Gone are the days of swatching 10 lipstick shades on your wrist or guessing which foundation matches your undertone.
AI-powered virtual makeup apps now let you try on entire beauty looks with just your phone camera. Whether you’re shopping from the comfort of your couch, browsing on the go, or making last-minute decisions in-store, these apps make beauty accessible, interactive, and personalised.
In this guide, we break down the best AI makeup try-on apps for Android and iOS, explaining what makes each stand out—complete with real-life examples. No fluff. No hype. I’ve just tested working tools that let you see what you’re buying before you make a purchase.
What Makes a Great AI Makeup Try-On App?
Before we dive into the best apps out there, let’s set the bar high. Not every app with a lipstick filter is worth downloading. Some are gimmicky, clunky, or worse—flat-out inaccurate. So, what separates the truly game-changing beauty tech from the digital noise?
Here are the five key features that define a top-tier AI makeup try-on app in 2025:
1. Real-Time Face Tracking That Moves With You
The best virtual makeup apps don’t just slap colour onto your selfie—they move with your face. Whether you’re tilting your head, raising your eyebrows, or smiling, the makeup should shift and adjust naturally.
This requires precise facial landmark detection and seamless AR rendering. When you apply eyeliner virtually, it follows the curve of your eyelid as you blink.
2. Accurate Shade Rendering in Any Light
Makeup that looks great in a filter but fails in real life is a letdown. That’s why accurate skin tone detection and light adaptation are essential.
The top apps analyse your undertones and lighting environment to show you how a foundation or lipstick will appear, not just how it looks in ideal studio light. It’s beauty tech that respects your melanin, freckles, and glow.
3. Wide Product Catalogues With Real Brand Integration
Trying on makeup virtually is only half the experience. The other half is finding the product you love. The best apps work with authentic brands—think MAC, L’Oréal, Fenty, or e.l.f.—so you’re not experimenting with mystery colours.
You can try on that specific shade of NARS lipstick, then click to buy it immediately from a trusted retailer. It’s real-world beauty shopping powered by AI.
4. Smart Suggestions That Make Sense
AI doesn’t stop at the mirror—it becomes your makeup artist. Great apps use machine learning to suggest complementary products or looks based on your skin tone, facial features, or even your current makeup routine.
They get smarter over time, learning your preferences and adjusting accordingly. The more you use them, the better they get at capturing your vibe.
5. Fast, Lag-Free Performance on Any Phone
All the fancy features in the world mean nothing if the app is slow, buggy, or doesn’t run on your phone. The leading apps are optimised to work smoothly, even on mid-range Android devices or older iPhones.
Expect intuitive navigation, no weird crashes, and lipstick that doesn’t lag behind your lips.
YouCam Makeup (Perfect Corp)
Platforms: Android, iOS
Best For: All-in-one beauty try-on, skin analysis, real-time AR
Why it stands out:
YouCam is the gold standard of AI-powered beauty apps. It features highly accurate facial recognition and real-time try-ons for hundreds of products across top global brands. The app is so good that it won the 2020 AI Excellence Award and CES Innovation Award.
- Try lipstick, foundation, contour, lashes, brows, and even hair colour.
- AI hairstyle simulation enables you to try over 20 hairstyles, including buzz-cut short hair and long hair, with more than 100 hair colours available to choose from.
- Includes AI Skin & Photo Retouch, which detects wrinkles, dark circles, acne, texture, and more, allowing you to remove them with one tap.
- Free AI Skin Diagnostics allow you to track your skin condition and build a routine if necessary.
- Integrates with brands like MAC, Estée Lauder, and Urban Decay
- In-app tutorials and beauty filters
- Facial mapping remains accurate even when you smile, tilt your head, or move your face.
Sephora Virtual Artist
Platforms: iOS, Web, Android
Best For: Shopping Sephora products with virtual previews
Why it stands out:
Sephora’s app offers a polished try-on experience that’s directly tied to its massive catalogue of beauty products.
- Lipstick, eyeshadow, foundation, and lash try-ons
- Try complete looks curated by makeup artists.
- Skin tone matcher and AI-driven recommendations.
- Purchase directly from the try-on interface.
👍 Pros: Super responsive, includes trending looks
👎 Cons: Limited to Sephora’s product range
L’Oréal Makeup Genius / ModiFace
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web, Virtual Mirror, WeChat
Best For: Subtle realism, accuracy under poor lighting
Why it stands out:
ModiFace (acquired by L’Oréal) powers apps for L’Oréal, Maybelline, Lancôme, and others. It’s known for its precise colour rendering, even in less-than-ideal environments.
- Great for foundation matching and eye makeup
- ModiFace also features skin and face analysis, which can detect over 20 skin concerns, including deep wrinkles, global wrinkles, dark pigmentation, and more.
- No photo upload is needed—real-time try-on only.
- Widely used by brands and retailers globally.
💡 Tech behind it: Skin tone analysis, 3D mapping, ageing simulation
Ulta GLAMlab
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
Best For: Trying on diverse products across categories
Why it stands out:
GLAMlab supports try-ons for makeup, foundation, hair colour, lashes, and even skincare visualisation, such as undereye treatment results and many more.
