Our world has become ever more social media-centric, with the distinction between reality and virtual reality increasingly blurred. If you step inside a restaurant, you will find most people on their phones, texting or clicking pictures. In a world where digital aesthetics and real-life identity frequently coexist, beauty filter apps have established a niche for themselves.

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Whether you’re a content creator or just someone who enjoys being on social media, chances are that you have used beauty filters far too many times. This blog will examine their features, usability, and underlying technology to provide a comprehensive and hand-picked list of the top 12 beauty filter apps you absolutely must have.

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We'll also discuss the platforms these apps operate on, the benefits and drawbacks of beauty filters, and the characteristics distinguishing a good app from a great one. So, let's get started.

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What are beauty filters?

Beauty filters use artificial intelligence and augmented reality technology to enhance photos and videos. Even though they gained popularity through social media apps like Snapchat and Instagram, beauty filter apps have now grown into standalone apps that enhance or transform a user's features in real time or in pictures and videos.

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These filters are vast and can be used for a number of facial transformations, such as skin smoothing, teeth whitening, cheekbone enhancement, fake smile lines, nose sharpening, etc. You can also use these apps to add virtual makeup, apply digital accessories like nose rings, or even grow longer eyelashes. Not only do these beauty filters enhance a person’s facial features, they are also used to elevate their body shape and the picture or video as a whole.

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Beauty filters prove to be a major confidence booster, but at the same time, the apps providing these features need to be mindful about their inclusivity and the kind of message they send to users. Beauty filters, if mishandled, can fuel unrealistic beauty standards. In light of such concerns, beauty filter apps have started being more cautious and inclusive.

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12 best beauty filter apps in 2025 

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1. YouCam Makeup

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YouCam Makeup, by Perfect Corp., is an all-encompassing platform that allows users to enhance their look by using the various features offered on the app. This platform has a user-friendly interface and is a go-to for users, with a 4.8-star review on the App Store and a 4.3-star review on the Play Store. 

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Features

• Virtual makeup try-on: This platform lets users try on a wide range of virtual makeup, such as lipstick colors, eye makeup, contour, blush, and foundation, in addition to several fashionable makeup filters and 3D accessories.

• Free AI hairstyle and hair color change: YouCam Makeup enables users to have fun with over 20 different hairstyles, such as bob cuts, wavy long hair, short step cuts, and long butterfly cuts, and 100+ different hair colors with trendy patterns, including ombre, highlights, dip, and much more, to create the perfect customized hair look.

• AI clothes changer and avatar generator: This feature lets users get creative and try various styles and outfits to achieve the perfect look. This advanced tool also lets users dive deep into their imagination, explore their looks in a cartoonized form, or see their age progression.

• Skin and photo retouch: This tool allows users to achieve the perfect “celebrity skin” by eliminating spots, blemishes, pores, acne, etc., with just a click.

• Body editor: It lets you enhance your body or edit out any imperfections to transform it into your perception of perfection. It also has a feature to “lock” certain body parts just as they are, so that you can edit other parts without affecting the locked parts, making the process convenient.

• Photo background & effects: This tool is perfect for leveling up your pictures by changing the background or using animated features.

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2. VSCO 

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VSCO is an editing app known for its preset, subtle, and film-inspired filters. Unlike the other traditional beauty filter apps, VSCO focuses on soft and subtle enhancement, which makes your content look natural yet polished. With the trend of “I woke up like this” selfies and “no makeup makeup look,” this platform has carved a niche for minimalists. 

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Features

• Seamless accessibility: This feature allows users to edit content on multiple devices, such as mobile phones, laptops, and tablets, using VSCO Studio. It syncs seamlessly to ensure easy access and prevent loss of edited content.

• Photo filters: 200+ photo filters to choose from.

• VSCO Canvas: Allows you to create mood boards for photoshoots and projects to make bringing your imagination to life easier.

• AI remove: Use this feature to easily remove unwanted objects from a photo with the help of AI.

• Video editing: This program provides various features for video editing, such as slo-mo effects, cropping, film effects, adding GIFs, and much more.

• Live camera effects: One-of-a-kind live camera effects like double exposures, prism effects, GIFs, etc.

• VSCO PRO: This platform provides a pro version for professional photographers to work with brands and promote their work.

• VSCO HUB: A community to connect people looking to build a creative team with the best photographers.

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3. Retrica

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Retrica is a well-known beauty filter app famous for its retro-themed filters and captivating real-time camera effects. It is the perfect platform for users to capture, edit, and share content with others. It offers various filters and effects, allowing you to express yourself better. Users can choose from 180+ live filters to create the perfect personalized look. 

