Makeup and hair try-on apps

Try-on apps use your phone camera to put makeup, lashes or a new hair color on your face before you buy anything. You open the camera, pick a product or a look, and the app tracks your face as you move so the color stays on your lips, lids or hair. Some also let you edit a saved selfie instead of using the live camera.

The main use is narrowing down choices. A shade that looks right in a store tester or a product photo can look very different on you, and try-on lets you rule out the obvious misses at home. It also helps when planning a look for a wedding, a shoot or a night out, since you can save and compare a few versions side by side.

Accuracy has limits. What you see depends on your phone camera, the light in the room, your screen and the color data behind each shade. Sheer or shimmery finishes and very dark or very light shades are the hardest to show well. Use try-on to shortlist, then check the final choice in daylight, with a tester or a sample if you can.

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4 AI beauty tools in makeup and hair try-on apps

YouCam Makeup

by Perfect Corp

Camera app that puts makeup looks, lashes and hair colors on your face live, with photo editing tools alongside.

  • Free plan or free version
  • Mobile app

Perfect365

Makeup try-on and photo app with preset looks you can adjust shade by shade on a selfie or live camera.

  • Mobile app

FaceApp

by FaceApp Technologies

Photo app that changes hair color, hairstyles and makeup on a selfie with AI filters.

  • Mobile app

Snapchat

by Snap Inc.

Messaging app whose camera lenses include beauty and makeup try-on effects, some made by cosmetics brands.

  • Free plan or free version
  • Mobile app

Read the privacy terms before you start. These apps process images of your face, and some store photos or use them to improve their models. Look for whether you can delete your images and account, and whether the app shares data with advertisers. Hair and makeup changes on social apps are entertainment filters, so treat them as a rough idea of a look.

If you are deciding between a few apps, try the same lipstick or hair color in each under the same light. The one whose result looks closest to a real swatch on your skin is the one to keep.

Questions about makeup and hair try-on apps

Are makeup try-on apps accurate for my skin tone?

They are a rough guide. Lighting, your camera and the shade data behind each product all change the result, and some apps handle very deep or very fair skin less well. Shortlist shades in the app, then check them in daylight or with a sample.

Do try-on apps keep my selfies?

It depends on the app. Some process images on your phone, others upload them and may keep them for a time. Read the privacy policy, look for a way to delete your photos and account, and skip apps that do not explain this.

Can I try hair color in these apps?

Several apps include hair color and some include hairstyles. Hair color is harder to show than lipstick because of texture, length and your starting color, so treat the result as a direction to discuss with a colorist.

Why does a shade look different on the app than in the tube?

Screens and cameras shift color, and many apps show a shade based on data the brand supplied. Shimmer, sheer and satin finishes are hard to render. Check the real product in good light before you decide.

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