A Method and Apparatus for Comparing Colors have been disclosed. In one implementation a compliant membrane which is substantially transparent with an area having a shade/color is placed on the user's skin to see what the shade/color will look like on the skin. In one implementation a compliant substrate which is largely transparent with an area having a shade/color is placed on an inanimate object to see how the shade/color will appear on the inanimate object without the substrate itself causing an unnecessary barrier between the inanimate object and the shade/color.