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Features: 

• Wide range of filters: This app provides customers with a wide range of filters to choose from, especially for a vintage and retro look.

• Easy to make GIFs and Collages: Users get the option to make GIFs and Collages effortlessly.

• Consecutive shooting mode and timer: This feature allows users to capture a series of shots in a row without having to press the click button every time. It also allows users to set a timer before the picture to ensure convenience and efficient results.

• Pro subscription: Users can unlock additional advanced filters by becoming a pro member.

• Text and stickers: Users can add text or stickers to their photos to make them captivating. 

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4. B612

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B612 is one of the most famous beauty editing apps because of its range of adorable filters, virtual makeup effects, and facial reshaping tools. With its seasonal and constantly renewing effects, this app keeps customers engaged and interested with its never-ending range of fresh looks. 

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Features: 

• Easy to use: B612 is effortless to use even for non-tech-savvy users. All the features are easy to locate and take minimal buffer time.

• High resolution mode: This app allows users to capture images and videos in a high resolution mode.

• HD skin mode: You also have the option to capture content in HD skin mode, which automatically corrects your skin without the hassle of correcting it bit by bit.

• Filters and effects: This feature offers many filters and effects. Users can also search for a particular filter or add it to favorites for easier access. 

• Editing options: This app offers multiple editing options, such as OneTouch, Flat Stomach, Enhance, Restore, Cutout, Reshape, and more.

• Beauty mode: This feature allows users to choose from a vast library of features, like skin tone, pore treatment, eye enlargement, nose narrowing, 3D facial features, virtual makeup, and more.

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5. Fotor

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Fotor is an all-in-one photo editing platform that allows users to enhance their images using various filters and effects. This platform allows users to get creative and bring their imaginations to life. Aside from providing a wide range of filters on this platform, Fotor also has other features to elevate the customer experience.

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Features:

• High-resolution: Fotor allows you to edit and save content in high resolution. 

• Stickers and icons: This platform allows you to decorate and innovate with your pictures using a wide range of stickers and icons.

• Text: Allows you to add text to a picture to make it more captivating or informative. Fotor offers over 100 fancy fonts for users.

• Collage maker: Combine many photos to make a collage effortlessly using Fotor.

• Photo to sketch/cartoon: You can also view and save your images in sketch or cartoon form.

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6. Facetune

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Facetune is a go-to platform for users who frequently engage with social media. It is a one-stop editing and creating solution with a wide range of features and filters to match users' aesthetics. It provides various editing tools, which help you create the perfect online presence.

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Features:

• AI tools: Facetune offers a wide range of photo editing tools that use AI to elevate customer experience. These include an AI personal stylist, a headshot generator, an AI clothes changer, an AI baby photoshoot, an AI nail simulator, an AI avatar generator, and much more.

• Facial editing: This platform also provides a wide range of facial effects and filters, including face slimmer, color analysis, virtual makeup editor, blemish remover, beard filters, etc.

• Photo filters and effects: Facetune also provides you with multiple photo filters and effects to make your photo stand out in the best possible way.

• Picture background/object remover: This app allows users to remove objects or backgrounds from photos with ease.

• Video editing options: Facetune also allows video editing using features like video face editor, makeup video editor, AI video enhancer, removing background noise from a video, blur video background, video filters and much more to achieve the best results.

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7. BeautyPlus

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BeautyPlus is an AI photo editor and image editor app that has a wide range of cool effects and subtle yet polished filters to make a good picture great. The app is available on iOS and Android for free, and it is also browser-based. BeautyPlus claims that they have 75 M+ monthly active users, 800 M+ installs around the world, and 1.5 B+ AI content generated monthly. 

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Features:

• Various AI filters: This app provides users with various captivating AI filters, such as clay filters, anime filters, pixel filters, crayon filters, cartoon filters, and much more, to keep consumers engaged and interested. 

• Photo enhancer: BeautyPlus allows you to enhance your photos using innovative features like virtual makeup try-ons, preset makeup looks, and virtual hairstyle makeovers.

• Objects and background remover: Allows you to remove objects or the background from an image conveniently.

• Creative design features: This platform allows users to unleash their innovative side and use features like photo templates, stickers, patterns, backgrounds, texts and fonts, blur, and much more.

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8. Fotogenic 

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Fotogenic is a face and body tune retouch app that allows users to enhance their photos in any desired way. You can either use the app's camera or upload pictures from your photo library to edit. It has a wide range of features to ensure customer satisfaction.

