"The spatula thing" existed ever since Carole Jackson launched her first cosmetics line in the 1980s. When it launched, it was a thick creamy foundation. The company reformulated to a thinner cream in the 1990s to follow customer tastes. I used to sell this foundation back then. Spatulas are used for creamy formulas that are too thick to use with a pump or a squeeze bottle opening. You don't have to put fingers into the bottle or buy a foundation brush that fits into the bottle, unless you want to. The spatula can reach the last drop of foundation at the bottom, and it is sanitary. Regarding the natural beige shade, please try the Naturale. That has existed separately alongside Neutral Beige since the 1990s.