Pixel perfect: Topshop pushes their new beauty offerings via virtual testing

Topshop has teamed up with TAAZ.com for an online makeover tool that will allow visitors to virtually try on Topshopâ€s makeup products using preloaded photos that match their skin tone and facial features or by uploading a photo of themselves. {TAAZ}

The trendy fashion retailer is right on, well, trend.

If you remember a time before everything moved online, you might have flashbacks of makeover software that offered similar tools (directly on your desktop, of course). Lately it seems fashion magazines and websites have rediscovered virtual makeover tools to keep readers more engaged. And fortunately, most tools have come a long way since Cosmo’s CDs that turned any photo into a weird, doll-like version of yourself.

Web surfers can try on celebrity hairstyles at InStyle or enjoy a free hair and make up makeover from Harpers Bazaarâ€s Web site. iVillageâ€s Makeover-O-Matic is a virtual makeover game that allows users to save looks they like in their own look book or send saved images to friends for an opinion. In our opinion, there are a few hairstyles swiped from one of those 90s CD-roms, but few programs have an end result that’s picture perfect. Glamour, Mary Kay and countless other websites give you an opportunity to test drive new hair and makeup choices. And then there are sites like Looklet and Coutourious whose entire website is dedicated to virtual fittings.

For those wondering if these online tools are worth the time, check out our break down of the pros and cons of using virtual beauty stations:

The appeal: No risk or purchase necessary.

Putting a beauty product on an uploaded photo to find it doesn’t work well with your face means no wasted money on something you’ll never wear. If you try a hairstyle and hate it, there’s no counting the months before it grows out or, in the case of time consuming evening styles, scrambling to get hair back to normal before going out. One click and those bangs that weren’t as cute as you thought, or lipstick that washes you out are cleared away. In addition, all of the tools are free to use.

The limitations: Talking to a stylist or beautician in person about what works best may yield better results. For starters, think about all of the pictures you’ve taken. Inevitably you have favorites where the light made your skin glow, or you looked at the camera in just the right way. Then there are the ones that leave you insisting an evil, strange looking photo double shows up in your pictures from time to time. That’s to say, you look completely different than your normal, gorgeous self. Assuming you’re basing your makeup choices and hairstyle on that super flattering shot, will the options still look the same when you don’t get the right angle or lighting? For makeup, web makeover users may not think to even try certain products that would look great, and creating hairstyles online has its own downsides.

Canadian stylist Arran Elliot said she prefers consultations the old fashioned way – in person – so she can feel a clientâ€s hair texture and see their face up close. “Doing colour is like painting the hair, and sculpting is like framing the face,” she says. {Ottawa Citizen}

Online hairstyling tools don’t always take into account hair type and texture, so a customer may show a stylist a printed photo of themselves from a virtual hair makeover site and end up with a cut that falls flat. Add to that the many variations in photos, even among the same person, and there’s a good chance that reality doesn’t match what you’ve pictured.

The verdict: Online makeover tools are great, especially to avoid wasting money on unused beauty products, but makeup counters and live hairstylists don’t have anything to fear just yet.

“The partnership between Carolâ€s Daughter and FFAWN is a natural fit. In the true spirit of beauty by nature, Carolâ€s Daughter is proud to support FFAWN in their efforts to empower women and instill confidence. Like FFAWN, Carolâ€s Daughter believes that true beauty comes from within. With their genuinely natural products, they strive everyday to help women look and feel their most beautiful.” {Talking Makeup}

Oprah herself is no stranger to charity work and most celebrities aren’t either. Halle Berry, Alicia Keys, Shakira, Madonna, and of course the patron saint of charitable celebs, Angelina Jolie are only some of  the celebrities who vocally support charities through performances, products and other means that make use of their fame to help those in need. We think that if you can give, you should give and these celebs and other activists around the world are responsible for making life that much better for those in need. What’s your cause?

Nothing screams ‘holidays’ like long lines at your favorite beauty counter, only to find the free gift with purchase has “just run out”.  This year Clinique is curing the retail blues with a huge offer to its dedicated clients. They call it Clinique’s ’10 Days of Happiness’. Running from December 2nd through the 11th, Clinique is giving away a different item with purchase-free-everyday. And everything is available online, so you don’t have to battle it out at the beauty counter.

We love Clinique products, and even the freebies include makeup shades you’ll actually want to wear.  If you’re looking for a purchase to make in the first place, try the Black Tie Violet collection, a holiday set of makeup in a range of purple hues. From plums to lilacs, the colors are shimmery and work well on most skin tones (and on trend, purple has been all over famous faces this fall).

Our personal pick for the best day to bonus shop? December 8th, when any purchase over $40 will score free standard shipping, and mini sizes of Clinique Happy, Dramatically Different Moisturizer (great for dry winter skin), and All About Eyes. Happy, moisturized and bright eyed – all 3 oz. or less? Sounds like the makings of the perfect holiday travel kit.

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