Soon, you could try lipsticks on YouTube: Here's how
What's the story
Today, YouTube makes an ideal place to learn about beauty products.
The platform has so much fashion-focused content (from makeup tips to product reviews) that you can spend hours exploring just a single item or topic.
And now, the streaming giant is making this experience even more engaging by adding the ability to try products, lipsticks to be exact, in AR.
Here's how.
Feature
YouTube testing feature to try lipsticks in augmented reality
Just recently, the folks at Android Police dug into the code of YouTube app version 14.22.
The analysis revealed a series of strings indicating YouTube's plan to add the ability to try lipsticks in augmented reality.
The feature will not just give a better idea of products featured in a video but also let viewers know how they would look on them.
Working
How this feature will work
Going by the code, YouTube videos featuring certain partner products will sport a "try on lipstick" button.
As you click on it, the app will open the selfie camera of your phone (with permissions, of course) and apply the lipstick in question on your lips using AR.
This would work just like Snapchat filters, and you will also be able to switch shades instantly.
Quality
Reproduction of AR lipstick would be critical
The capability sounds interesting, but it's worth noting that the lipstick reproduced in AR has to mimic the same shade of the original - in all lighting conditions.
If the shade varies, buyers may feel cheated after delivery of the product.
However, the good news is that Google has already showcased the lipstick reproduction capabilities of its ARCore tech with some very accurate results.
Availability
No word on official availability of the feature
This feature has only been spotted in the YouTube app and neither Google nor YouTube has said anything about when it will debut in an official release.
However, despite this, we can't stop but imagine the wide-ranging possibilities of this technology.
Basically, Google could replicate the same feature for other products too, making visiting stores in person a thing of the past.