In 2013 innovation came in the form of digital kiosks complete with interactive display screens that offered users detailed product descriptions, beauty tips, tricks for applications and even short videos on how a consumer can look their best with minimum effort.
Fast forward one year later and the market has evolved to offer consumers the option of skipping the store all together. One such newly released app 'Plum Perfect', claims to use science to foolproof the makeup-buying process, all from the comfort of a shopper's home.
Through facial recognition technology, the free app uses a photo of the face and within 30 seconds gives a spot-on analysis of the hue and products to match.
It divides makeup into lips, eyes and face, and categorizes them further into more specific categories such as foundation, powder, blush and concealer, so consumers can get exactly what they're looking for.
According to the founder, Amy Ford Keohane what differentiates this app from others is the "looks" feature, which mixes and matches three selected products for either "Natural," "Office" or "Glam" looks.
"We're hyper-personalized, completely unbiased and we work for the consumer. Nobody else in the marketplace can claim to do that," says Keohane.
Blotting paper trend expands to blush and highlighter form
Blotting paper is nothing new to cosmetic consumers. However; the development of mainly powder form ranges has now expanded to blush and highlighter options.
This highly absorbent type of paper that aids with the removal of skin oils and makeup has been taken to a new level in Mai Couture's papier booklets range which hit store shelves at BeautyMart this week.
They look like blotting papers, are the same size, weight and texture but each feather-light sheet is infused with color for base, lips, cheeks and eyes which transfers easily once pressed, swept or blended with fingers onto the skin.