Shade Guide

Lakme to Kay Beauty Foundation Shade Guide

Find your Kay Beauty equivalent if you know your Lakme 9to5 shade.

17Lakme shades
15Kay Beauty shades
11Exact matches

Complete Shade Conversion Table

Lakme ShadeDepthUndertoneKay Beauty MatchConfidence
Ivory Cream2/12neutral100Y Fair Ivoryapproximate
Rose Ivory2/12cool100P Fair Roseexact
Beige Vanilla3/12neutral120Y Lightapproximate
Ivory Fair3/12warm120Y Lightexact
Honey Dew4/12warm130P Light Mediumapproximate
Natural Light5/12neutral140N Mediumexact
Rose Silk5/12cool140Y Mediumapproximate
Warm Sand6/12warm160W Warm Mediumexact
Sand6/12neutral160N Mediumexact
Rose Honey6/12cool160W Warm Mediumapproximate
Natural Almond7/12warm180Y Tanexact
Almond Matte7/12neutral180N Tanexact
Honey8/12warm200W Warm Deepexact
Caramel8/12neutral200N Deepexact
Bronze9/12warm220Y Richexact
Walnut10/12warm240W Deep Richexact
Cocoa11/12warm240W Deep Richclose

How We Match Shades

Our shade matching system works by comparing two key properties of each foundation shade:

📊

Shade Depth

Each shade is mapped to a universal depth scale from 1 (very fair) to 12 (very deep). Shades with the same depth number are the closest match.

🎨

Undertone

We match warm, cool, neutral, and olive undertones. An exact undertone match plus same depth gives the highest confidence rating.

Confidence Ratings

exactSame depth and undertone — closest possible match
closeWithin 1 shade depth, same undertone
approximateSimilar range, different undertone or 2+ depth difference

Want more precise matching?

Use our full Foundation Shade Matcher to compare across all 13+ brands, or take the Skin Tone Finder quiz first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kay Beauty a good alternative to Lakme?

Kay Beauty (Hydrating Foundation) offers comparable shade coverage to Lakme (9to5 Primer + Matte Foundation). Both brands provide shades across a wide range of depths and undertones. The best match depends on your specific shade — check the table above for your conversion.

Why doesn't my Lakme shade have an exact match in Kay Beauty?

Not all brands use the same depth/undertone combinations. If your shade shows "close" or "approximate", it means Kay Beauty doesn't have a shade with the exact same depth + undertone, but the suggested match is the nearest available option.

Should I go lighter or darker if the match is approximate?

If the match is approximate, we recommend testing the suggested shade in natural daylight. If it looks slightly off, try one shade lighter for a more natural look or one shade darker for more coverage. Many stores in India (like Nykaa, Sephora) offer testers.

How accurate is this shade matching?

Our matching system uses a universal depth (1-12) and undertone (warm/cool/neutral) scale to map shades across brands. "Exact" matches are typically very accurate. "Close" matches are good starting points. Always test on your jawline in natural light for the best result.