How to Use NYX Virtual Makeup Try-On to Find Your Perfect Makeup Match

Shopping for makeup online can feel a little like online dating: the photos look promising, then the vibe is completely different in person. That red lipstick pulls orange, the foundation is too warm, and the brown liner simply is not giving what it was meant to.

 That’s why we built our Virtual Makeup Try-On – a way to preview shades and finishes on your own face before checking out. Handy for narrowing down the everyday staples you’ll repurchase – and a consequence-free excuse to see what you look like in electric blue liner!

 Below, we explain how to use virtual makeup try-on to test different NYX products, compare shades, and build new makeup looks completely tailored to you.

What is virtual makeup try-on?

Virtual makeup try-on uses augmented reality (AR) to map makeup onto your face on screen, so you can see how a shade may look before you buy it.

 With our virtual makeup try-on, you can use your live camera to try products on in real time.

 Compare shades, explore finishes, and get a better feel for a look before adding it to your cart. Right now, you can try on a range of makeup products, including:

• Lipstick, lip gloss, and lip liner
• Eyeliner, eyeshadow, and mascara
• Brow products
• Foundation, concealer, and contour
• Blush and highlighter
• False lashes

How to use NYX Virtual Makeup Try-On

We were promised flying cars. Instead, you can try on lipstick from your sofa. Close enough!

All you need is a camera and your face. Read on to see how to compare shades, explore finishes, and find the looks you want to try IRL.

Step 1: Open the NYX Virtual Try-On tool

Head to the NYX Virtual Makeup Try-On and select the Virtual Try-On experience.

You’ll be able to browse the products currently available in the tool, from lip and eye makeup to brow favourites and more. Start with the product type you’re shopping for, then feel free to take a detour.

Step 2: Choose live mode or upload a selfie

Switch on your camera for a real-time preview, upload a selfie, or – if you’re feeling camera shy – choose one of our models with a complexion similar to yours.

Overhead bathroom lighting isn’t your friend here. For the clearest, most accurate result, natural light from a window is best, so face a window wherever possible when taking or uploading your photo.

If you’re uploading a photo, choose a clear, front-facing image where nothing obscures your face. Skip the filters, too – a filter that’s already smoothed, brightened and warmed your skin won’t exactly be an impartial reviewer!

Step 3: Choose the type of makeup you want to try

You don’t need to create a full face at once. If you’re looking for a new lip gloss, start with lip gloss. If your brows are the mission, head straight to brow products.

Once you’ve found a few options you like, you can explore other categories to find out how your overall look is coming together.

Step 4: Switch between shades

Move through a few shades within the same product, then tap ‘Compare’ to see the before and after side by side.

Pay attention to whether shades look:

• Warmer or cooler
• Brighter or more muted
• More neutral or more statement-making
• Closer to the look you usually wear, or delightfully outside it

Step 5: Explore the product

Found a shade you like? Head to the product page to learn more about the formula, finish, coverage or pigment, plus wear and application tips and the full shade range.

What makeup can you virtually try on with NYX?

From foundation and brow products to lip gloss, liner, and eyeshadow, there’s so much to play with when it comes to our Virtual Makeup Try-On. Read on to discover how you can use it to colour match, compare shades, and build a look before you buy.

Find your foundation shade

Choosing the right concealer shade can make all the difference to your finished look. (No pressure!)

For buildable coverage that does more than conceal, try Wonder Snatch Concealer. Its lightweight formula blends to a soft-matte, medium-coverage finish and can be used to conceal blemishes, brighten the under-eye area and help shape and sculpt your features.

Use our virtual makeup try-on to preview different Wonder Snatch Concealer shades on your face and compare how each one works with your skin tone and undertone.

As you compare your options:

• Shortlist a few shades that look close, then compare them side by side.
• Look at undertone, not just depth – two shades can be equally light and still look completely different on you.
• Check the shade across the areas where you actually plan to wear your concealer, such as under the eyes or around the centre of the face, rather than judging it from a single spot.

Experiment with a new lip colour

Lip products are arguably the most fun makeup products to try on, especially when there are endless lip combos to test. But trying every lipstick, lip stain and lip oil pairing in person means constant wiping, reapplying and eventually losing track of which shade was your favourite.

So, use NYX’s virtual makeup try-on to build your lip combo without the clean-up. Start with NYX Butter Gloss, available in a wide shade range with a soft, buttery feel, then layer Lip Lingerie Liner Stain underneath to define and shape the lips. Swap either layer instantly to watch the whole combo change!

Not sure where to start? Our guide to how to choose a lip colour for your skin tone and undertone will help you narrow it down.

Try a different eyeliner colour

Black liner will always have its place in our hearts, but switching up the colour can change the entire feel of your makeup look. Try our Epic Ink Liner in classic black, then compare it with softer neutrals or more expressive shades.

As a general guide:

• Brown and bronze tones can bring warmth to blue eyes.
• Plum and berry-toned liners can complement green or hazel eyes.
• Navy, cobalt, and teal shades can make brown eyes look especially rich.
• Black, deep brown, and jewel tones can all create contrast on any eye colour.

Find a brow shade

Brow colour is one of those deceptively tricky online buys. Perfecting your eyebrow makeup is all about finding the right balance: enough definition to shape and frame your face, without a shade that looks too harsh or disconnected from your natural colouring.

With our Micro Brow Pencil, compare a few shades against your natural hair colour and complexion. Look for one that gives you your preferred level of definition without appearing too warm, too cool, or noticeably separate from the rest of your look.

Play with eyeshadow

Virtual makeup try-on on is the perfect way to experiment with eyeshadow looks before you commit. Try different shades with Ultimate Glow Shots, our shimmery liquid eyeshadow, to see how different tones can change your eye makeup – especially if you’re trying colour or shimmer for the first time.

Start with wearable neutrals for an everyday look, then switch things up with richer tones, shimmer, or shades you would normally admire from a safe distance.

 As you compare options, consider:

• Warm browns, golds and bronze tones to create a soft, sun-warmed look
• Mauves, plums and berry shades to add definition and bring out green or hazel eyes
• Copper, navy and jewel tones to create contrast against blue or brown eyes
• Shimmer on the centre of the lid or inner corner to make your eyes look brighter

Now you know how to find the right products with our virtual makeup try-on, discover how to apply them with our guide to a skin-like makeup base.