As a beauty blogger, I often use makeup editing apps to try different makeup variants before applying them in real life, touch up my makeup in photos, improve my skin, etc. To find the best app for editing makeup in photos, I decided to address the FixThePhoto team.
These guys gave me the list of the apps they consider to be the top ones in the market. I’ve downloaded different options on the App Store and Google Play and tested 40+ makeup editing apps rigorously to figure out which one can satisfy my needs.
Top 11 Apps to Add Makeup to Pictures
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Fix The Photo Body Editor&Tune -
Free first photo
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Perfect365 -
Professional MUAs
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YouCam Makeup -
Makeup cam
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PhotoDirector -
AI makeup
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Meitu -
Amazing filters
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Facetune -
Wide feature set
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AirBrush -
Skin enhancement
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Snow -
AR makeup filters
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Facey -
For iOS
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Vivid Glam -
For beginners
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BeautyPlus -
For TikTok bloggers
I want to test them personally with currently trendy makeup options and share the tutorial in my beauty blog. Thus, I can check the quality and capabilities of these photo makeup apps. When picking, I considered how lifelike the results were, whether the app offered basic and additional options, as well as the ability to share edited photos directly to social media platforms.
1. Fix The Photo Body Editor&Tune
Verdict: This app caught my eye with its unique blend of AI tools and expert touch-ups. AI is meant to accelerate the process by automatically handling essential corrections. Next, experts step in to add the finishing touches. You can send them references for everyday makeup or more creative and bold makeup photography experiments, so that they clearly understand your demands.
- While testing this photo makeup app, I wanted to see how it could handle a specific look. I uploaded a makeup-free photo and asked for a 60s-inspired makeover with dramatic eyeliner and bright lips. Because of my slight facial asymmetry, I knew I couldn't rely on one-size-fits-all filters. The edited photo was fantastic. The winged eyeliner was spot on, and the lip color matched perfectly.
I was surprised that my first photo edit was free. All I had to do was upload a casual shot taken with a mobile and specify my preferences. Besides makeup, this app has a wide range of tools for refining facial features, body contours, and basic adjustments. I even asked them to remove wrinkles from clothes and they smoothed creases on my dress to complement my Hollywood-style look.
How to edit makeup with the Fix The Photo Body Editor&Tune App:
- Run the app and add your photo
- Find the "Edit Makeup" feature on the list of available options
- The edited photos will appear in the app within a few minutes
Pros
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Professional retouching
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Lifelike make-up-adding results
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Accepts custom order
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Feature-packed
2. Perfect365
Verdict: Perfect365 attracts me with a rich diversity of makeup options from famous brands. With multiple options from lipsticks to eyeliners, this solution is handy for me when I refine both average selfies and more sophisticated photos for sponsored content.
I wanted an app where I could tone down my makeup in photos to achieve an elegant look. Another requirement was to get properly hydrated skin and lashes that looked naturally enhanced, as if I'd just applied a coat of mascara.
- This makeup editor app met my expectations. I also like that with just a few taps, I can seamlessly share my edited portrait and makeup product photography results across Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. This saves my time and allows me to share my latest looks in no time to excite my followers.
However, if you are going to use this selfie app regularly, it will be more reasonable to purchase a subscription for $4.99/mo, as frequent ads in the free version irritate. Other reasons to buy the package are the access to exclusive looks created by professional makeup artists and the ability to save your edits in high definition.
Pros
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One-tap makeup option
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Excellent face detection
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Variety of makeup options
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Sharing on social media
Cons
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The trial version contains ads
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Few styles
3. YouCam Makeup
Verdict: If you are looking for a tool to apply dramatic and flashy makeup, I consider YouCam Makeup as one of the suitable solutions. FixThePhoto experts mainly like it because of its rich toolkit and the possibility of playing with different eyeshadow palettes, applying the boldest lipstick colors, altering the color of eyes, and doing other enhancements in an instant.
- I wanted to experiment with a more dramatic makeup look, so I decided to try out a live makeup camera feature in this online makeup editor. Thus, I was able to preview different makeup styles in real time before sticking with one. However, this Instagram photo editor disappointed me when I tried to create bold eyeshadow, false lashes, and a bright lip color. The results looked overly artificial and unnatural.
I am also disappointed that most of the claimed features and tools are only available in the paid subscription, the cost of which starts at $5.99/month. In addition, the automatic face recognition does not always accurately detect my eyes and lips.
