MAC Cosmetics
Studio Radiance Serum Powered Foundation — NC40
$46Side by side, NC40 sits at the same depth and stays warm but pulls more peach than golden. Expect a more dewy finish.
MAC Cosmetics NC37, a shade of Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 24HR Buildable Soft-Matte Foundation + Oil Control, suits light-medium 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, NC40 sits at the same depth and stays warm but pulls more peach than golden. Expect a more dewy finish.
NC37 sits at the same depth and stays warm with less of the golden cast. Expect a more dewy finish.
On skin, 30.5Y Tan sits at the same depth and keeps the same warm undertone.
15N sits at the same depth and stays warm with less of the golden cast. Expect a more dewy finish.
Side by side, 3 N Neutral sits at the same depth and pulls a little cooler.
3N sits at the same depth and pulls a little cooler.
Sun Beige 310 lands right at the same depth and pulls a little cooler. Expect a more matte finish.
Side by side, 28Y Medium runs a touch lighter and holds the warm undertone.
MAC Cosmetics NC37 has a warm undertone with a golden cast. When comparing alternatives, keeping that golden quality matters as much as getting the depth right.
Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation in Sun Beige 310 (around $11.99) wears closest among budget options — sun Beige 310 lands right at the same depth and pulls a little cooler. Expect a more matte finish.
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.