From tips and tutorials to personal shopping and spa services, there’s an app for all that—and much more. Here are eight essential style and beauty apps every fashion & makeup junkie like me must have.
More Great Apps:
- 5 All-Time Best Meal Planning Apps
- 8 Essential Apps to Download Before Your Next Family Trip
- Fitness Apps (That Really Work!) to Battle Holiday Bulge
new The Style & Beauty Apps I Can't Live Without
-
L’Oreal Makeup Genius
If you’ve ever spent countless minutes (hours?) in front of the wall of lipsticks at the drugstore, you understand the plight faced by millions every day: Will this color look okay on me? Is that lip gloss too shiny? The Makeup Genius by L’Oreal makes the task of choosing the right products simpler. After it expertly scans your face, the app allows you to test out everything from eye shadows to lipsticks on your face. There’s room for improvement, especially in the availability of products and colors, but this is definitely the start of a beautiful trend.
-
Stylebee
Have you ever fantasized about having your own on-call stylist? Even if your version of the red carpet is your ten-year high school reunion, you’ll want to look your best---and that’s where Stylebee comes in. The on-demand beauty pros are ready when you need them: simply choose your service (the menu includes blowouts, updos, makeup, face painting, massages, and more) and the time you prefer (they operate from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.), and a stylist will arrive ready to work magic. Each stylist is thoroughly vetted, so you’ll never compromise on safety---or quality, as your salon-perfect results will prove. The company currently operates in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and will be hitting Las Vegas, Miami, and New York soon.
-
The Hunt
Your personal shopper fantasies have just been realized. The Hunt allows you to be of service to other shoppers who are searching for their dream item. You’ll see pictures galore as soon as you log in to the app, which also gives you the opportunity to track down the item of your dreams with some help from other community members. Easy, fun, and quite addictive once you get started, The Hunt is one of those “Where have you been all my life?” apps that makes shopping much more enjoyable.
-
Think Dirty
Exactly what goes into all of your beauty products? Think Dirty exposes, well, all the dirt on product labels. Just scan any product and the app delivers a score on its “Dirty Meter,” which factors carcinogenicity, toxicity, and allergens in its results. Products are also given ratings that inform you whether they contain harmful ingredients that may pose a risk to your health. The app even sorts your products into “Dirty” and “Clean” lists. Be warned: It’s hard to stop scanning once you’ve started, and the results are eye opening. Products I’ve used for years without a second thought ranked high on the meter---and that’s more than enough to make me think twice about using them again.
-
ShopStyle
Maybe you’re already familiar with ShopStyle, the search engine devoted to all things fashionable. The app offers the same intelligent results based on your specific search, and products are easy to whittle down based on price, store, color, size, and more. Of course, you can also shop directly from the app, and even have sale alerts delivered to your inbox so you never miss a great deal on your favorite designer.
-
Pose
You’re among friends at Pose, a community of fashion-obsessed users who post pictures of their daily outfits. Inspiration aside, Pose also offers you the chance to list your items for sale and shop the closets of others. Take your time; you never know what you’ll find in the veritable treasure trove of style. From vintage pieces to tagged items, there’s something for everyone in the eclectic mix.
-
MakeupAlley
Nothing extinguishes the burning desire for a beauty product like a scathing review. Even one is often enough to talk me out of purchasing something, particularly if the review describes uncomfortable side effects like acne or irritation. The MakeupAlley app includes a database full of thousands of user-contributed reviews, in categories that range from shampoos and eye liners to toothpastes and facial oils. And now you can skip navigating to reviews---just scan a barcode and the product’s reviews will immediately open.
-
Sephora
The mecca of all things beauty doesn’t skimp in the tech department, either; its app is almost insanely perfect. Not only can you shop directly from the app, but you can also take advantage of mobile offers, view instructional videos and inspirational photos, and keep an eye on your Beauty Insider account. When you’re in store, switch to “Store Mode” to scan products for reviews, access your wish list, and even flash your Insider card at checkout.
