With the explosion of apps (short for applications) that can be easily downloaded and viewed anytime, anywhere with just a swipe of a finger. women have stumbled upon a new way of getting fun, useful information on beauty, style, fashion and just about anything else they might be interested in.
So what do you need to know before you hit the iTunes App Store? We've included our favorite beauty apps-some free, some paid, but all completely handy.
Ever wake up and want to do something different with your hair? Hairstyler is here to help. With information on how to create different hairstyles (like the perfect blowout or trendy braids), what equipment to use, products, hair care and even a glossary to help you sort through the lingo, you're bound to find the answers to any of your hairstyling questions. And it's kind of fun too.
Beauty Apps
Photoshop.com Mobile, Free
This new Adobe Photoshop app is supercool and best of all, free. But what it makes such a fabulous beauty tool is its powerful ability to retouch, edit and share your images with just a swipe of your finger. You can crop, rotate or adjust a photo's color by swiping your finger across the screen. And filters, like Soft Focus or Sketch can help you make yourself even prettier for that Facebook pic you've been wanting to post. Other effects include Vibrant, Pop, Vignette Blur, Rainbow, White Glow and Soft Black and White. And of course, you can access your entire online photo library or take an image while you're in the app. Up to 2GB of photos can be uploaded and stored online.
Hairstyler, $2.99
Ever wake up and want to do something different with your hair? Hairstyler is here to help. With information on how to create different hairstyles (like the perfect blowout or trendy braids), what equipment to use, products, hair care and even a glossary to help you sort through the lingo, you're bound to find the answers to any of your hairstyling questions. And it's kind of fun too.
My Style, $0.99
My Style takes the guess work out of getting your hair done. Whether you want to take a photo of your own hair when you get it styled for your next visit-or take pics of that awesome cut and color you saw in the mall or in a magazine, this app does it all. And it will store any notes, names of stylists or colors you may need for the future. All you have to do it is take a picture with your iPhone next time you're at the salon (don't forget the back) and save it with any pertinent information. You can also instantly post your styles to Facebook to share with friends.
Lookz-Barry M-Makeup, Beauty, Fashion and Style, $0.99
Celeb make-up fave Barry M, the British cosmetics king, has created an app to help you find the perfect look. And you know if you're working with Barry, it won't be boring. Whether you go bold with Clubbing Lookz or stay sweet with Natural Lookz, you can learn the basics of make-up application, upgrade your skills and techniques or even find gossip, news and the latest trends. Categories in the Lookz app include Catwalk, Bollywood and Goth and you'll find celebrity inspired looks from the likes of Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. Makeup videos and wallpapers will be updated regularly as well.
AcneApp, $0.99
This app may need a huge leap of faith. But for less than a dollar, what do you have to lose? According to the FDA, narrow-band, high-intensity blue-light therapy is approved for treating acne. In most treatments, blue-light therapy is also combined with pulses of other heat and light to target the causes of acne. AcneApp, which boasts being developed by a dermatologist (yet also warns that it for "entertainment purposes only"), has you hold your iPhone or iPod Touch next to your face and will provide blue, red or both light treatments for two minutes a day on acne prone areas. Successful? We can't say, but it certainly is nifty.
Age Defying Tricks, $0.99
With over 100 tips and tricks culled from the beauty professionals at Cosmo, Glamour, Vogue, Aveda, Mac and more, this app is a must. It may be simple, you'll just get a quick tip written in white lettering on a black background, but it's nice to know somebody is there to let us know that sugar stiffens collagen fibers, leading to wrinkles. No more twinkies at lunch!
iStylist Makeover, $0.99
This app is not only useful, but it's sure to invoke gaggles of giggles. After you take a photo of yourself in the app or upload an image from your library, you'll choose from all kinds of hairstyles, accessories and even make-up tints to style yourself like your favorite celebrity. Dying to try out Vanessa Hudgens hair and a kickin' pair of Oliver People's shades? This is your chance. There are downloadable style packs for more choices, a makeover gallery where you can browse and rate the looks, and built-in tools that let you zoom and crop your photo. Save, email or upload your images to Facebook to share with the world when you're done.
Natural Herbal Cures and Remedies, $9.99
Actually an entire ebook on how to understand and use herbal cures and remedies, this app will school you in health concepts like hydrotherapy, herbalism, eclectic medicine and natural hygiene. You'll also learn how to use these concepts to enhance your health and your lifestyle-like how the chinese combine natural medicinal herbs (and how they stay so young looking), what herbal supplements should you add to your diet and natural skin remedies to cure blemishes. The ebook lets you adjust font type and size, write notes, search for specific details and easily view included images and drawings.
