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Seen At 11: Shoppers Turn Phones, Tablets Into Virtual Mirrors

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- For a lot of people, shopping means having to make too many decisions.

But not anymore.

As CBS 2's Kristine Johnson reported, with just a few clicks, you can turn your phone or tablet into a virtual mirror, and trying on new glasses, updating your hairstyle or shopping for bold new jewelry or clothing has never been easier.

"You can very quickly get down to the top 10, whether you want an A-line or a strapless by trying on 20 dresses in 20 minutes," said Linda Smith, founder of FaceCake Marketing Technologies.

To help find your best look in makeup, Parham Aarabi helped develop the latest real-time 3-D virtual mirror technology for Modiface.

"There's no uploading. There's no calibration," Aarabi said. "You simply look at the camera, and you see your face.

"We have to study the exact sparkle and the chemical nature of the products being applied," Aarabi continued.

Just a few taps on a screen not only create a new you in real time; it can also save time and money at the store -- and no more makeup buyer's remorse.

"Even if she moves her face quickly or at very extreme angles, the technology is actually tracking her face," Aarabi said.

"When you stand in front of the store, it can be a bit daunting," said Melana Higuera, senior vice president of marketing for Loreal Paris. But with Makeup Genius, the new app from the cosmetics company, there's no more guessing about what looks good on you.

"It brings out the confidence in every single woman -- to step into her most natural looks or even give her the power to bring out the best bold self," Higuera said.

There are thousands of colors at the makeup store Inglot. And in just a few seconds, you can virtually try them all.

"There's no wrong or right," said Kaye Tuckerman, creative director of Inglot USA. "It's just about experimenting, playing really, focusing on the fun of makeup."

And to make shopping even easier, many of these apps will create shopping lists of the products you like best. All you need to do is click on "buy."

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