Shade Guide

MAC to Rare Beauty Foundation Shade Guide

Find your Rare Beauty Liquid Touch shade if you know your MAC Studio Fix shade.

29MAC shades
21Rare Beauty shades
20Exact matches

Complete Shade Conversion Table

MAC ShadeDepthUndertoneRare Beauty MatchConfidence
NC101/12warm110Napproximate
NC152/12warm130Wexact
NC203/12warm170Wexact
NC254/12warm210Wexact
NC305/12warm230Wexact
NC356/12warm270Wexact
NC377/12warm310Wexact
NC408/12warm330Wexact
NC429/12warm370Wexact
NC4410/12warm410Wexact
NC4511/12warm460Wexact
NC5012/12warm490Wexact
NW101/12cool110Napproximate
NW152/12cool150Cexact
NW203/12cool170Wapproximate
NW254/12cool210Wapproximate
NW305/12cool230Wapproximate
NW356/12cool270Wapproximate
NW408/12cool330Wapproximate
NW439/12cool390Cexact
NW4510/12cool410Wapproximate
NW5012/12cool490Wapproximate
N43/12neutral190Nexact
N54/12neutral210Nexact
N65/12neutral250Nexact
N6.56/12neutral280Nexact
N77/12neutral310Nexact
N88/12neutral350Nexact
N910/12neutral430Nexact

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 Rare Beauty a good alternative to MAC?

Rare Beauty (Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation) offers comparable shade coverage to MAC (Studio Fix Fluid). 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 MAC shade have an exact match in Rare Beauty?

Not all brands use the same depth/undertone combinations. If your shade shows "close" or "approximate", it means Rare 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.