Saturday, April 2, 2011

Beauty Manager App

Beauty Manager is an iPhone app by Nizx Software that allows users to keep a database of their makeup and beauty collection right on their phone. I was given the opportunity to try the app for free, and I was very excited - at the time, I was using Memeo Connect to allow me to view my Google Docs polish spreadsheets on my phone, and I was eager to try something that would be stored on my phone and wouldn't have to load each time I wanted to check my stash list. The app is $1.99. Here's what the app's page looks like in the iTunes App Store:


When you download and open the app, this is the home screen:


Since I'm a nail addict and don't really have an interest in keeping track of my relatively few makeup and bath products, I only used the "nails" section of the app. When you choose "nails," here is what appears:

This is one of the things that annoy me about the app - it's "lacquer," not "laquer." Also, "base coat," not "under laquer," and "top coat," not "over laquer." *headdesk* After you click on "laquer," this is what appears:


Rather, that's what appeared after I added all my polishes to the database, which took quite a while as I have over 260 now (I'm too lazy to go check my spreadsheet and see exactly how many I have). I can't imagine adding 1,000+ polishes to the app! One comment I have as far as how this screen shows up is that I would like for the section with the stars to be smaller so that the entire name could be displayed. Of course, I know that A Good Man-dar... is A Good Man-darin is Hard to Find and that All A-Bordeaux... is All A-Bordeaux the Sled, but it still bugs me. I wouldn't particularly mind if the stars were gone from the main screen altogether and appeared only as a part of each individual polish entry. I would also like the app better if you could choose how to sort your entries - by name or by brand.

When you click on a polish name, this is what it looks like:


I like that they have sections for the purchase date and for any notes about the polish. As I use polishes, I will probably go through and add notes about application or dupes in the "notes" section, which I imagine will be very useful when I'm out shopping. As you can see, there is an arrow at the bottom right of the screen. When you click on it, this is the screen that comes up:


I can't think of the circumstance under which I would need to send an entry in the app via email, but if I need to at least I know I can!

Overall, I honestly do not think this app is worth paying $1.99 for, and I wouldn't buy the app myself. Then again, I'm very stingy about paying for apps, and you may feel differently. However, a huge drawback that I see is that there is no free (and limited) version that you can try before buying the full version, like there is with many apps. If you think you'd like it and don't mind spending the money, sure - go ahead and get the app. But if you have your doubts, I would advise against buying.

I received this product from the company to review; however, this will never affect what I say about a product. See my disclosure policy for details.

8 comments:

  1. Hmm. That's a really handy idea, but I really don't know if I'd be willing to spend $1.99 on it. Maybe at some point when they work the kinks (and spelling errors) out it would be worth it, but I think I'll give it a pass for now.
    Thanks for the review!

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  2. You're welcome! :) I do think that once it's improved a little that it'd be
    worth the money, but not at this point.

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  3. I heard about a similar app that was posted by another lacquerista (can't remember who tho) that was called "My Stuff". While it's a bit more at 4.99$ it looks alot more useful to me. It can track a multitude of items, new categories can be added and most of all you can add pictures!

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  4. Yeah, I think I saw that post, but I can't remember who wrote it, either. I
    do think that would be more useful, but I'm not sure if I'd be willing to
    pay for it. Like I said, I am super, super stingy about paying for apps. I
    think I have two paid apps on my phone. :)

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  5. LOL @ lacquer, not laquer! I wish I'd checked the spelling before I created my gmail address - which leaves out the c! Oops!

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  6. Oh well! :) It's just seeing it over and over again in a paid app that bugs me.

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  7. This would be very useful for nail polish shopping! Too bad I only have an Android phone.

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  8. There might be a similar app for Android! It would definitely be worth checking, anyway.

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