There’s an App for Beauty!

The smartphone is such an essential part of life now. From sending messages and engaging with friends via social media to managing finances, the saying, “There’s an app for that” has never been more true than it is today. 

When it comes to beauty, your smartphone is stepping up as the guru you’ve always wanted! You’re often only a tap away from finding the best new moisturizer for your skin type or trying out a new shade of eyeshadow virtually before you add it to the shopping cart. Need guidance on how to create a custom skincare regimen or how to style your hair because you feel like you’re in a rut? No matter what you’re looking for, there’s a beauty app that will guide and recommend all the best products just for you in addition to providing tips and tutorials to look your best all year long. 

If you’re ready to add a few fun beauty apps to your smartphone but don’t know where to start, here are some of the most popular applications that make trying new products and looks easier than ever. 

GlamScout
How many times have you walked into the department store or drugstore to buy a new cosmetic only to get home and find out it so wasn’t your color? With innovative beauty applications, all the guesswork is taken out of selecting products that fit your skin type and tones. GlamScout allows you to virtually try on more than 80 different brands from both department stores and popular retail stores. It’s perfect if you want to test out new colors or brands without the initial commitment. 

L’Oreal Paris Makeup Genius
Many beauty apps are sponsored by major brands; L’Oreal is one of them. With the Makeup Genius app, you can swipe through any of the shades or colors in the brand’s collection to see how it will look on your skin. If you’re in store, use the app to scan a particular product and see how it will work for you! When you need new product inspiration or ideas, browse through numerous images of L’Oreal spokesmodels to see different colors or options and how they’d fit with your own tones. 

Sephora Virtual Artist
Have you ever been in Sephora looking for that perfect shade of red lipstick only to get home and find out that a particular red just doesn’t look as good or as vibrant as you thought? With the Sephora Virtual Artist, you can try on more than 3,000 different shades of lipstick and play around with 90 lash styles. Best of all, there’s a side-by-side comparison template that allows you to see subtle variations among the looks so you know exactly what you’re buying. 

GoodGuide
Are you looking for more holistic or natural products? Is there a particular ingredient you are trying to avoid in your beauty routine? GoodGuide is a helpful tool to have in your wellness arsenal. With this app you easily scan barcodes of beauty products at the store to determine what the green rating is for each product. Even more, the app provides detailed information on the environmental impact of each product as well as the work practices from the brand or company. For those who are paying more attention to how chemicals and ingredients affect the environment, this handy beauty app will help educate and provide alternatives so you make purchases with peace of mind. 

Beautylish
From learning about the newest trends in beauty to watching tutorials on how to achieve the look for yourself and shopping for them, Beautylish is the go-to for all things beauty! This app, which is free for download on both Android and Apple phones, provides reviews from beauty professionals and tutorials on how to wear the look. If you find a product you want, you can also purchase it directly through the app, making it so easy to get inspired into trying new looks! 

Bellashoot
Combine social media with a beauty app and you get Bellashoot, available on iTunes. This beauty app is more crowdsourced, meaning users sign up and share tips and recommendations from anywhere in the world. If you’re looking for something specific or you want a tutorial on a certain hairstyle or how to recreate one of the latest beauty trends, this app has a vast number of videos available in an easy-to-watch format. 

The number of beauty apps is endless, whether you choose to go with an application sponsored by your favorite brand or you prefer an app connected to a store. Beauty apps are a great way to try new products and experiment with color without ever having to leave the house or sit in those return lines after you’ve made your purchase! ■

Sources: elle.com, sephora.com and redbook.com.