Estée Lauder introduces Chatbot for virtual lipstick try-on

Estée Lauder has introduced augmented reality (AR) lipstick advice bot Chatbot on Facebook Messenger to facilitate virtual try-on.

Developed by beauty technology firm ModiFace, the new bot has been designed to guide customers while they search, explore, try-on, and buy lipsticks directly on Messenger.

This move follows the introduction of the AR-based try-on on esteelauder.com product pages in May this year. Chatbot prompts users to take a quiz before delivering personalised lipstock shade recommendations based on the user’s preferences for colour and finish.

A search-by-colour capability is also integrated into the advisor, where users take a photo of an object around them and the app finds a lipstick shade to match the object's colour.

Estée Lauder global brand president Stephane de La Faverie said: "One of the key pillars of our partnership with ModiFace is the application of augmented reality and AI across all platforms where customers interact with our brand.

"Messaging applications such as Facebook Messenger are the perfect platform for consumers to search, explore, try-on, and ideally purchase Estée Lauder products."

The conversational lipstick advisor uses ModiFace's facial recognition and AR product simulation technology, which currently powers more than 200 custom AR apps for brands such as Sephora, Estée Lauder, Allergan, L'Oreal, Unilever, and Coty.