Fun with DailyMakeover.com

Have you ever used an online makeover tool before? I’ve used a few of them, where you upload a picture of yourself and fit it with virtual hairstyles and different colors of makeup.

The thing is, they’ve always seemed more toys than tools, with very few colors to choose from and a paint-by-numbers feel.

DailyMakeover.com’s Makeover Studio is the first online makeover service I’d actually call a real tool.

Fun AND useful

What makes it more than just a toy?

For starters, DM has a huge selection of makeup colors to choose from, and they’re based on actual products, so you’re not just choosing a random shade of beige blush or pink lipstick and swiping it over your picture with the mouse. You’re choosing from among actual brand name products and colors and setting the colors down precisely where they’re supposed to go on your face.

Second, you have an amazing amount of control over everything, from the way each hairstyle hugs the contours of your face to the angle you use to apply eyeliner.

If it is a toy … then it’s a toy meant for women who are serious about (having fun with) makeup and beauty. 🙂

Test using actual products available in stores right now

Today I wanted to see what I might look like with a different hairstyle, so I pulled up DailyMakeover.com.

You can use the makeover tool for free, but with the free trial you’re limited to uploading a single picture of yourself. That, and you only get access to a pretty small group of hairstyles, accessories (like earrings) and brands of makeup.

The free selection is still broad enough to try quite a few different looks, but with one of DM’s premium All-Access memberships you get access to literally thousands of hairstyles and makeup — we’re talking current makeup collections in stores now — and can upload an unlimited number of pictures.

The All-Access membership costs $14.95 for 3 months or $29.95 per year.

Using the Makeover Studio

1. Overview of the features and a comparison between the free membership and the All-Access membership
2. How to upload a picture of yourself (and what constitutes a good self-portrait)
3. Library of demo portraits you can use in place of a picture of yourself

I grabbed my digital camera, opened the drapes to allow in as much sunlight as possible and took a picture of myself with my hair pulled back in a ponytail.

The site says the best pics are full-frontal portraits with uncomplicated backgrounds, where you’re not standing directly in front of something like a painting or bookshelf. You want a picture taken in good natural lighting, too, for accurate makeup colors.

After uploading my picture, the tool guided me through some simple steps to define the shape of my eyes, lips and face.

I even thought this part was cool (seems very high tech)…

Because they have you define the shape of YOUR eyes, face and lips, the makeup you test on your pictures isn’t just slathered on randomly. It really looks like proper makeup application.

When you have a look you like, with a list of all the specific products you used, you can save the file to your computer and/or print it out (along with a shopping list to take with you to the makeup counter!).

I didn’t really try out the Community Makeovers feature (I’m a little nervous about letting everyone in the world do a makeover using my picture), but it’s also where you can go to get feedback from other members and to give feedback in return.

I’d be interested in seeing if there are other members with similar skin tone and features doing looks I may have never even thought to try.

Definitely give DailyMakeover’s Makeover Studio a try if you haven’t already. It rocks!

The Beauty Bloggerati — A few weeks ago DailyMakeover invited me and about a dozen other beauty bloggers to join a new network of their favorite blogs called the Beauty Bloggerati. Click here to read more…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen