How to try makeup looks online on your own photo

Why preview makeup before you buy or book

A preview is most useful for decisions that are hard to undo or expensive to test: a new lipstick shade you would buy in full size, a stronger eye look you have never worn, or a bridal or event look you want to discuss with a makeup artist. Seeing two or three options side by side on your own face makes it easier to say what you like and what feels like too much.

It is also a quick way to explore. Many people stick to the same routine for years simply because trying something different takes effort. A preview costs a few seconds, so you can try smoky eyes or a K-beauty look just to see, and keep only the ideas that work.

Take a selfie that works for a makeup try-on

• Face the camera straight on, with your eyes open and the whole face in frame. Side angles and closed eyes make eye looks harder to place.
• Use soft daylight from a window in front of you. Strong side light or a yellow bulb changes how colours look on your skin.
• Start with a bare face or very light makeup, so the preview is not stacked on top of an existing look.
• Pull your hair back from your face and remove glasses if you can; both cover the areas where makeup goes.
• Turn off beauty filters and portrait effects. They smooth skin and shift colours before the try-on even starts.
• Use a sharp photo of one person only: your own, or someone else's with their consent.

Step by step: try a makeup look with AI

1. Upload your selfie

   Open Virtual makeup and upload a JPG, PNG or WebP of at least 128 px a side. Larger photos are scaled to at most 1600 px before upload.

2. Choose a look

   Pick one of 8 looks: Natural, Glam, Bold lips, Smoky eyes, K-beauty, Bridal, Office or Dramatic.

3. Set the intensity

   Choose Light, Medium or Full. Medium is a good first try; go lighter for everyday looks and fuller for evening or photos. After signing in you see the exact credit price before the run.

4. Run the try-on

   It usually takes 20 to 60 seconds. Failed generations aren't charged — if a run fails or the result cannot be used, the held credits come back automatically after a short hold. Your result is kept for 24 hours to download.

5. Compare and try a second look

   Drag the slider to compare with and without makeup. Then run the same selfie with another look or intensity and keep the versions you want to compare.

Which look to try for which occasion

• Everyday and work: Natural or Office at Light or Medium intensity.
• Evenings and parties: Smoky eyes, Glam or Bold lips at Medium; Full if you will be photographed under strong light.
• Weddings and formal events: Bridal, and compare it with Natural before a trial with a makeup artist.
• Something new: K-beauty for fresh, glowing skin and soft colour, or Dramatic for a strong, editorial look.
• Choosing a lipstick: run Bold lips at Light and Full to see how much colour feels right before buying a shade.

From preview to the mirror: what to keep in mind

The result is an AI-generated preview, not a match to any real product. Colours on screen differ from real cosmetics and from one screen to another, and besides the makeup the AI can slightly change skin texture, face details, hair or the background. Use the preview to choose a direction, then test the actual shades on your skin in daylight.

• Show the preview to a makeup artist as a reference for the mood you want, not as an exact recipe.
• It is not a skin analysis and gives no medical, dermatological or product advice. For skin concerns, ask a qualified professional.
• The result is up to 2048 px on the long side, in the standard shape closest to your photo, so the edges may be slightly trimmed or extended.
• If you also plan a new hair colour, preview both; see how to preview a hair colour before the salon.

Frequently asked questions