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Shade Guide

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Finding the correct shade of foundation, powder or concealer can be a difficult task.

Our shade guide will help you understand what each MAC Shade means so you can find the one that’s best for you. Find your match!

The following chart was created by MAC to help you understand the wide array of foundation
shades that MAC offers. Each shade’s name is a combination of letters followed by numbers (ie: NC 35 or NW 15). The shades range in depth from 15 (very pale) to 55 (very dark). The C, NC, N, NW or W distinguish between different skin tones.

Concealer / Foundation / Powder Shades
To understand how MAC names their shades, here is a breakdown of MAC’s foundation codes:

To determine what your undertones are, take a look at the underside of your forearm. If your vein looks more blue, then you most likely have pinkish undertones. If your vein looks more greenish, then you have more yellow or golden undertones.
The number that follows the letter(s) denotes the depth of the shade. The higher the number, the deeper the color.

The first step in selecting your shade is to simply look at your skin, without makeup, in daylight. If your skin looks more Yellow/Golden Olive or Golden Beige, you match with Neutral Cool or “NC” shades. If your skin is a neutral beige, you will match with the Neutral or “N” shades. If your skin looks more Pink Beige, you match with Neutral Warm or “NW” shades. This might seem backwards since usually we think of pinkish skin tones as cool and yellowish skin tones as warm. The reason for this is that MAC uses the makeup artists color wheel which is pretty much the opposite of what we usually think of as cool vs. warm. An easy way to look at it is like this: Think of each MAC foundation shade as being named with either the cool or warm shade that would neutralize and balance out your skin tone.

By looking at your skin in daylight, most skin tones will fall into either the NC or NW classifications. However, if
you are still not certain which classification is right for you, looking at the undertones in your skin will help. As mentioned in the chart above, looking at the veins on the underside of your arm can help you determine your skin’s undertones. But if at all possible, it is highly recommended to match your skin tone in person at a MAC counter or MAC store to ensure you purchase the correct shade.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Finding the “right” colour is something very subjective. It is a good idea to choose the shade in person by visiting a MAC counter if at all possible.
• When choosing a foundation shade, you will want to make sure you use the skin near your jawline or neck area as your criteria for determining your match. This helps to ensure flawless blending and to avoid ending up with a face that’s too light or too dark that doesn’t match the rest of your skin! If you simply try to match the skin tone on your forehead or cheeks, you will often end up with a shade that looks to dark compared to the rest of you. It is much better to choose the shade that matches your jawline/neckline, and then to use a Bronzer or Skinfinish to highlight or add “sun” to your face, if desired. (Also, when it comes to actual makeup application, be sure to blend foundations and powders around the jawline and into the neckline.)
• With concealers, it is possible you may want to try a concealer with a slight tint to it. This will help cover up dark undereye circles or reddish imperfections.
  • Slightly yellowish tones will help to cancel out and cover up dark purpleish/blueish undereye circles. (Or just selecting a concealer that is a few shades lighter than your regular foundation will also work well for diminishing undereye circles.)
  • Slightly greenish toned concealers will help to cancel out any reddish tones in your skin caused by acne, or other skin conditions.
• If you have a significant undertone to your skin, you may choose to play it up or play it down by trying a shade that includes or excludes your undertones.
• Often, people will wear a couple different shades throughout the year because skin shade and tone can change according to the season, physical well being and general lighting.