Sephora develops Sci-Fi makeup product

French Make-up retailer Sephora released newest product. 

It is a mirror that can put on make-up through augmented reality. What does this mean for customers? They can try makeup products without actually having to put them on. They can compare several shades or product lines without having to scrub off one to apply another. And they can do all this in mere minutes.

For those of us who leave perfume stores reeking of several scents and make-up counters looking like a six-year-old trying on mommy’s makeup this is a godsend. No more scrubbing makeup off already chafed skin to try yet another product. No more skulking home all dolled up like a lady of the evening.

Wikipedia describes augmented reality thus: “Augmented reality is a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data.”

Just put? In front of Sephora’s augmented reality mirror, augmented reality blurs the line between what’s real and what’s computer-generated by enhancing what we see, hear, feel, and smell. The concept is the same as that used in I-MAX theaters where you seem to be riding a roller coaster or a diving plane. The sensations are all there, but the experience is virtual. In this case, the makeup is real, but the actual application is virtual. The mirrorsimulates makeup products, showing you how you’d look wearing it.

The new mirror will save time and products. There will also be fewer returns from dissatisfied customers who have already “tried on” the product before they leave the store.

Expansion plans

The magic reality augmentation mirror is presently being tested in Sephora’s Milan store, and with eye shadow products only. However, if results are as good as expected, the company plans to expand it to other stores and to other types of make-up.