MAC Cosmetics
Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation — C4
$39Side by side, C4 lands right at the same depth and stays warm but pulls more peach than golden. Expect a more matte finish.
MAC Cosmetics C4, a shade of Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 24HR Buildable Soft-Matte Foundation + Oil Control, suits light skin with a warm, golden-leaning undertone. The golden cast is what people usually try to keep when they look for alternatives. Below are the alternatives that wear closest to it — each one noted with how it differs, so you know what you're trading before you buy.
Side by side, C4 lands right at the same depth and stays warm but pulls more peach than golden. Expect a more matte finish.
Next to it, C4 matches the depth closely and stays warm but pulls more peach than golden. Expect a more dewy finish.
On skin, 22.8N Medium lands right at the same depth and pulls a little cooler.
28.5N Medium sits at the same depth and pulls a little cooler.
20N Medium runs a touch lighter and keeps the same warm undertone.
Next to it, 32N Medium Neutral runs a touch deeper and stays warm with less of the golden cast. Expect a more matte finish.
3N1 Sand runs a touch deeper and stays warm with less of the golden cast. Expect a more dewy finish.
Next to it, 270 Light Medium runs a touch deeper and pulls a little cooler.
MAC Cosmetics C4 has a warm undertone with a golden cast. When comparing alternatives, keeping that golden quality matters as much as getting the depth right.
A shade never wears alone — it sits next to your concealer, blush and the rest of your routine. Toni at Shade & Seek reads the whole face, not just one swatch, so you can see any of these alternatives in context before buying.