Clinique Superbalanced™ Makeup - 18 Clove: closest matches in other brands

Clinique Superbalanced™ Makeup in 18 Clove is a cool-undertone, tan shade ($26). Below: the 8 closest foundation shades from other brands by colour distance, plus its neighbours in the same range.

Skin Tone Finder

Your skin depth and undertone from a selfie — for foundation and concealer matching. Nothing is uploaded.

A guide for fun & self-improvement based on your photo — not a professional colour-matching service.

Closest matches to Clinique Superbalanced™ Makeup in 18 Clove
BrandProductShadeUndertoneDepthMatch
SmashboxSTUDIO SKIN 15 HOUR WEAR HYDRATING FOUNDATION4.15CoolTannear-identical (ΔE 1.0)
RevlonPhotoready Airbrush Effect MakeupMochaCoolTanvery close (ΔE 2.1)
Cargo CosmeticsOneBase for Face05 - Dark with neutral undertoneCoolTanvery close (ΔE 2.8)
NyxHD Photogenic Concealer WandCappuccinoNeutralTanvery close (ΔE 2.9)
NyxHD Studio Photogenic FoundationCappuccinoNeutralTanvery close (ΔE 3.1)
NyxHD Studio Photogenic FoundationCalifornia TanCoolTanvery close (ΔE 3.6)
SmashboxPhoto Filter Foundation10NeutralTanclose (ΔE 4.2)
GlossierPerfecting Skin TintDeepNeutralTanclose (ΔE 4.4)

ΔE under 2 = near-identical swatch, under 4 = very close, under 6 = close. Verify on skin.

Closest matches to Clinique 18 Clove

Undertone and depth

Clinique 18 Clove classifies as cool (pink/red lean) at tan depth. See every cool tan foundation shade we track, or all Clinique foundation shades.

Neighbouring Clinique shades

If this one is slightly off on you: 17 Amber (tan, neutral) · 14 Wheat (medium-tan, neutral) · 06 Linen (medium, neutral) · 15 Golden (medium, warm).

How to confirm the match

  1. Swatch on the jawline, not the wrist, and check in daylight.
  2. Match depth first, then undertone - a shade one step lighter/darker with the right undertone beats a perfect depth with the wrong cast.
  3. Let it sit 5-10 minutes: many formulas oxidise a touch darker/warmer.

Not sure of your own undertone or depth? Run the free undertone test or the skin tone finder - it reads them from a selfie in your browser (nothing is uploaded) - then come back to the matching shades.

How this works: shade colours are the brands' published swatches, converted to CIE Lab and compared with ΔE (colour distance). Swatches are approximations - lighting, formula finish, oxidation and skin chemistry all shift how a foundation reads. Use these as a shortlist and verify on your jawline in daylight.

Not sure of your undertone or depth? The free AI analyzer reads both from a selfie in your browser.

Try Makeup Check AI

FAQ

What undertone is Clinique 18 Clove?

Clinique Superbalanced™ Makeup 18 Clove reads as cool based on its published swatch colour (#975D44). Verify on skin - lighting and formula can shift it.

Which foundation is closest to Clinique 18 Clove?

The closest by colour distance is Smashbox STUDIO SKIN 15 HOUR WEAR HYDRATING FOUNDATION in 4.15 (near-identical), followed by Revlon Mocha and Cargo Cosmetics 05 - Dark with neutral undertone.

How accurate are shade matches from swatch colours?

Useful as a shortlist, not a guarantee: swatches are approximations and finish, oxidation and skin chemistry all change how a foundation reads. Confirm on the jawline in daylight.