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Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation NC42 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%).

Closest shade match: Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick 8 Medium

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

The match
Charlotte Tilbury
8 Medium
Depth and undertone: Medium · Warm
Finish and coverage: Radiant · Light coverage
Shade match
96out of 100
Colour
94
Depth
99
Undertone
100
Best price
$48SephoraSephora
Costs $9 more

Your shade $39 at Sephora

SephoraView at Sephora

Closest overall alternative: bareMinerals ORIGINAL Talc-Free Pressed Powder Foundation Mineral SPF 15 Neutral Tan 21

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

The match
bareMinerals
Neutral Tan 21
Depth and undertone: Medium · Warm · golden
Finish and coverage: Matte · Buildable coverage
Overall match
84out of 100
Shade (Shade match)
92
Finish (Finish & visual result)
81
Wear (Wear & performance)
61
Skin (Skin suitability)
76
Match price
$39.50Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $0.50 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 · about-face

    THE PERFORMER Skin-Focused Foundation

    M3PEACH
    Shade match 92
    $25Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty(product price)$14 less (36%)

    Matches: Very close colourSame warm undertoneClaims a skin-like finish

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

    Score details
    Shade match
    92
    Finish & visual result
    61
    Wear & performance
    58
    Skin suitability
    80

    Very close colour · Natural · Medium coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 11% 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 · No SPF

    Retailer shade note: medium with peach undertones

    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 NC42 (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. 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

  2. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Long-Wear Blur Concealer

    11.5 Tan

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

    • Very close colour
    • Medium light · Warm undertone

    $36

  3. 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

    • Close colour
    • Medium · Warm · golden undertone

    $12

  4. Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Full Coverage Longwear Concealer

    Maple 8.5

    Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Full Coverage Longwear Concealer, shade Maple 8.5

    • Close colour
    • Medium · 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. Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Matte Buildable Coverage Waterproof Concealer

    Brittle 6.5 Golden

    Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Matte Buildable Coverage Waterproof Concealer, shade Brittle 6.5 Golden

    • Close colour
    • Medium · Warm · golden undertone

    $31

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

Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick in 8 Medium, against MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation in NC42. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shadeNC42Closest shade match8 MediumScore
Shade match55% of overall96
Colour94#da8e5c#d98c5fVery close colourColour difference 1.6 (0 is identical)
Depth99MediumMediumSameDepth difference: 0.8
Retailer descriptionMedium tanMedium tanBoth described as medium tanThe retailers describe the same depth
Undertone100Warm · goldenWarmClosefrom retailer shade descriptions
Finish & visual result25% of overall24
Finish12MatteRadiantDifferentRadiant finish rather than matte
Coverage20FullLightDifferentLight coverage rather than full
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 overall58
Longevity7024-hour wearLong-wearingSome differenceYour product claims 24-hour wear; the match says long-wearing without hours
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
Comfort100ClaimedClaimedSameBoth products claim a comfortable, lightweight feel
Skin suitability5% of overall40
Skin type40Normal, oilyNormal, dry, combinationBoth marketed for normal skin
Overall match 70/100Shade match 96/100High 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 Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick in 8 Medium.

Same or better

  • Very close colour
  • Same warm undertone
  • Claims a skin-like finish
  • Claims a blurring effect
  • Both claim a lightweight feel

Different

  • Radiant finish instead of matte
  • Light 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

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

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

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

Why the closest overall alternative works

bareMinerals ORIGINAL Talc-Free Pressed Powder Foundation Mineral SPF 15 in Neutral Tan 21, against MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation in NC42. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shadeNC42Closest overall alternativeNeutral Tan 21Score
Shade match55% of overall92
Colour87#da8e5c#d18e66Very close colourColour difference 2.8 (0 is identical)
Depth98MediumMediumSameDepth difference: 1.3
Retailer descriptionMedium tanMedium tanBoth described as medium tanThe retailers describe the same depth
Undertone100Warm · goldenWarm · goldenSamefrom retailer shade descriptions
Finish & visual result25% of overall · 3 of 4 compared81
Finish100MatteMatteSameSame matte finish
Coverage80FullBuildableCloseBuildable coverage rather than full (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 overall61
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
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 84/100Shade match 92/100High 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 bareMinerals ORIGINAL Talc-Free Pressed Powder Foundation Mineral SPF 15 in Neutral Tan 21.

Same or better

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

Different

  • No long-wear claim
  • Does not claim transfer resistance
  • Does not claim colour stability

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

1 shared ingredient; weighted similarity 1%. Ingredients only affect results through the filters.

AttributeYour shadeClosest overall alternative
BaseWater-based, high siliconePowder-based, no silicone
FragranceNot listedNot listed
Drying alcoholNot listedNot listed
SPFSPF 15SPF 15
OverlapWater-based vs powder-based; silicone high vs none

Where to buy

Closest shade match

Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick 8 Medium

Best price
$48SephoraSephora
Costs $9 more

Your shade $39 at Sephora

SephoraView at Sephora

Closest overall alternative

bareMinerals ORIGINAL Talc-Free Pressed Powder Foundation Mineral SPF 15 Neutral Tan 21

Match price
$39.50Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $0.50 more

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

How these matches are scored

35 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.