- 20,000+ products from top brands
- Virtual try-on for foundation, lips, eyes, cheeks
- Realistic hair dye preview
- New: AR acne and skincare analysis
🎯 Features are seamlessly tied into Ulta’s shopping and checkout flow.
Maybelline Virtual Try-On
Platforms: Web, iOS
Best For: Quick previews of drugstore products
Why it stands out:
Built on ModiFace Tech, Maybelline’s tool offers snappy, accurate previews of all their products, especially suited for budget-conscious shoppers.
- Real-time and static photo options – you can use the live camera, upload a photo or select a model to begin with.
- It pairs well with their Fit Me foundation line. The Foundation Finder uses advanced AI to analyse your skin tone and recommend your perfect shade.
- Try trending looks and makeup combos.
- Ideal for Gen Z & new makeup users.
Pinterest Try On (via Lens)
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Best For: Discovery + try-on combo
Why it stands out:
Pinterest integrates AR try-on into its discovery engine. See a lipstick you love? Tap to try it instantly. Not all pins have the Try On feature available, so don’t be alarmed if some of the pins do not work
- AI + AR integration with the Pinterest Lens camera
- Supports lipstick and eyeshadow (for now)
- Products linked directly to purchase pages
- Skin tone filter helps refine recommendations
Mary Kay MirrorMe™
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
Best For: Mary Kay consultants and customers
Why it stands out:
Tailored specifically for Mary Kay’s product lines, MirrorMe enables customers to test products in real time before placing an order through consultants.
- Realistic makeup overlays for your face, lips and eyes.
- Connect with consultants directly.
- Lightweight app with simple UX.
- It provides an instant before-and-after view, allowing you to judge if you love your new look accurately.
🧠 Tech Spotlight: How These Apps Work
Here’s a breakdown of the Tech behind these apps:
| Technology | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Computer Vision | detects facial landmarks and aligns product overlays |
| Machine Learning | Learns user preferences and skin tone variations |
| AR Rendering | Projects make up onto the live feed in real-time |
| Skin Analysis AI | Detects pores, wrinkles, and pigmentation to recommend skincare |
| Neural Networks: | Refines the texture, gloss, shimmer, and realism of products |
Future Trends in AI Makeup Try-On
AI-powered makeup apps are already impressive, but what’s coming next will push the boundaries of beauty tech even further. The future isn’t just about trying on a shade—it’s about how, where, and why you try it on. From voice commands to metaverse wardrobes, here’s what’s coming down the pipeline:
Voice-Driven Try-On
Imagine saying, “Show me red lipstick for brown skin,” and instantly seeing it appear on your face. With advancements in voice AI and natural language processing, voice-prompted try-on experiences are quickly becoming a reality.
Users will no longer need to scroll through endless menus—instead, they’ll describe what they want out loud, and the app will deliver curated results in real time. It’s fast, personalised, and built for modern convenience.
Multiplatform Try-On
The best try-on tools won’t live in a single app. They’ll meet users where they are—on TikTok, Pinterest, WhatsApp, Zoom, and even Instagram Live. Brands are already experimenting with virtual makeup filters for live streaming and social shopping.
Whether you’re attending a Zoom call or chatting with friends in WhatsApp, AI beauty overlays will follow you across platforms, making the experience social, shareable, and always within reach.
Personal AI Beauty Advisor
Tomorrow’s beauty apps won’t just suggest products—they’ll understand you. Using data from your skin tone, past preferences, time of day, event schedule, and even mood, personal AI beauty advisors will recommend complete looks tailored to the moment.
Think: “Here’s a glow-up for your afternoon meeting” or “Go with something bold—it’s date night.” Your AI won’t just know your face; it’ll know your lifestyle.
Virtual Try-On + Instant Shopping
Try-on tools are increasingly integrated into e-commerce platforms. You try on lipstick virtually, like it, and with a single tap, it’s in your cart—matched with blush, liner, or a bundle deal.
This combination of real-time visualisation and seamless checkout is redefining the path to purchase, turning curiosity into confident conversion.
Metaverse Avatars
Digital identity is evolving, and beauty is coming with it. Soon, you’ll be able to try makeup not just on your real face but on AI-generated avatars that represent you across the metaverse.
Whether you’re in a VR meeting, a digital fashion show, or just customising your online profile, your look will move with you—from the real world to the virtual one. These avatars can be ultra-realistic, pulling from facial scans, skin tone data, and even your makeup history.
✅ Final Thoughts: Try Before You Buy—For Real
AI makeup try-on apps have matured beyond gimmicks. These are fundamental tools that solve real problems—reducing returns, boosting confidence, and democratising access to beauty across skin tones, locations, and budgets.
Whether you’re prepping for a date, experimenting with a bold look, or finding your everyday foundation match, one of these apps is ready to become your pocket-sized beauty mirror.
The founder of FanalMag. He writes about artificial intelligence, technology, and their impact on work, culture, and society. With a background in engineering and entrepreneurship, he brings a practical and forward-thinking perspective to how AI is shaping Africa and the world.
