The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick Cacao dupes and alternatives MERIT
4.1 (4,089)·Deep · Cool 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 natural finish· Same medium coverage
Differences: Neutral rather than cool undertone· Does not claim not settling into lines· Not marketed for normal/combination/oily skin
Score details
Shade match
83
Finish & visual result
100
Wear & performance
82
Skin suitability
0
Very close colour · Natural · Medium coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 7% ingredient overlap
Differences: Neutral rather than cool undertone · Does not claim not settling into lines · Not marketed for normal/combination/oily skin · Contains listed fragrance
Matches: Near-identical swatch colour· Both claim long-wearing· Both claim a lightweight feel
Differences: Matte rather than natural finish· Light rather than medium coverage· Does not claim not settling into lines
Score details
Shade match
91
Finish & visual result
67
Wear & performance
82
Skin suitability
60
Looks identical · Matte · Light coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 6% ingredient overlap
Differences: Matte rather than natural finish · Light rather than medium coverage · Does not claim not settling into lines · Not marketed for normal skin
$20Ulta Beauty(product price)$18 less (47%)3.7 (146)
Matches: Near-identical swatch colour· Both claim long-wearing· Both claim a lightweight feel
Differences: Neutral rather than cool undertone· Matte rather than natural finish· Full rather than medium coverage
Score details
Shade match
89
Finish & visual result
67
Wear & performance
82
Skin suitability
84
Looks identical · Matte · Full coverage
Ingredients (not scored): no ingredient list for one product
Differences: Neutral rather than cool undertone · Matte rather than natural finish · Full rather than medium coverage · Does not claim not settling into lines
$20Ulta Beauty(product price)$18 less (47%)3.7 (146)
Matches: Near-identical swatch colour· Both claim long-wearing· Both claim a lightweight feel
Differences: Neutral rather than cool undertone· Matte rather than natural finish· Full rather than medium coverage
Score details
Shade match
89
Finish & visual result
67
Wear & performance
82
Skin suitability
84
Looks identical · Matte · Full coverage
Ingredients (not scored): no ingredient list for one product
Differences: Neutral rather than cool undertone · Matte rather than natural finish · Full rather than medium coverage · Does not claim not settling into lines
Matches: Very close colour· Similar undertone (neutral vs cool)· Same medium coverage
Differences: Matte rather than natural finish· No long-wear claim· Does not claim not settling into lines
Score details
Shade match
89
Finish & visual result
70
Wear & performance
54
Skin suitability
60
Very close colour · Matte · Medium coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 5% ingredient overlap
Differences: Matte rather than natural finish · No long-wear claim · Does not claim not settling into lines · Not marketed for normal skin · Contains drying alcohol
Matches: Near-identical swatch colour· Both claim a lightweight feel
Differences: Neutral rather than cool undertone· Radiant rather than natural finish· Light rather than medium coverage
Score details
Shade match
89
Finish & visual result
67
Wear & performance
54
Skin suitability
60
Looks identical · Radiant · Light coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 6% ingredient overlap
Differences: Neutral rather than cool undertone · Radiant rather than natural finish · Light rather than medium coverage · No long-wear claim · Does not claim not settling into lines · Not marketed for oily skin · Contains listed fragrance · Contains drying alcohol
Retailer shade note: for deeper skin with neutral undertones
Matches: Very close colour· Same medium coverage· Claims transfer resistance
Differences: Neutral rather than cool undertone· Matte rather than natural finish· Does not claim not settling into lines
Score details
Shade match
82
Finish & visual result
76
Wear & performance
61
Skin suitability
60
Very close colour · Matte · Medium coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 6% ingredient overlap
Differences: Neutral rather than cool undertone · Matte rather than natural finish · Does not claim not settling into lines · Not marketed for normal skin
Retailer shade note: deepest with neutral rich-brown undertones
$11.99Ulta Beauty(product price)$26.01 less (68%)4.4 (182,841)