Pros
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Straightforward UI
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Works in live-streaming mode
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Allows exploring beauty brands
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AR real-time makeover tool
Cons
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Most functions are paid
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Mediocre face detection
4. PhotoDirector
Verdict: Lipstick and eyebrow options were the reason I decided to try this photo editor makeup tool. The collection includes 60+ lipstick colors and 7 textures for creating multiple combinations. So, I can easily find the lip color that perfectly matches the overall look. The eyebrow tool is also great. Offering 12 shapes and 13 colors, it allows the creation of both natural and bold brows.
- To evaluate this makeup app, I decided to experiment with a matte makeup look. I wanted to see if I could create a velvety, non-shiny complexion using matte eyeshadows, lipsticks, and powder. PhotoDirector just blurred my whole face, so I used another one for this purpose, which significantly increased the photo processing time.
However, if you usually make spot-on improvements to your skin, covering up individual imperfections and redness, you will be disappointed to find out that this feature isn't even available in the paid subscription, which starts at $2.99/month. As for the free PhotoDirector version, makeup customizations are very limited here.
Pros
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Intuitive UI
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Multiple makeup options
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Video tutorials
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Excellent color correction
Cons
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Lacks spot-on skin improvement
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AI features do not perform well
5. Meitu
Verdict: With Meitu’s makeup tool, I easily add makeup to a photo, including lipstick, blush, and eyeliner in several clicks. Whether I want to create a natural or glamorous look, the options are virtually limitless. I like that this app allows balancing skin tone, reducing discoloration, and brightening complexion to make photos perfect. Instant beautification feature is another point.
- Meitu's collection of over 200 filters for different makeup styles is impressive. However, applying them automatically can be a bit hit-or-miss. While testing this photo enhancer, the filters didn’t always deliver proper results, and it wasn’t possible to make corrections manually. Despite this, Meitu is a quick and easy way to experiment with makeup looks.
But I have to warn you about privacy issues. After reading Meitu's Terms of Service, I noticed that the app collects personal information, including location data and Wi-Fi information, which may be shared with third parties. I also had concerns about copyright ownership, which is extremely important for content creators like myself.
Pros
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AI features for creating makeup
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Variety of filters and editing tools
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Active online community
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Precise makeup application
Cons
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Copyright ownership concerns
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Privacy concerns
6. Facetune
Verdict: Facetune offers an impressive editing toolkit to delete blemishes, change hair color, and do other enhancements to improve my photos. I’ve played with various eyeshadow styles, blush colors, and lip combos, and the results have been quite satisfactory. With the app, I can easily fix tired eyes and even explore new eye colors to make my photos even more exciting.
- I decided to use Facetune to create an editorial-style makeup for my beauty blog. I was happy with how easily I could improve my skin by removing blemishes using the blemish remover.
However, I think that makeup-specific features here are a bit limited. I couldn't quite achieve the neon eyeliner look I had in mind. Retouchers from FixThePhoto honestly warned me about it.
Pros
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Intuitive sharing
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Easy-to-edit facial features
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Fully functional free version
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Powered with AI features
Cons
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Costly subscription
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Difficult to understand UI
7. AirBrush
Verdict: AirBrush offers pretty decent photo enhancement features. As my priority is glowing and perfect skin in my photos, I was amazed at how easily I could delete acne and even out my skin tone. This is especially important when I want to achieve a makeup effect without applying real makeup.
- Using this free makeup editor, I wanted to recreate my favorite vintage makeup look. I was aiming for bold brows, bright lips, and a dramatic winged eyeliner. I tried using some retro makeup filters, but they just didn't yield satisfying results. I couldn't get the eyeliner shape right, and there wasn’t the exact lipstick shade I was looking for to complete the retro vibe.
It should be noted that to access all the features, you need to purchase a subscription, which is not cheap and starts from $6.99/mo. Moreover, the application doesn’t work without an internet connection, which is another inconvenience for content creators who work on the go as I do.
Pros
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One-tap edits
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Applies makeup in real-time
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Direct sharing
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Top-rated makeup tools
Cons
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Full toolkit only in the pro version
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Needs a connection to the web
8. Snow
Verdict: The variety of tools in the Snow app is impressive, though a few of them are developed for applying makeup. Experts recommended I try its AR makeup feature to make selfies perfect and eye-grabbing. I’ve tinkered with various filters, effects, and makeup styles, and the results differed. The tone, blush, lip color, and eyeshadow generated by AI don’t always look lifelike.
- I decided to check out the makeup filters available in the app. Unfortunately, they were typical filters similar to those in most apps to add makeup to pictures. With them, you can apply standard tweaks to lips, eyes, brows, and the entire face. While the results are acceptable for a quick social media snap, the makeup quality in the final photos doesn’t align with the expert-level makeup looks I showcase on my beauty blog.
