The best MAC NC42 foundation dupes! Affordable and high-end!

Finding the right foundation shade is always a struggle, especially for brown skin girls. The right shade, undertone, preferable coverage, and so on.*Head exploding emoji!* To help all my NC42 girls, I’ve created this list with the best Mac NC42 foundation dupes!

Hopefully, this list will be helpful when looking for your perfect shade! This list contains the best Mac NC42 drugstore foundation equivalents and the best Mac NC42 high-end foundation equivalents.

Before we move on to the list, a quick disclaimer, I’m a Mac NC42 when I’m on my lightest during wintertime. My combination skin type tends to get more oily during summer. Finding the perfect foundation match will be different for everybody.

Nobody’s skin tone is the same. A different skin type will also affect how the foundation sits on your skin—all essential things to consider. When trying out a new foundation, I advise testing the colour in-store to be sure or buying where you can return your purchase.

NC42 drugstore foundation dupes

Milani Conceal and Perfect Foundation

Brand: Milani Cosmetics #07 or #08A
Foundation: Conceal and Perfect

This is one of my favourite drugstore foundations! The Conceal and Perfect Foundation #7 is affordable, has good staying power, and looks good on combination skin. This shade has more neutral tones in it.

If you’re slightly darker and a bit more yellow, I recommend trying the Conceal and Perfect foundation #08A. If your combination skin is more oily, especially during summer. This foundation might not be matte enough.

L’oreal True Match Foundation

Brand: L’oreal Paris
Foundation: True Match #W6.5 or W7

The True Match foundation is a classic in this list! I have been using this foundation for almost 25 years. It was the first drugstore brand that made shades for brown girls.

The formula is lightweight, and the coverage is light but buildable. The downside is that the formula doesn’t last a whole day, but it feels good on my skin! I use True Match #W6.5 during winter and True Match #W7 during summer.

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Maybelline Fit Me Foundation

Brand: Maybelline
Foundation: Fit Me Matte and Poreless #320 or #330

I prefer to use more matte foundations during summer since my combination skin tends to get more oily. This foundation has good coverage and staying power and comes in an extensive range of shades.

The best way to apply this foundation is with a damp beauty blender. I sometimes feel that it is a little too cool-toned for my skin tone, especially when I’m tan. However, the Maybelline Fit Me 330 is an excellent equivalent for the NC42.

L.A. Girl Cosmetics Pro Coverage Foundation

Brand: L.A. Girl Cosmetics
Foundation: Pro Coverage Foundation Tan or Warm Beige

This foundation reminds me of the Mac Fix Fluid Foundation! The consistency is not as thick, and the coverage is medium. But for a drugstore foundation, it’s pretty damn good. I recommend trying this foundation out if you’re looking for an affordable Mac NC42 foundation dupe.

The Pro Coverage Foundation in Warm Beige has a warm, neutral undertone, which suits the NC42 well. The Pro Coverage Foundation in Tan is darker with fewer yellow tones and leans more toward the NC44.

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EX1 Cosmetics Invisiwear Liquid Foundation

Brand: EX1 Cosmetics
Foundation: Invisiwear Liquid Foundation #8

This drugstore foundation line is made for women with warm and olive undertones. The formula is lightweight, and the finish is dewy.

For some reason, I keep forgetting about this foundation. Writing this makes me realise I should use it more. On ex1cosmetics.com, there is a tool to find your best shade. I recommend using Invisiwear Liquid Foundation #8 for the best NC42 match.

The Ordinary Coverage Foundation

Brand: The Ordinary
Foundation: Coverage Foundation Medium 2.1Y & Medium Dark 3.OY

I tried this foundation for a while but can’t love it fully! I use it since the bottle is small and perfect when travelling with hand luggage only. The coverage is good, and it dries matte. I find the formula a little too dull looking on my skin. 

However, I know of others who tried this foundation and loved it. The Ordinary Coverage Foundation Medium Dark 3.OY is a good match when I’m tan, and The Ordinary Coverage Foundation in Medium 2.1Y is good during winter. Both shades have yellow undertones.

NC42 high-end foundation dupes

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Foundation

Brand: Fenty Beauty
Foundation: Pro Filt’r Foundation 310 or 330

Even though my skin type is not oily, I wanted to try this foundation. The coverage is high, and the formula is thick and super matte. Even though the shade range is extensive, I found it hard to find my perfect match.

This foundation does oxidise a little, so do test it out first. I use the Pro Filt’r Foundation when it’s warm and humid, and I need full coverage with long-staying power.

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Estee Lauder Double Wear

Brand: Estee Lauder
Foundation: Double Wear 4W1 or 4N1

I LOVE this foundation! It’s my favourite in the range of high-end brands and worth every penny. The coverage is medium to full and looks fantastic. The staying power is good and lasts long on my skin type.

The formula is thick and matte but dries more semi-matte. I adore the finish of this foundation when taking photos. If I want less coverage, I mix this foundation with a little bit of MAC strobing cream.

I use this foundation regularly if I’m looking for full coverage and incredible staying power. The Estee Lauder Double Wear #4N1 is best during winter, and the Estee Lauder Double Wear 4W1 is best when I’m more tan and have more yellow tones in my skin. Highly recommend this foundation!

MAC Cosmetics Face and Body Foundation

Brand: MAC Cosmetics
Foundation: Face and Body Foundation C5

I started using this foundation a few months ago. The MAC Face and Body C5 perfectly match my NC42 skin tone. The formula is lightweight, and the consistency is thin. I reach for this one if I want light coverage to cover minor imperfections.

It’s the perfect foundation for a non-heavy makeup look with a dewy glass skin finish. I would use this foundation at a pool party or a day at the beach, and you want to have some coverage.

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation

Brand: Make Up For Ever
Foundation: Ultra HD Foundation #Y405 or #Y415

The Make Up For Ever HD Foundation is one of my favourite high-end foundations! I find it hard to choose between this and my Estee Lauder Double Wear. This formula feels light with medium but buildable coverage. The finish is a beautiful dewy look.

I tend to reach for this foundation during winter, for a night out and when I know that photos will be taken. This formula is a little dewier, and my skin is drier during winter. I use The Make Up For Ever #Y415 when I’m tan, and The Make Up For Ever #Y405 during winter. The shade #Y405 is a slightly better match with the Mac NC42.

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Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation

Brand: Armani Beauty
Foundation: Luminous Silk #7.5

The Armani Luminous Silk Foundation was everywhere on social media a few years ago. Everybody was raving about it. It took me a while to purchase it because it was pretty expensive. The coverage of this foundation is medium, and it has a beautiful luminous, dewy finish.

I adore this foundation and tend to reach for it if I want a healthy, glowing, bright, flawless look. The Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in #7.5 is the best match when you’re an NC42. If you’re darker, I recommend going one shade darker.

The best NC42 foundation dupes

To help you look for other foundation dupes, check out www.findation.com. This website is a huge help when looking for a comparable shade in another brand. You fill in the brands and shades you currently use, and you’ll get a complete list of similar foundation dupes!

I hope this list with the best Mac NC42 foundation dupes will be helpful when buying the right NC42 foundation shade. Any other dupes that should be added to the list? Please let me know in the comments below!

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