Review: Lancome Virtual Palette App

Available on: iOS

Reviewed on: iPad

Price: Free

All set to looklike a diva? Perfect dress -check. Great shoes - check. How about your makeup - need a little help in that department? Why don't you call in theprofessionals: check out the iPad app by French make-up brand Lancome.

Usability:

This handy appwelcomes you with a very simple user interface. It lets you surf throughall its eight sections with a swipe of a finger. Here's a quick look at thecontent of each section of this app.

'What's New' -Apart from details on all the new offerings from Lancome, this section keepstrack of make-up trends and will keep youupdated on the latest from the world of beauty and style.

'Make-Up Tips' -This features a step-by-step video tutorial on how to achieve a particularlook. There are seven tutorials in all, conducted by worldfamous contemporary make-up artists German Moyano and Petr Blecha. These videos are very helpful asyou get to see the correct proportions and you can follow the techniques aredemonstrated - any day better than just reading a walk through. We made no mistakes aswe applied few of these tutorials; all we did was follow the steps shown, downto the last T.

'Create yourStyle' was the most interesting feature we stumbled upon. It allows you to test your makeupskills on a virtual face. Youcan zoom in on or zoom out seamlessly and can try out various make up toolslike apply eye-liner or mascara. The virtual face simulates the end result. It also packs in asocial element where you can actually post your custom styles on Facebook. Forthe less technology-forward beings, the old school E-mail option is also there!

'BeInspired' shows off four different looks from four cities, New York,London, Paris and Tokyo on the virtual face, for you to practice before youactually attempt it on yourself.

'Your Looks' tab -This saves all the looks you create in the 'Create Your Style' and 'BeInspired' sections. 

'Must HaveProducts' give information on products which are essentials for your make-upbag.  It includes the make-up collections of the season along withthe all-time favourite Lancome make-up essentials for lips, eyes, face andnails. 

Lancome is knownfor its Mascara range: so 'Diagnoscils' isdedicated only to mascaras. It has a feature where answering four simplequestions lets you find out whichmascara is best suited for your eyes. 

Lancome alsoprovides 'Video Tips by Michelle Phan', their in-house make-up artist who wasthe first ever to upload tutorials on YouTube. In this app she demonstrates howto achieve four everyday looks- 'Pretty & Prom', 'Clubbing', 'Romantic' and'Sexy'. Nifty little value-added feature of immense use.

 Verdict:

The LancomeVirtual Palette has the potential to be a girl's best friend. While it isdefinitely a visual delight, it also boasts of an easy to use interfacewhich just heightens its appeal. Its USP really lies in the fact that itenables you to test out various make up styles without you being the guinea pigof all the experiments and wasting make-up! This app definitely has a noveltyfactor which may see many similar apps being launched, to cater tothe diva in every woman. 

Rating: 4

Usability: 4

Price: 5

Wow Factor: 5