Need a touch up? Try free beauty apps

Book a blowout at a bargain price — or find some new skin-care products that you might like to try. ShopSmart, the shopping magazine from the publisher of Consumer Reports, describes free apps that are worth checking out.

1. Virtual Nail Salon. Best for checking out new nail colors and art. Upload a photo of your hand and give yourself a cybermani, virtually trying on polish shades to see how they look.

Featured brands include Deborah Lippmann, Inglot, NYX, OPI, Sally Girl and Zoya. You can choose a template or DIY designs. Works on Android and Apple.

2. Stash Beauty. Best for inventory control. This app keeps track of all the makeup you buy, so you’ll never end up with three tubes of the same lipstick shade again.

Scan bar codes or type in product names to create your inventory list. Do it as soon as you buy, and the app will alert you when it anticipates that you might be running low on a product. Easily restock by clicking to buy at Soap.com, Wal-Mart and elsewhere. Android and Apple.

3. The Hunt. Best for tracking down products. Having trouble finding an old favorite or a new beauty product? Post a photo and a community of 2 million shopping sleuths are on call to help you find it or a less expensive version. Android and Apple.

4. Plum Perfect. Best for finding your ideal makeup colors. Upload a photo of your face, and this app will analyze your features and complexion, then recommend flattering makeup shades.

Click through to buy at Nordstrom, Target and elsewhere. Apple only.

5. mySkin. Best for personalized skin-care advice. First you take a 12-step quiz to assess your skin, which includes questions about your coloring, skin sensitivity and whether you want organics, products not tested on animals or eco-friendly packaging.

Then you get recommendations culled from a catalog of more than 160,000 items (but you can’t click to buy). Apple only.

6. Sephora To Go. Best for shopping 24/7. Sephora’s app lets you shop right on the app or check stock at a local store, reorder from your purchase history in My Beauty Bag, register Sephora gift cards to use later and more.

You can also browse looks and watch how-to videos. Scan bar codes to see customer reviews, or post your own. Android and Apple.

7. LifeBooker. Best for finding salon and spa deals. Book appointments at up to 80 percent off regular prices. No available in all cities. Android and Apple.

8. Makeup Genius. Best for “trying on” makeup. This app scans your face (hold very still!) and virtually applies various L’Oreal products that you choose to give you an idea of how they’ll look in real life.

The “makeup” stays on and moves with you in real time, so you can smile or turn your head to see how it looks at different angles or in different lighting.

Find a product you like? You can click to buy it at Target. Android and Apple.

9. Pretty in My Pocket (PRIMP). Best for makeup reviews and tips.

Use this bar-code scanner app to check out reviews and tips while you’re out shopping.

You can also browse a library of looks and click to buy products. Android and Apple.