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Features: 

• Tools: This app provides various tools, such as face and body slimmer, crop, stretch, pattern creator, mosaic, text, speech bubble, etc., to get desired results.

• Beauty: Users can also use the wide range of beauty effects offered on the platform, including smoothing, whitening teeth, detailing, virtual makeup, body building, body curves, tattoos, bronzing skin, and reshaping. 

• Color and filters: The “color” options from the quick menu offer multiple filter options to enhance your image. For optimal efficiency, you can also use multiple effects like brightness contrast, sharpening, HDR, highlights, etc.

• Paint: This feature allows users to play with creativity and paint various objects on the image with a simple click. Objects offered on the platform include bubbles, birds, petals, confetti, glow line, and so much more.

• Textures: This platform allows consumers to edit textures and create fun borders for their images.

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9. AirBrush

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AirBrush is a well-known name in the beauty filter apps market. It allows users to edit photos and videos seamlessly to enhance their content. It is extremely easy to use and can be used by consumers with little to no tech knowledge. This app is available on Google Play and the App Store. AirBrush provides a 7-day free trial on the app.

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Features: 

• Photo editor: This app provides users with various tools to enhance their photos and fix imperfections. Such tools include brightness, contrast, color, highlights, vignette, etc.

• Filters: To avoid editing everything bit by bit, users can choose from the wide range of preset filters offered on the app. 

• Video editing: Along with photo editing tools, AirBrush also allows you to edit your videos by using features that smooth your skin, erase dark circles, apply virtual makeup, change the lighting, etc.

• Remove watermarks: This app allows users to remove watermarks from photos and videos so they can easily use the edited content.

• Object and background remover: Users can also remove particular objects from an image or video, or remove and change the background of their content as they please. 

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10. Meitu

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Meitu is an AI-powered editing app that allows users to edit photos and videos effortlessly and efficiently. It has accumulated over 1 billion users worldwide. Meitu runs by the tagline “to let art and technology converge elegantly,” which is exactly what shows in their platform. This app has redefined beauty with its inclusive and vast library of editing tools.

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Features: 

• AI tools: Meitu offers a wide range of AI tools to enhance content, including AI removal, AI cutout, and Photo extensions.

• AI creations: This app also has various AI-powered features, such as various AI filters, AI portraits, and AI art, which are not only captivating but also convenient to use. 

• Video editing: This platform allows users to edit videos like a pro. This app also offers a one-touch video enhancer, which fixes all imperfections in a video with just one click.

• Skin and face enhancer: This feature enhances facial features and skin textures by removing any blemishes, dark spots, and pores, and adding virtual makeup. 

• Body editor: Users can use this platform to enhance facial features and achieve their ideal body shape.

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11. Perfect365

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Perfect365 is one of the most famous and oldest names in beauty filter apps. It is known for its realistic and polished filters and the variety of editing tools offered on the app. This app has over 100 million downloads, 3.7/5 star reviews, and 8 million daily looks. 

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Features: 

• Easy to use: This platform is extremely simple to use. Customers are not required to be tech-savvy to use this platform optimally.

• Makeup try-on: This app allows users to try on makeup, which gives enhanced results virtually.

• Hair try-on: You can also try on different hairstyles and hair colors to get the perfect picture.

• Filter options: Perfect365 offers you various types of filters to pick from.

• Up to date with trends: This app stays updated on the latest beauty trends and adds features accordingly, like seasonal filters.

• Easy sync: This platform can be used on mobile devices, laptops, or desktops. Users can log in to their accounts to ensure seamless sync. 

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12. PrettyUp

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PrettyUp is an app that provides users with the best editing solutions. It is primarily known for its video and body editing. It has a wide range of features to allow users to get the desired results seamlessly. PrettyUp plays its part in being inclusive and not setting unrealistic beauty standards.

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Features:

• Photo editing tools: This app provides 100+ photo editing tools like brightness, vignette, blur, crop, highlights, scale, shadows, and so much more.

• Body reshaping: PrettyUp allows you to modify your body features into your ideal shape by using tools like slimming, enhancing, etc.

• Face retouch: Instead of editing an image or video bit by bit, this app allows you to retouch facial features with a simple click.

• Beauty portrait and makeup: Allows users to use virtual makeup to enhance pictures.

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How I evaluated these apps

So, to get the most accurate results, I decided to test all the platforms myself. First, I started off by making a list of all the necessary features that should be offered by these apps. I went through customer reviews and comments for this. 

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Then, I performed in-depth testing on all of the shortlisted apps by downloading them one by one. I tested out all the available features and compared performance based on commonly available features. For example, I used the photo retouch tool from all the apps to compare the results unilaterally. 

