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Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation M20W dupes and alternatives Smashbox

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%).

Only showing matches in liquid form, with SPF.

  • 6 matches have no formulation listed and are not shown.
  • 24 matches have no SPF listed and are not shown.

Closest shade matchClosest overall alternative: MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation NC38

The equivalent shade and the most similar foundation overall.

Your shade
Smashbox
M20WChange shade
Depth and undertone: Medium · Warm
Finish and coverage: Natural · Full coverage
The match
MAC Cosmetics
NC38
Depth and undertone: Medium · Warm · peach
Finish and coverage: Matte · Full coverage
Overall match
87out of 100
Shade (Shade match)
98
Finish (Finish & visual result)
76
Wear (Wear & performance)
79
Skin (Skin suitability)
40
Shade match
98out of 100
Colour
97
Depth
97
Undertone
100
High confidence· Digital matchWhy it matches
Best price
$39SephoraSephora
$6 less (13%)

Your shade $45 at Ulta Beauty

SephoraView at Sephora

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 · Clinique

    Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Foundation

    WN 98 Cream Caramel
    Shade match 91
    $39SephoraSephora$6 less (13%)

    Matches: Very close colourSimilar undertone (neutral vs warm)Same natural finish

    Differences: Medium rather than full coverageDoes not claim transfer resistanceDoes not claim not settling into lines

    Score details
    Shade match
    91
    Finish & visual result
    81
    Wear & performance
    61
    Skin suitability
    60

    Very close colour · Natural · Medium coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 19% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Medium rather than full coverage · Does not claim transfer resistance · Does not claim not settling into lines · Not marketed for oily/sensitive skin

    Retailer shade note: medium, warm-neutral undertones

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match
  2. Shade match 92
    $60SephoraSephoraCosts $15 more

    Matches: Near-identical swatch colourBoth claim 12-hour wearBoth claim transfer resistance

    Differences: Olive rather than warm undertoneRadiant rather than natural finishMedium rather than full coverage

    Score details
    Shade match
    92
    Finish & visual result
    67
    Wear & performance
    82
    Skin suitability
    60

    Looks identical · Radiant · Medium coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 12% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Olive rather than warm undertone · Radiant rather than natural finish · Medium rather than full coverage · Does not claim colour stability · Not marketed for oily/sensitive skin

    Retailer shade note: medium, warm olive

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match

Looking for a concealer in your shade?

The closest shade to Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation M20W (Medium · Warm undertone) in each concealer range, compared on measured colour, depth and undertone. Price never changes the order.

Closest concealers

  1. 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

  2. Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer

    380W

    Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer, shade 380W

    • Very close colour
    • Medium · Warm · golden undertone

    $24

  3. NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer

    Caramel

    NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, shade Caramel

    • Very close colour
    • Medium · Warm undertone

    $36

  4. Clinique Even Better All-Over Concealer + Eraser

    WN 100 Deep Honey

    Clinique Even Better All-Over Concealer + Eraser, shade WN 100 Deep Honey

    • Looks identical
    • Medium · Neutral · neutral golden undertone

    $22

  5. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

    Caramel

    NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, shade Caramel

    • Very close colour
    • Medium · Warm undertone

    $36

  6. 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

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 Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation in NC38, against Smashbox Always On Skin-Balancing Foundation in M20W. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shadeM20WClosest matchNC38Score
Shade match55% of overall98
Colour97#c99566#cc9867Looks identicalColour difference 1.0 (0 is identical)
Depth97MediumMediumSameDepth difference: 1.6
Retailer descriptionMediumMediumBoth described as mediumThe retailers describe the same depth
Undertone100WarmWarm · peachClosefrom retailer shade descriptions
Finish & visual result25% of overall · 2 of 4 compared76
Finish56NaturalMatteSome differenceMatte finish rather than natural
Coverage100FullFullSameSame full coverage
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 overall79
Longevity6016-hour wear24-hour wearSome difference24-hour wear claimed against 16-hour wear
Transfer resistance100ClaimedClaimedSameBoth products claim transfer resistance
Settling100ClaimedClaimedSameBoth products claim not settling into pores or fine lines
Colour stability100ClaimedClaimedSameBoth products claim colour stability (no oxidation)
Comfort40Not listedClaimedSome differenceThe match claims a comfortable, lightweight feel; your product does not list it
Skin suitability5% of overall40
Skin type40Combination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveNormal, oilyBoth marketed for normal/​oily skin
Overall match 87/100Shade match 98/100High 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 MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation in NC38.

Same or better

  • $6 less
  • Near-identical swatch colour
  • Same warm undertone
  • Same full coverage
  • Both claim transfer resistance
  • Both claim not settling into lines
  • Both claim colour stability
  • Claims a lightweight feel
  • Adds SPF 15

Different

  • Matte finish instead of natural
  • Not marketed for combination/dry/sensitive skin

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

21 shared ingredients; weighted similarity 34%. 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 listedSPF 15
OverlapBoth water-based; silicone high vs high

Where to buy NC38

Best price
$39SephoraSephora
$6 less (13%)

Your shade $45 at Ulta Beauty

SephoraView at Sephora

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.