Maybelline’s Beauty app has launched on Microsoft Teams, enabling users to personalise their appearance during Teams meetings.
Developed alongside the Geena Davis Institute with the aim of effectively representing a diverse population, the app offers 12 unique looks to help users better express themselves.
The app, which is the result of a partnership between Teams and Maybelline New York, will be initially available in preview and released globally on a rolling basis to Teams enterprise customers from Wednesday 19th July 2023.
In Microsoft’s blog post announcing the app’s launch, it said:
“Regardless of where they are working, employees want to stay engaged and feel empowered when collaborating with their colleagues.
“The new Maybelline Beauty app in Microsoft Teams from Maybelline New York can help – allowing users to adjust their personal style quickly and easily from within a Teams meeting.”
Users can choose from a range of digital makeup colours and blur effects, view them in preview, and “apply” the new look to be used in meetings.
The application adds to Teams’ video effect filters, which can be accessed before or during meetings.
The Maybelline Beauty app uses AI functionality delivered by Modiface, a beauty technology solutions provider.
Modiface AI locates more than 70 points on users’ faces to form a “virtual map” of their features, through which they can seamlessly layer the digital filters over a user’s face.
The app also has augmented reality capabilities designed for the beauty industry and is owned by Maybelline’s parent company L’Oreal.
How to use the Maybelline app
To use the app before starting a meeting, click on “Join Meeting”, followed by “Video Effects”, then click “More Video Effects”, scroll down and select “Maybelline” under the “Filters” category, select your favourite look, and click “Join now”.
If you have already joined a meeting, click “More” at the top of the meeting screen, then click “Video Effects”, scroll down and select “Maybelline” under the “Filters” category, select your favourite look, click “Preview” to try it out without other attendees seeing or click “Apply” to activate the look within the meeting.
For better or worse?
The reception to the new application appears to be mixed. Although many have been praising the intersection of technology and beauty, some of the comments on Microsoft’s blog reflect concerns that it will only serve to heighten people’s insecurities.
One ‘senior member’ of the community wrote: “As if the world doesn’t have enough issues with body image and personal appearance…”
“As for me, I wish to see, know, respect, and love the people around me as they really are.”
Others, such as Microsoft MVP Kevin McDonnel, simply joked about the new release on LinkedIn saying, “I’m holding out until it supports wigs”.
UC Today has been covering all the biggest news from Microsoft Inspire, including the slew of new features coming out of Teams, such as the addition of Microsoft 365 Copilot to Teams Phone and Teams Chat.
UC Today’s Rob Scott also discussed Teams news this month with Tom Arbuthnot, Microsoft Teams Expert and Co-Founder of Empowering.Cloud.
