This App Finds The Exact Lipstick Shade You Want

There's a new app in the ever-growing world of augmented reality retail for makeup. And I assure you, the ShadeScout makeup app will change the way you search and shop for beauty products. Yes, there are a slew of other augmented reality makeup apps out there, but what makes ShadeScout so different is the ability to take a pretty color you spotted IRL through your phone’s camera, find products in that exact shade, and try them all on immediately. You may never need to step into a department store again, which means more time for sweatpants and Netflix. Just what you’ve always wanted, right?

Not only did I try the app out for myself to prove its greatness to you, I also got a chance to chat with the Founder and CEO of FaceCake Marketing Technologies Inc., the company responsible for bringing you ShadeScout. The app is available to download now, and once you’ve gotten it, it really will be your new best friend when it comes to shopping for and trying out new makeup.

Enough blabbing already, right? Let’s get to the good stuff! I’ll walk you through the process of using the app and show you how it’s done. I am wearing mascara, concealer and face powder in these pictures but, other than that, my face is a clean slate and I’m letting the app work it’s magic.

As soon as you open the app, you have the option to “scout” for a color. I chose to use my shoe in this example because I love to go monochromatic with my outfits and add a pop of color with my lip and shoe. With this feature, I can shop the exact shade and find a lip color that’s a dead ringer for whatever pair of shoes I feel like matching.

Using the scout tool, “you can search anything that you see,” said Linda Smith, Founder and CEO. “So you can search from what inspires you.”

Then, based on the color you searched for, a list of products will appear. You can choose to search for lipstick, eye shadow, blush and more in similar colors.

Here's my face with some virtual lip tar applied. As you can see, it didn't match up with my lips PERFECTLY, but it's close enough to get the gist.

This feature “frees you to try on products that you wouldn’t normally try because you’re not being loyal to a specific brand,” said Smith. Plus, it's a great way to figure out if the whole black lipstick trend really is for you without having to spend any money.

And what’s also cool is you can try on multiple products at once, really giving yourself an overall makeover. Here, I’m wearing a light blush, lipstick, and a grey/purple toned eyeshadow.

If you like what you see, you can purchase the products in app, plus share your makeover on social. Shade Scout is always updating colors and products as new products are released, so you’ll always have new things when you search and try on!

I'm playing around with the eyebrow feature here, and I really dig how realistic the powder looks.

After creating this app, Smith really hopes that people have fun with discovering new products through their everyday lives. Whether you’re standing in line at Starbucks and you see something you like or a celebrity’s look in a magazine inspires you, you search that color and find what works for you. I, for example, learned I'm a huge fan of purple lipstick. Who'da thought?

Images: takasu/Fotolia; ShadeScout