Makeup Check AI vs Brand Virtual Try-Ons (L'Oréal, Maybelline, Sephora)
Brand and retailer try-ons show their own products on your face. Makeup Check AI gives advice that is not tied to any brand, based on your undertone, face shape and colour season.
L'Oréal Paris and Maybelline offer free browser try-ons, powered by ModiFace, for their own lipsticks, eyeshadows and foundations, and L'Oréal Paris has an AI assistant, Beauty Genius, that recommends from its own range. Sephora's app has a Smart Skin Scan for skincare and a Foundation Finder; its older Virtual Artist page now redirects to the Sephora homepage.
Makeup Check AI is independent of any brand. It tells you which colours and techniques suit your face first, and its foundation shade matcher compares 1,289 shades across 26 brands.
| Feature | Makeup Check AI | brand try-ons (L'Oréal, Maybelline, Sephora) |
|---|---|---|
| Products shown | Not tied to a brand; foundation matches across 26 brands | Their own brand or their own store only |
| Undertone, face shape, colour season | Yes, measured from a selfie | Skin-tone based foundation shade tools; undertone quizzes |
| Live-camera try-on | No, photo-based | Yes on L'Oréal Paris (live or selfie) |
| Tutorials and plans | 100+ tutorials, beauty plans | Product pages and guides |
| Cost | Free account: 4 tool runs a day; Premium for full reports | Free |
| Account | Google or Apple sign-in | None for brand try-ons; Sephora's skin scan needs Beauty Insider |
Choose Makeup Check AI if
- you want advice that isn't selling one brand
- you want to know your undertone, face shape and colour season
- you want to compare foundation shades across brands
Choose brand try-ons (L'Oréal, Maybelline, Sephora) if
- you've already picked a brand and want to see its shades on you
- you want live-camera try-on of a specific product before buying
FAQ
Does Sephora still have Virtual Artist?
When we checked on 14 October 2026, sephora.com/beauty/virtual-artist redirected to the Sephora homepage, and Sephora's store listings did not mention virtual try-on. The app offers a Smart Skin Scan and a Foundation Finder.
Are brand virtual try-ons free?
Yes. L'Oréal Paris and Maybelline try-ons are free in the browser, but they only show that brand's products.
What is an unbiased way to find makeup that suits me?
Start from your features: Makeup Check AI's free analyzer reads your undertone, face shape and colour season, and its foundation matcher compares shades across 26 brands.
Competitor details checked on October 14, 2026 from their own store listings and websites. Features and prices change; check the source before you decide. Makeup Check AI is our product.
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