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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. So for today's blog post, I'd be listing down my foundation shades for comparison. Just a little bit of back ground info, I am a dark NC42 and a light NC44 in MAC so I'd say I'm right in between. I own 2 MAC foundations which is the Studio Sculpt, in NC42 and the Studio Fix Powder Foundation in NC43.
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
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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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.
Enjoy!
NC5 to NC10 Foundation Matches
If NC5 is too light for you and NC10 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
NC10 Foundation Matches
very fair beige with neutral undertone for very fair skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NC10.
NC10 or NW10 Foundation Matches
If either NC10 or NW10 match you, these foundation shades might suit you.
NC15 Foundation Matches
light beige with golden undertone for light skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NC15.
NC15 to NC20 Foundation Matches
If NC15 is too light for you and NC20 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
NC20 Foundation Matches
light beige with neutral golden undertone for light skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NC20.
NC20 to NC25 Foundation Matches
If NC20 is too light for you and NC25 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
NC25 Foundation Matches
light beige with golden peach undertone for light skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NC25.
NC30 Foundation Matches
light to medium beige with golden undertone for light to medium skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NC30.
NC30 to NC35 Foundation Matches
If NC30 is too light for you and NC35 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
NC35 Foundation Matches
light to medium beige with peachy golden undertone for medium skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NC35.
NC35 to NC40 Foundation Matches
If NC35 is too light for you and NC40 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
NC40 Foundation Matches
medium beige with golden peach undertone for medium skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NC40.
NC40 to NC42 Foundation Matches
If NC40 is too light for you and NC42 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
NC42 Foundation Matches
true medium beige with golden undertone for medium skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NC42.
NC44 Foundation Matches
tanned caramel with golden undertone for medium to dark skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NC44.
NC44 to NC45 Foundation Matches
If NC44 is too light for you and NC45 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
NC45 Foundation Matches
bronze with golden undertone for dark skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NC45.
NC45 to NC50 Foundation Matches
If NC45 is too light for you and NC50 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
NC50 Foundation Matches
rich brown with golden undertone for deep dark skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NC50.
Lighter than NW10 Foundation Matches
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to Lighter than NW10.
NW10 Foundation Matches
very fair beige with rosy undertone for fair skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NW10.
NW10 to NW20 Foundation Matches
If NW10 is too light for you and NW20 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
NW10 to NW13 Foundation Matches
If NW10 is too light for you and NW13 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
NW13 Foundation Matches
fair beige with neutral undertone for light skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NW13.
NW15 Foundation Matches
light beige with neutral undertone for light skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NW15.
NW15 to NW20 Foundation Matches
If NW15 is too light for you and NW20 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
NW15 to NC20 Foundation Matches
Neutral when pale but golden/yellow when tanned
If NW15 is too light for you and NC20 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
NW20 Foundation Matches
warm neutral beige with rosy undertone for light to medium skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NW20.
NW25 Foundation Matches
rosy beige with rosy undertone for light to medium skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NW25.
NW25 to NW30 Foundation Matches
If NW25 is too light for you and NW30 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
NW45 Foundation Matches
medium mahoghany with rosy undertones for medium to dark skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NW45.
NW47 Foundation Matches
deep auburn with neutral undertones for dark skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NW47.
NW50 Foundation Matches
rich coffee with neutral undertone for dark skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to NW50.
N1 to N2 Foundation Matches
If N1 is too light for you and N2 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
N4 to N5 Foundation Matches
If N4 is too light for you and N5 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
N1 to N5 Foundation Matches
If N1 is too light for you and N5 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
Mac Nc42 Dupes
Lighter than N5 Foundation Matches
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to Lighter than N5.
N5 to N10 Foundation Matches
If N5 is too light for you and N10 is too dark for you, these foundation shades might suit you.
N9 Foundation Matches
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to N9.
Mac Nc44 Foundation Equivalent
N10 Foundation Matches
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to N10.
Mac Nc42 Equivalent
N18 Foundation Matches
light neutral with rosy undertone for light skin
Try these foundation shades if you are matched to N18.
