For a more comprehensive post on MAC foundation shades, check out our guide on MAC foundation shades explained for all skin tones.

For MAC foundation shades for Indian skin, just keep reading!

Table of contents

• All about foundation shades for Indian skin
  • Frequently asked questions about Indian skin tones
  • How to choose your MAC Studio foundation shade
    • Step 1: Find your undertone
    • Step 2: Find your skin twin
  • MAC foundation shade system explained
• MAC foundations for Indian skin tones list
  • LIGHT SKINTONES
    • MAC NC15:
    • MAC NC20:
    • MAC NC25:
    • MAC NC30:
  • MEDIUM SKINTONES
    • MAC NC35:
    • MAC NC40:
    • MAC NC42:
    • MAC NC43:
    • MAC NC43.5:
    • MAC NC44:
    • MAC NC45:
    • MAC NC46:
  • DEEP SKINTONES
    • MAC NC50:
• More beauty resources
  • Top rated foundations and concealers reviews
  • Shade finders for specific foundations/concealers
  • Blush shade guides

All about foundation shades for Indian skin

Updated on 4/24/24

Here at Redmond Mom, we receive a lot of questions about finding the best foundation matches for Indian skin tones.

Whether you are choosing a MAC Studio foundation shade or wondering which concealer is best for Indian skin, we have the answers for you.

Check out our guide to finding the best foundations matches for Indian skin.

Frequently asked questions about Indian skin tones

Question: Which foundation shade is best for Indian skin?

Answer: Indian skin tones vary greatly and range from fair to deep.

On the MAC foundation scale, it tends to range between MAC NC15 (described as light beige for light skin) to MAC NC50 (rich brown for deep dark skin).

For example, someone who is MAC NC15, would look like Heli Ved.

Someone whose skin tone is MAC NC30 will look like Shreya Jain.

Someone whose skin tone is MAC NC40, will look like Deepthi Desikan.

While someone who is MAC NC46 would look like Sathyapriya.

Question: What undertone is Indian skin?

Answer: A common misconception is that Indian skin tones are ALWAYS warm and yellow-based.

In fact, you’ve probably been told that all Asians have warm skin tones.

Well, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Plenty of Asians have olive, neutral and cool undertones, and warm foundation shades can look overly orange on their skin.

Question: Is NC40 darker than NC42?

Answer: No. NC40 is lighter than NC42. However, both shades have a similar warm (yellow) undertone. If you are normally NC40, you may find that NC42 is a better match for your skin in summer.

Question: Which is darker? NC35 or NC40?

Answer: NC40 is darker than NC35. However, both shades have a similar warm (golden undertone). Use this NC35 foundation equivalents page or NC40 foundation matches page to find your match. You’ll also find shades for neutral and olive undertones.

How to choose your MAC Studio foundation shade

Step 1: Find your undertone

Determine your skin’s undertone to find the perfect foundation match.

This is crucial because the worst foundation mismatches tend to be shades that make one appear unusually orange or pink or grey.

Broadly speaking, skin undertones fall into 4 categories:

Warm skin tones look more yellow.

Cool skin tones look more pink.

Neutral skin tones are somewhere between yellow and pink.

Olive skin tones have green and grey hues.

Step 2: Find your skin twin

Once you’ve determined your undertone, the quickest way to narrow down your foundation match is to find someone with a similar skin tone.

Check out the following list of YouTubers compiled by the makeup geniuses at Reddit to find the skin twin with the same skin tone as yours!

MAC foundation shade system explained

NC: has yellow, neutral and olive undertones

NW: has pink and neutral undertones

C: has yellow and olive undertones

For example, someone who is MAC NC30, would have light to medium skin, with yellow, neutral or olive undertones.

MAC foundations for Indian skin tones list

Find your skin twin below:

LIGHT SKINTONES

MAC NC15:

All NC15 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.

All NW15 foundation matches/equivalents for cool skin tones.

MAC NC20:

All NC20 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.

All NW20 foundation matches/equivalents for cool skin tones.

MAC NC25:

All NC25 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.

All NW25 foundation matches/equivalents for cool skin tones.

MAC NC30:

All NC30 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.

All NW25 to NW30 foundation matches/equivalents for cool skin tones.

MEDIUM SKINTONES

MAC NC35:

All NC35 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.

MAC NC40:

All NC40 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.

MAC NC42:

All NC42 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.

MAC NC43:

All NC42 and NC44 foundation matches for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.

MAC NC43.5:

All NC42 and NC44 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.

MAC NC44:

All NC44 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.

MAC NC45:

All NC45 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.

All NW45 foundation matches/equivalents for cool skin tones.

MAC NC46:

All NC45 to NC50 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.

All NW47 foundation matches/equivalents for cool skin tones.

DEEP SKINTONES

MAC NC50:

All NC50 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.

All NW50 foundation matches/equivalents for cool skin tones.

More beauty resources

Top rated foundations and concealers reviews

Shade finders for specific foundations/concealers

Blush shade guides

Image credits: https://www.maccosmetics.com, www.amazon.com, www.youtube.com