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Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation L20W dupes and alternatives Smashbox

Light medium · Warm 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%).

Filters, 3 applied

Coverage

  • Light0
  • Medium0
  • Full2
  • Buildable0

Finish

Formulation

Skin type

Preferences

Fragrance-free2No drying alcohol2Vegan0Cruelty-free0Oil-free0With SPF0Mineral0

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2 of 30

Only showing matches with full coverage, in serum form, without talc.

  • 9 matches have no formulation listed and are not shown.

Closest shade matchClosest overall alternative: MAC Cosmetics Studio Radiance Serum Powered Foundation NC15

The equivalent shade and the most similar foundation overall.

Your shade
Smashbox
L20WChange shade
Depth and undertone: Light medium · Warm
Finish and coverage: Natural · Full coverage
The match
MAC Cosmetics
NC15
Depth and undertone: Light medium · Warm · golden
Finish and coverage: Radiant · Full coverage
Overall match
87out of 100
Shade (Shade match)
97
Finish (Finish & visual result)
70
Wear (Wear & performance)
76
Skin (Skin suitability)
100
Shade match
97out of 100
Colour
95
Depth
98
Undertone
100
Medium confidence· Digital matchWhy it matches
Match price
$46Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $1 more

Your shade $45 at Ulta Beauty · 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. #2 · MAC Cosmetics

    Studio Radiance Serum Powered Foundation

    NC20
    Shade match 93
    $46Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty(product price)Costs $1 more

    Matches: Near-identical swatch colourSimilar undertone (neutral vs warm)Same full coverage

    Differences: Radiant rather than natural finishDoes not claim colour stability

    Score details
    Shade match
    93
    Finish & visual result
    70
    Wear & performance
    76
    Skin suitability
    100

    Looks identical · Radiant · Full coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 22% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Radiant rather than natural finish · Does not claim colour stability

    Retailer shade note: light beige with neutral golden undertone for light skin

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match

Looking for a concealer in your shade?

The closest shade to Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation L20W (Light medium · Warm undertone) in each concealer range, compared on measured colour, depth and undertone. Price never changes the order.

Closest concealers

  1. bareMinerals ORIGINAL Liquid Mineral Brightening Concealer

    Light/Medium 2.5W

    bareMinerals ORIGINAL Liquid Mineral Brightening Concealer, shade Light/Medium 2.5W

    • Looks identical
    • Light medium · Warm · yellow undertone

    $31

    Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty
  2. Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating Face and Under-Eye Concealer

    4

    Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating Face and Under-Eye Concealer, shade 4

    • Very close colour
    • Light medium · Warm · golden undertone

    $42

    SephoraView at Sephora
  3. Glossier Stretch Concealer for Dewy Buildable Coverage

    Medium 3

    Glossier Stretch Concealer for Dewy Buildable Coverage, shade Medium 3

    • Very close colour
    • Light medium · Warm · golden undertone

    $22

    SephoraView at Sephora
  4. Dior Forever Skin Correct Full-Coverage Concealer

    2W Warm

    Dior Forever Skin Correct Full-Coverage Concealer, shade 2W Warm

    • Very close colour
    • Light medium · Warm undertone

    $42

    Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty
  5. Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer

    250W

    Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer, shade 250W

    • Very close colour
    • Light medium · Warm · peach undertone

    $24

    SephoraView at Sephora
  6. Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer

    10 Light Golden

    Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer, shade 10 Light Golden

    • Very close colour
    • Light medium · Warm · golden undertone

    $32

    SephoraView at Sephora

Concealer shade colours are sampled from retailer swatch images, so check the shade on the retailer page before buying.

Why the closest match works

MAC Cosmetics Studio Radiance Serum Powered Foundation in NC15, against Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation in L20W. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shadeL20WClosest matchNC15Score
Shade match55% of overall97
Colour95#e1b181#dcaf84Looks identicalColour difference 1.4 (0 is identical)
Depth98Light mediumLight mediumSameDepth difference: 1.4
Retailer descriptionLightLightBoth described as lightThe retailers describe the same depth
Undertone100WarmWarm · goldenClosefrom retailer shade descriptions
Finish & visual result25% of overall · 3 of 4 compared70
Finish56NaturalRadiantSome differenceRadiant finish rather than natural
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 overall76
Longevity8016-hour wear12-hour wearClose12-hour wear claimed against 16-hour wear
Transfer resistance100ClaimedClaimedSameBoth products claim transfer resistance
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
Comfort40Not listedClaimedSome differenceThe match claims a comfortable, lightweight feel; your product does not list it
Skin suitability5% of overall100
Skin type100Combination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveCombination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveBoth marketed for combination/​dry/​normal/​oily/​sensitive skin
Overall match 87/100Shade 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 MAC Cosmetics Studio Radiance Serum Powered Foundation in NC15.

Same or better

  • Near-identical swatch colour
  • Same warm undertone
  • Same full coverage
  • Claims a blurring effect
  • Both claim 12-hour wear
  • Both claim transfer resistance
  • Both claim not settling into lines
  • Claims a lightweight feel

Different

  • Radiant finish instead of natural
  • Does not claim colour stability

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

20 shared ingredients; weighted similarity 22%. Ingredients only affect results through the filters.

AttributeYour shadeClosest match
BaseWater-based, high siliconeWater-based, high silicone
FragranceNot listedNot listed
Drying alcoholNot listedNot listed
SPFNot listedNot listed
OverlapBoth water-based; silicone high vs high
View full match

Where to buy NC15

Match price
$46Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $1 more

Your shade $45 at Ulta Beauty · product price; shade not separately priced

Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty

How these matches are scored

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.