by Emily Mongan
If you’ve ever felt the pain of purchasing a new cosmetic product or shade of make-up only to find it doesn’t mesh well with your skin tone or style, L’Oreal has a high-tech solution. Using special effects-grade technology and your smartphone, the beauty giant is launching MakeUp Genius, an app to help decrease regretful make-up purchases, without even having to leave your house.
The MakeUp Genius app takes the image of your face in real time, like a mirror, and uses 3D imaging technology to apply virtual makeup. The technology behind the app, used commonly in films and video games, captures 64 different points of the face and up to 100 expressions to help the virtual makeup look realistic, and move naturally if the face moves or changes expression. I’ve tried this out prior to the launch in the UK and it is an amazing make up tool, I think this is going to be very addictive. Set aside some ‘me-time’ when it launches and get ready to cram your instagram wall with selfies, it’s so clever, you haven’t seen anything like it, promise!
App users can choose between individual products or entire curated looks to try on, scan L’Oreal product bar codes and try a shade on in-store, and even buy makeup they’re satisfied with from the app. And, like any modern app, MakeUp Genius includes options for saving and sharing looks with your friends on social media.
MakeUp Genius is available for free download on iPhones and iPads, with an Android version coming in the future. Certain stores in the U.S. will also feature the app on digital kiosks, so shoppers can try on looks without downloading the app.