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
- MAC foundations for Indian skin tones list
- More beauty resources
All about foundation shades for Indian skin
Updated on 12/6/22
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.
So which foundation shade is best for Indian skin?
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.
Misconception: Indian skin tones are ALWAYS warm
Many people think 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.
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:
Top rated MAC NC15 foundations (warm/neutral undertone)
See all NC15 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.
Top rated NW15 foundations (cool/neutral undertone)
CC+ Cream
Fair is a match for NW15 skin tone.
See all NW15 foundation matches/equivalents for cool skin tones.
MAC NC20:
Top rated NC20 foundations (warm/neutral undertone)
Healthy Mix
Serum Foundation in Vanilla 52 is a match for NC20.
See all NC20 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.
Top rated NW20 foundations (cool/neutral undertone)
C2 is a match for NW20 skin tone.
All NW20 foundation matches/equivalents for cool skin tones.
MAC NC25:
Top rated foundations for NC25 (warm/neutral undertone)
W3 is a match for MAC NC25 skin tone.
See all NC25 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.
Top rated foundations for NW25 (cool/neutral undertone)
250 Fresh Beige is a match for MAC NW25 skin tone.
See all NW25 foundation matches/equivalents for cool skin tones.
MAC NC30:
Top rated foundations for NC30 (warm/neutral undertone)
Light/Medium is a match for MAC NC30 skin tone.
8 Golden Neutral is a match for MAC NC30 skin tone.
See all NC30 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.
Top rated foundations for NW25 to NW30 (cool/neutral undertone)
3N1 Ivory Beige is a match for NW25 to NW30 skin tone.
320 True Beige is a match for NW25 to NW30 skin tone.
See all NW25 to NW30 foundation matches/equivalents for cool skin tones.
MEDIUM SKINTONES
MAC NC35:
Top rated foundations for NC35 (warm/neutral undertone)
11 Beige is a match for MAC NC35 skin tone.
Cover Crème Foundation in 40N Golden Beige is a match for MAC NC35 skin tone.
See all NC35 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.
MAC NC40:
Top rated foundations for NC40 (warm/neutral undertone)
Warm Natural is a match for MAC NC40 skin tone.
See all NC40 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.
MAC NC42:
Top rated foundations/concealers for NC42 (warm/neutral undertone)
C11 is a match for NC42.
All NC42 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.
MAC NC43:
See all NC42 and NC44 foundation matches for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.
MAC NC43.5:
See all NC42 and NC44 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.
MAC NC44:
Top rated foundations for NC44 (warm/neutral undertone)
Glow Foundation
Syracuse is a match for MAC NC44 skin tone.
09 Tan is a match for MAC NC44.
All NC44 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.
MAC NC45:
Top rated foundations for NC45 (warm/neutral undertone)
Liquid foundation in
W7 is a match for MAC NC45 skin tone.
See all NC45 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.
Top rated foundations for NW45 (cool/neutral undertone)
355 Coconut is a match for MAC NW45.
NW45 is a match for MAC NW45 skin tone.
Hazelnut is a match for MAC NW45 skin tone.
See all NW45 foundation matches/equivalents for cool skin tones.
MAC NC46:
Top rated foundations for NC45 to NC50 (warm/neutral undertone)
Idole Ultra 24H in
460 Suede W is a match for NC45 to NC50 skin tone.
All NC45 to NC50 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.
Top rated foundations for NW47 (cool/neutral undertone)
See all NW47 foundation matches/equivalents for cool skin tones.
DEEP SKINTONES
MAC NC50:
Top rated foundations for NC50 (warm/neutral undertone)
Macau is a match for MAC NC50 skin tone.
See all NC50 foundation matches/equivalents for warm, neutral and olive skin tones.
Top rated foundations for NW50 (cool/neutral undertone)
Idole Ultra 24H
Makeup in 500 Suede W is a match for MAC NW50 skin tone.
Liquid foundation in
Cocoa C8 is a match for MAC NW50 skin tone.
See all NW50 foundation matches/equivalents for cool skin tones.
More beauty resources
Full list of foundation matches for all skin tones
Top rated foundations and concealers
Shade finders for specific foundations/concealers
Shade finders for different skin tones
Blush shade guides
Image credits: https://www.maccosmetics.com, www.amazon.com, www.youtube.com