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Once I had completed the testing process, I selected the best 12 apps and noted my observations, highlighting the key features of every app. My aim is to show you what to expect with these apps and who they are best for because everyone has different needs.

Top AR platforms used by beauty filter apps

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1. GlamAR

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GlamAR is a platform several beauty brands and apps use for their 3D, AR, and VR solutions. It is particularly helpful in the beauty filter app market due to its accurate and precise facial recognition.

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The combination of detection, realistic 3D models, and high-quality AR rendering makes virtual try-ons hyperrealistic. It is trusted by renowned brands like Sephora, Jio, Foxtale, Hamleys, etc.

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2. Makeup AR by Perfect Corp

Makeup AR by Perfect Corp. is integrated into apps like YouCam and Perfect365. It is one of the most renowned platforms for AR and AI technologies.

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It is in over 67 countries and has played a major role in making virtual try-on apps a widespread concept. It is famous for elevating users' online experience with its emerging next-gen technology.

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3. Banuba

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Banuba is one of the most prominent names in the AR industry. It specializes in real-time beauty filters and is incorporated by apps like PrettyUp and AirBrush. This platform creates realistic 3D models for users to provide them with a lifelike virtual experience.

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Banuba is compatible with all devices that have a camera and an internet connection, making it easily accessible to a large number of people. This platform offers a 24/7 multilingual customer care service to address complaints at any given time worldwide. 

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4. MirrAR 

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MirrAR is a platform that uses AR technology to provide users with realistic virtual try-on experiences. It detects facial and body features (like hands) precisely to provide high-quality filters and virtual try-on features.

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MirrAR also has an easy and effortless setup process which allows beauty filter apps to easily integrate it.  Major brands trust it, demonstrating its reliability.

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5. DeepAR 

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DeepAR powers features in apps like B612 and Meitu. It can detect and analyze facial and body features using AR technology. This enables DeepAR to provide users with virtual experiences of products like makeup, hats, shoes, accessories, etc. This platform can also provide beauty filter apps with a range of filters to increase customer satisfaction.

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Benefits and limitations of beauty filter apps

Beauty filter apps are commonly used by people to enhance their photos and videos in a convenient and efficient way. These apps are very useful in many ways. They help boost confidence in individuals by allowing them to become their version of beautiful in a few simple steps. With new and upcoming generations, we see a shift toward artistic careers. Careers like content creation and influencer are completely social media-centric.

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Beauty filter apps allow a large audience to gain the confidence to put themselves out there fearlessly. These apps also allow consumers to indulge in creative ways and use their imagination to create different art forms. Editors, photographers, and videographers use these apps to enhance their portfolios. Platforms like these greatly motivate beginners to dive deeper into their creative minds and build new interests. 

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While these apps have their upsides, there are certainly concerning drawbacks as well. With these beauty filters come unrealistic beauty standards and norms. A society that only considers a certain skin tone “pretty” or a specific waist size “ideal” is dangerous, especially for the youth. Such unrealistic standards can lead to insecurities or trolling. In light of these concerns, beauty filter apps have been taking a step toward inclusivity and creating a respectful environment. The idea is not to fit into someone else’s perception of beauty but to be your version of beautiful. 

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What makes a beauty filter app the best?

After testing all the above-mentioned beauty filter apps, let me share some insights on what I think makes a beauty filter app the best : 

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1. Range of features: One of the most important things regarding individual app performance is the range of features. An app's variety of filters, effects, and tools makes it stand out. You will prefer an app with a one-stop solution for all your editing requirements. 

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2. Inclusive environment: Such apps need to ensure inclusivity. For example, they should have skin tones ranging from very fair to very dusky or waist sizes from XS to plus size. 

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3. Quality: Another important point to note is the AR rendering quality. The main purpose of a beauty filter app is to beautify content, and if it fails to do so efficiently, users will be less likely to choose it.

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4. Privacy: An ideal beauty filter app should make user privacy a priority. You need to feel safe while using these apps. 

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5. User-friendly: Since a large audience uses beauty filter apps, the app must be easy to use. 

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6. Customizable options: These apps need personalized features and customizable options so that users can give their content a personal touch and have creative freedom.

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Conclusion

Beauty filter apps offer a convenient and creative way to enhance a user’s photos and videos. They allow users to achieve optimal results effortlessly. The beauty filter app industry is growing more inclusive and innovative, and its popularity is increasing. These apps inculcate new trends so users can stay updated and achieve desired outcomes.