Most women have gone through the ordeal¹ of buying a product at a beauty counter only to get home and discover it looks more clown than chic².

大多数女性都有这样的经历：在美容柜台选好的化妆品拿回家后却发现并不能把自己扮靓，却会把自己画丑了。

The future of make-up: Claire gets a tutorial in how to use the hi-tech simulator
But a virtual make-up mirror promises to put an end to these expensive embarrassments³（窘迫，难堪） .

The first of its kind in Europe, the 'magic mirror' can give you a full make-over in seconds, lets you test hundreds of different products in minutes, and does away with the need for make-up remover（取出剂，搬运工） afterwards.

Created by Japanese beauty brand Shiseido（资生堂） , the simulator allows users to virtually apply make-up to eyes, lips and cheeks.

A camera on the device captures your face and works out where your eyes, nose and mouth are.

Using the touch-sensitive screen, you can choose from more than 50 different eye colours, around the same number of lip colours, and 12 blushers, bronzers and cheek tints⁴（染色，面板） .

You can whizz through a huge array of shades in a matter of moments, see how products change with more intensive application, and experiment with far more drastic（激烈的） looks than you might normally dare to.

The image you see is a perfect mirror image. If you squint⁵（斜视） to take a closer look at the eyeshadow you just 'applied⁶', you’ll see it on the screen; turn your head slightly to see how that blusher looks and your mirror image will do likewise.

Once you find a look you like, you can take a still image. The machine can store a few of these, giving you an opportunity to compare different looks.

On the downside, while you know that the colours you've opted⁷ for will suit you, the mirror can’t give you an idea of product texture⁸, or guarantee that you’ll be able to apply them well.

The make-up simulator is currently on a roadshow of department stores across the country and will return to Selfridges in London on May 27.