Virtual Cosmetic

Cosmetic brands are being more experimental with their virtual experiences

Published: November 23, 2020
Re-emergence: December 11, 2025
Trend - Distinct virtual experiences that are facilitated by cosmetic brands are on the rise as businesses look to balance customer and employee safety with their bottom line. Experiences include everything from virtual game pop-ups to virtual makeup studios.

Insight - Despite being restricted in the activities they can take part in outside the home, consumers around the world still crave the sense of normalcy that comes with simple things like experimenting with makeup and skincare. Many are turning to brands in this space that prioritize their health without sacrificing the playful nature of cosmetic experimentation.
Workshop Question - How could your brand balance safety and experience?
Trend Themes
1. Distinct Virtual Experiences - Cosmetic brands are facilitating distinct virtual experiences as businesses look to balance customer and employee safety with their bottom line, presenting an opportunity to explore new ways to enhance the virtual experience to suit the changing consumer needs.
2. Virtual Try-ons - With the shift in the cosmetic industry, virtual try-ons are on the rise and can provide new opportunities for extended customization, virtual makeup. testing, and augmented reality applications.
3. Playful Brand Engagement - Brands can incorporate playful engagement strategies with virtual travel destinations, exercise platforms, and gaming experiences in their marketing strategies to enhance consumer connection and build brand loyalty.
Industry Implications
1. Cosmetics - Cosmetic companies are leveraging technology to improve in-store and online experiences to create a safer shopping environment and improve customization to meet changing consumer needs.
2. Fitness - Fitness businesses can extend virtual services to include facial workouts, encouraging the development of virtual wellness offerings to drive engagement and revenue in uncertain times.
3. Retail - Virtual experiences can enhance product testing, allowing customers to make informed purchases despite the reduced in-store access to cosmetics professionals, and elevating the overall online shopping experience.
7.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
13 Featured, 110 Examples:
251,945 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Nov 20 — Jan 25
Trending:
Viral
Consumer Insight Topics:

Featured Examples

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Maybelline New York teamed up with Microsoft to introduce virtual makeup to video calls so that people have a quick and easy way to adjust the way they’re presented to their peers. Created to... MORE
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Luxury brand Coach teamed up with augmented reality tech company Zero10 to create an in-store AR Mirror and AR Storefront so that shoppers can digitally try on the brand’s Tabby Bag. This... MORE
Mood-Based Makeup Mirrors
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The L’Oréal Mood Mirror is a CES 2025 Beauty-Tech Innovation
The L’Oréal Mood Mirror—a CES 2025 Innovation Awards Honoree in the category for Artificial Intelligence, XR Technologies & Accessories—is a first-of-its-kind augmented reality experience... MORE
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FaceGym Created a Virtual Exercise Platform for At-Home Facial Workouts
Due to COVID-19, gyms and fitness boutiques are temporarily closing and are instead offering virtual classes—as is FaceGym, which ordinarily offers facial workouts from its studios. The new... MORE
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Tatcha Created an Animal Crossing Island to Introduce New Skincare
To introduce the world to its new Rice Wash Cleanser, Tatcha did what brands across all industries are doing to engage nostalgic Millennial consumers—it created an Animal Crossing Island. The... MORE
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Walmart Beauty Virtual Try-On Now Includes Hair Color Products
Walmart Beauty Virtual Try-On has been enhanced by the retailer to now include access to hair color products, which will greatly enhance the shopping experience for consumers. The augmented reality (... MORE
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Lip Lab At Home Helps People Create Custom Lipsticks with an Expert
Bite Beauty’s Lip Labs are offered in a select of cities and they give lipstick lovers the ability to create their very own products—and for National Lipstick Day, the brand introduced a new... MORE
Virtual Makeup Studios
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Burberry Beauty Launched a Virtual Try-on Makeup Counter
Burberry Beauty has launched a virtual try-on makeup counter to coincide with its latest collection, providing consumers with a tech-fueled way explore new looks without committing financially.... MORE

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