Matches: Very close colour· Same medium coverage· Both claim a lightweight feel
Differences: Slightly warmer undertone· Matte rather than natural finish· Does not claim not settling into lines
Score details
Shade match
75
Finish & visual result
76
Wear & performance
68
Skin suitability
67
Very close colour · Matte · Medium coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 1% ingredient overlap
Differences: Slightly warmer undertone · Matte rather than natural finish · Does not claim not settling into lines · Not marketed for combination skin · Contains drying alcohol
$20.99Ulta Beauty(product price)$17.01 less (45%)4.3 (8,122)
Matches: Very close colour
Differences: Neutral rather than cool undertone· Radiant rather than natural finish· Light rather than medium coverage
Score details
Shade match
83
Finish & visual result
67
Wear & performance
40
Skin suitability
84
Very close colour · Radiant · Light coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 2% ingredient overlap
Differences: Neutral rather than cool undertone · Radiant rather than natural finish · Light rather than medium coverage · No long-wear claim · Does not claim not settling into lines · Does not claim a lightweight feel · Contains drying alcohol
Matches: Very close colour· Both claim long-wearing· Claims transfer resistance
Differences: Slightly warmer undertone· Radiant rather than natural finish· Full rather than medium coverage
Score details
Shade match
74
Finish & visual result
67
Wear & performance
67
Skin suitability
84
Very close colour · Radiant · Full coverage
Ingredients (not scored): 2% ingredient overlap
Differences: Slightly warmer undertone · Radiant rather than natural finish · Full rather than medium coverage · Does not claim not settling into lines
Retailer shade note: very deep with rich golden undertone for very rich skin
The closest shade to MERIT The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick Cacao (Deep · Cool 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
bareMinerals BAREPRO 24HR Skin Perfecting Talc-Free Matte Powder Foundation in Deep 60 Cool, against MERIT The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick in Cacao. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.
ComparedYour shadeCacaoClosest shade matchDeep 60 CoolHow they compareScore
Shade match55% of overall95
Colour60%92#86533c#854e39Very close colourColour difference 1.9 (0 is identical)
Depth15%97DeepDeepSameDepth difference: 2.0
Retailer descriptionRich deepVery deepSome differenceRetailer descriptions one depth band apart
Overall match 85/100Shade 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.
Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Blurring & Smoothing Foundation in 38C Magnetic, against MERIT The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick in Cacao. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.
ComparedYour shadeCacaoClosest overall alternative38C MagneticHow they compareScore
Shade match55% of overall95
Colour60%91#86533c#87503dVery close colourColour difference 2.1 (0 is identical)
Depth15%99DeepDeepSameDepth difference: 0.8
Retailer descriptionRich deepRich deepBoth described as rich deepThe retailers describe the same depth
Finish & visual result25% of overall · 3 of 4 compared89
Finish35%100NaturalNaturalSameSame natural finish
Coverage30%100MediumMediumSameSame medium coverage
Skin-like finish20%—not comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists a skin-like finish
Blurring15%40Not listedClaimedSome differenceThe match claims a blurring or smoothing effect; your product does not list it
Wear & performance15% of overall · 3 of 5 compared68
Longevity30%70Long-wearing24-hour wearSome differenceThe match claims 24-hour wear; your product says long-wearing without hours
Transfer resistance20%—not comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists transfer resistance
Settling20%40ClaimedNot listedSome differenceOnly your product claims not settling into pores or fine lines; the match does not list it
Colour stability15%—not comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists colour stability (no oxidation)
Comfort15%100ClaimedClaimedSameBoth products claim a comfortable, lightweight feel
Skin suitability5% of overall100
Skin type100%100Normal, combination, oilyNormal, combination, oilyBoth marketed for normal/combination/oily skin
Overall match 89/100Shade 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.
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.
Sephora
Ulta Beauty(product price)Costs $11 more
