPF 27 instead of SPF 15

Different

  • Natural finish instead of matte
  • Does not claim not settling into lines
  • Does not claim colour stability
  • Does not claim a lightweight feel
  • Not marketed for oily skin
  • Fragrance is listed in the formula
  • Contains alcohol denat.

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

9 shared ingredients; weighted similarity 19%. Ingredients only affect results through the filters.

AttributeYour shadeClosest overall alternative
BaseWater-based, high siliconeSilicone-based, high silicone
FragranceNot listedListed (fragrance)
Drying alcoholNot listedListed (alcohol denat.)
SPFSPF 15SPF 27
OverlapWater-based vs silicone-based; silicone high vs high

Where to buy

Closest shade match

J.Cat Beauty Aquasurance Compact Foundation Soft Taupe

Best price
$10.39Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
$28.61 less (73%)

Your shade $39 at Sephora

Closest overall alternative

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Care and Glow Foundation 405W

Match price
$53Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $14 more

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

How these matches are scored

33 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.