Through the looking glass: South Korean 'augmented reality' mirror allows touchless cosmetics shopping

Record ID: 1560568

  • Title: Through the looking glass: South Korean 'augmented reality' mirror allows touchless cosmetics shopping
  • Date: 3rd July 2020
  • Summary: PEOPLE PASSING BY COSMETICS STORE BOTTLES OF FOUNDATION ON DISPLAY ADVERTISING IMAGE SHOWING MEMBER OF K-POP GIRL BAND BLACKPINK, JENNIE/ MAKEUP PRODUCTS ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) ASSOCIATE OF BEAUTY SALES UNIT AT AMOREPACIFIC, LEE MOON-IL, SAYING: "Customers can take a picture of them and check their skin type and condition through that photograph and get recommendation for them. They also can try out various make-up products such as lipstick or mascara without applying them on their own faces, because they use AR technology, which is way more convenient."
  • Embargoed: 17th July 2020 09:55
  • Keywords: AR Amorepacific Augmented Reality South Korea coronavirus cosmetics infection make-up virtual images
  • Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Health/Medicine,Editors' Choice
  • Reuters ID: LVA007CL97BRB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: An augmented reality (AR) mirror at the new Seoul flagship boutique of cosmetics powerhouse Amorepacific makes easy work of seeing if that scarlet shade of lipstick or long-lash mascara suits you - without touching your face.
    The mirror takes a photograph of the customer's face and analyses it, recommending products based on skin texture, and addressing any blemishes, wrinkles or dark circles. Customers can then see a computer-generated image of what they would look like wearing a wide range of foundations, blusher, eye products and lipsticks.
    "Due to coronavirus, it was uncomfortable to test cosmetics after someone had used. However, this is very convenient as I can see actual colour on my face in a form of AR image without even touching my face," said shopper Cho Yu-lim, 24, as she stood in front of AR mirror.
    In addition to social distancing, South Korean government guidelines recommend shoppers try out cosmetics on the backs of their hands, not on their faces.
    To minimise human contact and limit the risk of virus spread, the shop has also put QR codes next to all products on display, so customers can check details with their mobile phones instead of talking to staff.
    "It took very little time and I didn't need to talk to anyone before I made my purchases," Cho said.
    South Korea has been praised how it has handled COVID-19, but Asia's fourth-largest economy has also experienced persistent outbreaks in recent weeks, mostly in the capital.
    (Production: Daewoung Kim, Minwoo Park)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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