In fact, this free photo editing app has downsides like long filter processing times, which really irritates me when I need to edit and share photos in an instant.
Pros
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Quick export
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Vast selection of filters
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AI face detection
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3D avatar creation
Cons
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Long filter processing
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Results vary
9. Facey
Verdict: Lots of features, including the application of makeup in real time and face reshaping, are the main reasons why I decided to try this filter app. Experimenting with various makeup looks, from bold and colorful to subtle and natural, I can claim that the results have varied. While some of the looks appeared to be very close to life, others had an artificial touch.
- After testing the makeup features, I was generally pleased with its ability to combine different makeup products and save them as separate options for further use. However, sometimes I looked like a cartoon character in images rather than a real person, which caused much frustration.
If needed, you can use Facey to get rid of imperfections and improve the skin tone before applying makeup. Although these options are suitable for fixing defects and enhancing overall looks, they are not always foolproof.
Pros
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Applies makeup in real-time
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Possibility to create makeup presets
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Intuitive UI
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Sharing on social media platforms
Cons
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Sometimes the results look artificial
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iOS-compatible only
10. Vivid Glam
Verdict: The FixThePhoto team claimed that Vivid Glam was the best app for makeup editing for those who don't usually deal with makeup. It offers an amazing default makeup look, which you can apply with a single tap. However, the customization options can seem a bit limited for those seeking a truly personalized, glamorous look.
- Intrigued by the app's name, I set out to achieve a glamorous makeup look with plenty of pink and glitter. I began by adding a radiant glow to my skin for a luminous finish, which was the only effect I was satisfied with. The rest of the options felt overly artificial. After adding sparkles to photo, the upper part of my face looked overly adorned.
Although this app boasts impressive capabilities, for users without experience, it may be difficult to achieve subtle, natural-looking results. It doesn't offer the same level of precision and customization as dedicated desktop editing software. That’s why I wouldn't advise it for people like me, who need to produce high-quality images to maintain reputation and income.
Pros
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One-click edits
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Real-time preview
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Customization options
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Lots of features
Cons
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Frequent over-edited results
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Dependance on AI
11. BeautyPlus
Verdict: BeautyPlus makes photo editing easier with its Auto-Beautification tool. You can use this feature to prepare a basis for further makeup in a matter of seconds. Next, smooth out skin, balance color tones, and add a touch of glow. As an added perk, it also functions as a picture caption app. Thus, I can label makeup styles directly on photos for my blog community.
- With the AI Portrait function in this makeup photo editor app, I managed to refine my facial features for a more traditional look. The Retake option provides presets such as 'Open Eyes', 'Wink', and 'Cute', allowing for adjusting facial expressions and achieving the desired outcome.
Generally, the tools are sufficient for making social media content. However, if you are seeking top-tier outcomes, you’d better choose other apps with broader customization.
The app offers pre-designed templates, which you can use to speed up the image editing process. They are suitable for creating mesmerizing collages to showcase your unique style. Other advantages are face shape adjustments and skin tone presets. With them, you can get consistent, high-quality results every time.
Pros
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Intuitive UI
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Many filters and effects
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Set of stickers
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Live camera mode
Cons
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Limited pro-level editing tools
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Watermarks in the free version
How We Test Makeup Editing Apps
At the FixThePhoto team, we set a high bar when testing makeup editing apps. High-resolution results are important, but there are other factors to consider when selecting the top makeup photo editing application. We've meticulously evaluated various aspects to ensure we recommend only the best tools for our users.
One of the key factors is ease of use. Many people who use these makeup apps are beginners with no editing or makeup experience. So, it is crucial to find an app that is intuitive and user-friendly.
Next, we tested the quality and variety of image editing tools. We paid close attention to the range of features related to lip, eye, and brow makeup, as well as tools for enhancing skin tone and texture. We prioritized apps that offered in-depth customization options and placed them at the top of our rankings.
We gave extra points to apps that included extra options for refining facial and body features, as well as handy photo editing tools. It is very convenient to have all these functions in one place. The best makeup editing apps have scar removal, tools to fix teeth, and more.
We also assessed each app's performance. We tested how well they handled demanding tasks, e.g., editing high-resolution images and applying multiple effects. Apps that were prone to crashes or lags did not fare well in our rankings. Furthermore, we evaluated compatibility across Android and iOS devices to ensure a seamless user experience regardless of platform.