Walmart app to bring virtual makeup try-on to customers

Dive Brief:

Perfect Corp., an AR and AI beauty and fashion technology provider, announced Wednesday its collaboration with Walmart to launch a makeup virtual try-on experience on the retailer’s iOS app, according to a press release.
The new feature is intended to “enhance the Walmart shopping journey,” according to the release. Users can try on blush, lip color, eyeshadow and bronzer via the app.
Customers can use the app to try on more than 1,400 products from Walmart’s brand assortment including Covergirl, E.l.f. Cosmetics, Maybelline and Revlon.

Dive Insight:

The virtual makeup try-on experience is another way Walmart said it is creating personalized shopping experiences for its customers. Additionally, it’s making personalized experiences more accessible to customers who shop with the retailer, according to the release.

The AI technology by Perfect Corp. is used to create “hyper-realistic,” AR-powered makeup filters to allow customers to digitially try on the makeup. The company said the technology does not store customer data.

“As beauty customers turn to retailers for personalized advice and product recommendations, we are thrilled to be collaborating with Walmart to build an enhanced try-on experience with cutting-edge AI and AR technology,” Perfect Corp. CEO and founder Alice Chang said in a statement. “As we look to the future, AI and AR-powered technology will continue to be integral for Walmart and other retailers to engage customers and offer customized shopping experiences to all.”

Walmart has continued to push AI integration at the company. The retailer recently tested both AI and AR features on its website. Integrations such as improved search capabilities have been tested or deployed by Walmart.

Perfect Corp. also partnered to introduce virtual makeup try-on powered by AR with travel retailer Dufry at airport stores and online. In a similar way, customers can choose from different virtual SKUs available on the standing device to try on makeup from 15 eligible brands. Additionally, the company worked with luxury wellness brand Elemis for a mobile skin analysis and product recommendation tool powered by AI. The tech can determine skin concerns and offer product recommendations.