We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
14 Of The Best Beauty Apps: From Checking UV Damage To At-Home Skincare Advice
Learn from the pros in the comfort of your own home.
Our phones now have the capability of getting us anything, at any time and apps are only making it easier. In 2019 alone, we downloaded 204 million apps worldwide, so it's about time the beauty world caught up.
You may be thinking, 'What do I need a beauty app for?' We hear you. Well, turns out having a beauty app to hand can make your beauty and wellness routine a whole lot quicker and simpler. From booking an emergency root touch-up at your favourite salon, to keeping your skin safe in the sun, to supporting your local businesses, there's not much beauty apps can't do.
Right now? We're all about the beauty apps guiding us through our at-home preening routines. From mastering your own manicure to trimming your fringe with the steady hand of a true professional, let these beauty apps guide you through the salon beauty treatments we can't have right now.
Read on for ELLE's edit of the best beauty apps you'll want to download ASAP.
Chanel Lipscanner
We've all seen apps that let you try on lipsticks but Chanel's latest innovation takes things one step further. Love the lipstick worn on the SS21 runway? Simply scan an image (or Instagram post, or book cover or even your favourite Chanel handbag) and let the app provide Chanel's perfectly matched lipstick from over 400 options before trying it on to see how it looks for yourself. Think of it like the Dulux colour match system but for your face.
Skin Matters by Joanne Evans
The digital equivalent of skin school, Skin Matters helps you decipher what that long list on the back of your skincare products actually means and gives you a better understanding of what will and won't work for your skin.
Download and be on your way to becoming a skintellectual.
LeSalon
Luxury made easy, LeSalon makes it quick and simple to organise professional salon treatments performed in the comfort of your own home. From your dream manicure, to the perfect glowy spray tan - this app takes 5* salons digital.
Cloe
'Why is my skin freaking out?' is a question that has mystified us for as long as we can remember, but this app might help us solve the conundrum.
Think of cloe as your personal skincare diary, where you can log the products you're using, update with photos of updates of your skin and help record how much water you're drinking. The data will help highlight any patterns in your breakouts to help you get your best skin ever.
Think Dirty
When it comes to the world of non-toxic beauty, it can be an absolute minefield to get right. Think Dirty has come to the rescue and made it a whole lot simpler.
Avoiding any 'greenwashing', the app works to verify brands through a number of different certifiers to make sure brands are rigorously tested before giving them the Think Dirty sticker. The 'Dirty Meter' allows you to see what ingredients are in your go-to beauty products and rates them from a scale of 0-10 on how bad they are for you and actually explains to you why they got that rating.
Prepare to go through your whole bathroom.
Garnier Color Match
Whether you've always wanted to find out if blonde's have more fun but been scared to take the plunge or just need a bit of entertainment on your lunch break, Garnier's Color Match app allows you to digitally change your hair colour with a range of shades so you can discover what suits you best.
Navy hair, anyone?
Treatwell
Treatwell allows you to schedule your beauty treatments with over 0,000 local businesses, all from the comfort of one app.
From an emergency mani, to your root touch-ups, it offers more beauty treatments than we can even comprehend from a wide range of professionals in the matter of a few clicks.
YouCam Nails
If you can't make it to the salon but like to have a nail inspiration bank at the ready, YouCam Nails is the app you need.
It allows you to upload a picture of your own nails which you can then customise with a range of nail shades and patterns, as well as how-to videos on how to create your nail designs at home.
*Adds virtual manicurist to CV*
UVLens
Whilst it may be easy to forget the sun (as we rarely see it in the UK) UV damage can get you anywhere, at anytime. So it's vital to keep an eye on it as much as you can (and wear suncream at all times, obvs).
UVLens will tell you when it's best to go outside, based on high levels of UV, as well as giving you a sunscreen top-up reminder. It works by assessing your skin (the paler you are, the less time you get outside we're afraid) and determining your risk factor.
Urban
This is a one-stop app for relaxation. Urban specialises in putting wellness first by offering at-home services such as massages, facials, nails and osteopathy to get you to an ideal state of zen.
It's recently even added a fitness element to the app, so you can even organise a private yoga session in peace. Putting a stop to getting accidentally hit in the face during your workouts.
TroveSkin
Think of this as your very own Jerry from Cheer for your skin. After an initial skin quiz, TroveSkin explains your skin type: what it does and doesn't like and how you can work to solve your skincare woes.
It allows you to track your progress and keep a skincare diary, so you can work out what doesn't and does work for you. Essentially, allowing you to be your best self. Who doesn't need that kind of positivity in their lives right now?
Beautystack
Beautystack combines all your beauty booking needs with an Instagram-like virtual format.
Local artists and beauticians can take pictures of their work and upload it onto their Beautystack profile. Customers can then browse these images (like you would an Instagram account) and book people based on their virtual look books.
See a nail design you like? Instantly book with the manicurist. It's that simple.
Miiskin
Mole checking might not be the most glamorous beauty task out there, it is vital to keep an eye on it.
Miiskin have made that a whole lot easier. Take a picture of any mole concerns and the app uses a skin mapping technique to help track any old moles that might be becoming risky, whilst checking for any new ones.
Most importantly, the app doesn't try to diagnose you through photos (as we all know how this can end) but rather allows you to keep a diary of any changes.
Ruuby
Essentially Uber but for beauty, Ruuby allows you to book any beauty treatment, anywhere, anytime. Whether it be in your office on your lunch break or a sprat tan at home, it's brings 5 star beauty services straight to your door.
With new services such as 1:1 virtual fitness classes and video GP consultations, Ruuby brings all your beauty and wellness needs into one handy app.
Cannes Film Festival: Soo Joo Park Beauty
BTS At The BAFTA TV Awards With Lashana Lynch
Sabrina Carpenter’s Met Gala Beauty Look
Pat McMgrath On Creating Pamela Anderson's Make-Up
