Buying foundation is such a hit or miss thing for me. Somehow I always end up with a shade that’s completely wrong for me. And then I discovered this fantastic megathread at r/MakeupAddiction where the makeup aficionados there listed all the popular foundation shades that matched their skin tones.
I wanted to make that super useful resource easier to use, so I’ve extracted the shade info from the thread and sorted it by MAC shade.
Free shipping and returns on MAC Pro Longwear Concealer at Nordstrom.com. What it is: A lightweight, fluid formula. Who it's for: Anyone who wants medium-to-full coverage with a comfortable, natural matte finish. What it does: It gives a smoother, flawless-looking finish on the skin while helping to conceal flaws, dark spots, skin. MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35 - NC42 Tanned peach with golden undertones for medium to dark skin PillPack by Amazon Pharmacy. Your medication, delivered Learn more What other items do. Concealer has broad spectrum SPF 35 protection and is available in a wide range of colours. It can be applied with a medium to firm fiber brush (try the 242 Shader Brush), a latex sponge, or the fingertips. MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35 - NC42; Tanned peach with golden undertones for medium to dark skin.
The full list contains all the MAC shades.
Enjoy!
If NC40 is too light for you and NC42 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
| Becca Complete Coverage | Olive |
| Bourjois healthy mix serum foundation | 56.0 |
| Cover FX | G60 |
| Dior Foundation | 40 |
| Estee Lauder Double Wear | 3W2 |
| EX1 Invisiwear foundation | F300 |
| Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk | 7.5 |
| Givenchy Photo Perfection | #8 |
| It Cosmetics CC Cream | Tan |
| Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo | M57 |
| Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer | SX11 |
| Lancome Teint Idole | 410 Bisque (W) |
| Laura Mercier Smooth Finish | Amber |
| L’oreal true match foundation | N6 Honey |
| MAC pro longwear concealer | NC 42 |
| MakeUp Forever HD | 153/Y405 |
| MakeUp Forever Mat Velvet+ | #53 |
| Tarte Amazonian Clay | Tan sand |
| Too Faced Born this Way | Sand |
| Urban Decay Naked Skin | 7.0 |
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Finding the right foundation shade is always a struggle, especially for brown skin girls! Even after fifteen years, I’m still struggling and it usually takes me hours at Sephora. There have been plenty of times where I came home with a foundation shade that was way too light or the colour looked weird on my skin tone. I’m a Mac NC42 going to an NC44 during summer. I’ve tried all the foundations in the list myself. Here are all my Mac NC42 foundation dupes! From drugstore to high-end.
Before we’re moving on to the list, a quick disclaimer. Finding the perfect foundation match will be different for everybody. Nobody’s skin tone is exactly the same. When trying out a new foundation, I advise testing the colour in store to be sure. Especially when it comes to expensive high-end foundations.
*Updated July 2020
Mac Cosmetics NC42/ NC44 foundation dupes
L’oreal True Match – #W6.5 / #W7
Maybelline Fit Me – #320 / #330
Estee Lauder Double Wear – #4N1 / #4N2
Mac Nc42 Concealer Swatches
Milani Conceal & Perfect Foundation – #7 / #08A
Fenty Pro Filt’r Foundation – #300 / #330
Makeup For Ever HD Foundation – #Y415 / #Y405
L.A. Girl HD Pro Coverage Foundation – Tan / Soft honey
L’oreal Infallible – #320 / #330
Go-to foundation
Lately, my go-to foundation is the Milani Conceal & Perfect foundation in shade 7 or 08A. This foundation is super affordable, has a great staying power, a nice consistency and it looks good on my combination skin. I mix this foundation with a little bit of Revlon Photoready Skinlights in Bronze Light during summer to get a better match. A little goes a long way when using this foundation. This combination is perfect for everyday use and it’s so affordable. Milani Cosmetics is definitely one of my favourite drugstore brands.
High-end foundations
For special occasions, I’m using my Make Up For Ever HD Foundation in Y415. During winter I mix it with a little strobing cream in Peachlite from Mac or the L.A. Girl Pro Coverage Foundation (check out my review here) in Soft Honey when I’m not that tan. For summer this shade is a great match. I tested it during a hot summer day and I love how it looks on my skin. Even after a few hours and after sweating it still looks beautiful.
Matte foundations
During summer I sometimes reach more for my matte foundations like the Maybelline Fit Me (great affordable drugstore foundation!) or the Fenty Pro Filt’r foundation. In summer my combination skin gets a little more oily. Therefore I prefer to wear a more matte foundation to prevent my foundation from sweating off my skin immediately. I find the Fenty Pro Filt’r foundation too be a little difficult when it comes to the perfect shade and the foundation is a little too dry for my skin. So I end up mixing it with a tiny bit of strobing cream. The shades do change colour after applying, but the coverage is good.
Dewy foundations
For winter my skin definitely needs a foundation that is more moisturising. I always use a rich moisturiser underneath it, like the Elizabeth Arden Visible Cream. The foundations that I love for winter are the Make Up Forever HD foundation, the L’oreal True Match (less staying power but affordable) or the Mac Cosmetics Fix Fluid.
NC42 foundation dupes
To look for other foundation shade dupes, you can check out www.findation.com. This website is a huge help when looking for a comparable shade in another brand. You just fill in the brands and shades you are currently using and you’ll get a complete list of other brands that are comparable!
I hope this Mac Cosmetics NC42 /NC44 foundation dupe list will be helpful when buying the right shade. Any other shades that should be added to the list? Please let me know in the comments below!
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