Taking Online Shopping to the Next Level: Augmented Reality

We’ve heard of AI and VR, but have you ever heard of AR?  

AR stands for augmented reality, which is an interactive experience that combines the real world and computer-generated content. 

AR has most recently been used for brands as they utilize virtual try-ons. This is as simple as using a filter on social media applications like Snapchat and seeing how a certain product looks on you.

Google takes this to the next step with their new try-on tool. 

It is described as the technology that leads you to try before you buy, Google's new AR feature allows users to test makeup on themselves digitally using their platform. This new technology will be available for both iOS and Android devices. 

This must sound very confusing, so let Monet show you how it works.

This video is an amazing way to show off Google's new AR beauty tool, while also spotlighting a new creator and the incredible makeup artist, Pat McGrath.

via @shopforgoogle on Instagram

Monet McMichael burst onto the scene in 2021 for her lifestyle content while she was a nursing student at Rutgers in New York. She continued to grow and really hit her stride in 2022 with the aptly named: GRWM, also known as 'Get Ready with Me', where a person will talk while doing their skincare, makeup, and/or getting dressed in an outfit. Her content also includes vlogs and shortform edits. She has a presence on both YouTube and TikTok and most recently has been awarded one of Forbes' Top Creators for 2023. 

via Devin Yalkin for Forbes

So for Google to use her as the face of this advertisement is genius! This ad was posted on Instagram, and when posted by @shopforgoogle and @patmcgrathreal, it received a little over 5,000 likes, but on McMichael’s account, it received over 190,000 likes on Instagram and 224,000 likes on TikTok with almost 1 million views. The engagement is crazy! 

via @shopwithgoogle and @patmcgrathreal

  

via @monetmcmichael on Instagram

via @monetmcmichael on TikTok

Today, engagement is everything, and as a creator, to have a 13% engagement is incredible, as well as spanning around 5 million followers on various social media platforms. Monet's personality is the reason for this, as well as the way she connects with her followers and community. 

Using influencers like Monet McMicahel allows Google to tap into the ground swell and assess what consumers are interested in, and gain more traction for them by using influencers like Monet who has such a strong following behind her.

Do you think you would try this feature or any AR feature in general? Do you have a creator who influences you to look into products?