How to Implement Beauty Effects Similar to TikTok and Recommended Beauty API Platforms

What is a Beauty API?

With the rise of platforms like TikTok, more and more independent developers are creating live streaming and video platforms, and the demand for beauty APIs is increasing.

A beauty filter API is an Application Programming Interface (API) that allows developers to integrate beauty features into their applications. Beauty filters are typically used to enhance the appearance of people in photos or videos, making them look more beautiful or conform to certain aesthetic standards. These APIs usually provide features such as skin smoothing, whitening, face slimming, eye enlarging, and rosiness effects.

Developers generally have two main requirements for beauty features: powerful functionality that allows all beauty features to be completed through a single integrated API, and high-quality beauty effects that appear natural, requiring excellent algorithms.

The principle of a Beauty API primarily involves computer vision and image processing techniques. Beauty processing can be achieved through the following main steps:

1. Face Detection

   • Firstly, face detection algorithms (such as Haar features, HOG features, deep learning models, etc.) are used to identify faces in the image and determine key points (such as eyes, nose, mouth, etc.).

2. Feature Point Localization

   • Machine learning algorithms (such as the 68-point facial landmark model in the dlib library) are used to locate key facial feature points. These points assist in further image processing and implementation of beauty effects.

3. Image Enhancement

   • Whitening: Adjust the brightness, contrast, and hue of the image to make the skin appear fairer. Common methods include histogram equalization, color mapping, etc.
   • Skin Smoothing: Use techniques like Gaussian blur or bilateral filtering to remove pores and minor blemishes on the skin, making it look smoother.
   • Blemish Removal: Use image repair algorithms (such as Poisson editing, PatchMatch, etc.) to remove spots and acne from the skin.

4. Facial Feature Optimization

   • Adjust facial proportions and feature positions, such as enlarging the eyes, slimming the face, enhancing the nose, etc. This can be achieved through affine transformations and geometric transformations.

5. Detail Processing

   • Lipstick, Blush, etc.: Add makeup effects through color space transformations and masking.
   • Eye Brightening: Enhance eye details by increasing the brightness contrast of the eyes.

6. Deep Learning Methods

   • In recent years, deep learning methods based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been increasingly used in beauty processing, such as using GANs (generative adversarial networks) to achieve more natural beauty effects.

For example, the workflow of a beauty API might be as follows:

1. Call the API interface and upload the image that needs processing.
2. The API server detects and locates facial key points through pre-trained models.
3. Perform image preprocessing (such as white balance, brightness adjustment).
4. Apply beauty algorithms (such as skin smoothing, whitening, facial feature optimization, etc.).
5. The processed image is returned to the client through the API interface.

These steps combined can significantly enhance the beauty of faces in images, achieving beauty effects.

Top 5 Commercial Beauty API Platforms

1. TRTC Beauty

• Website: TRTC Beauty
• Features:
  • Provides 3D dynamic tracking capabilities, high-performance rendering, comprehensive beautification features, and a rich resource library.
  • Beauty features include stickers, makeup, beautification, animations, and LUTs.
• Supported Platforms: iOS, Android, Web, and Flutter, supporting multiple devices and operating systems.
• Documentation: Detailed documentation offers methods to call the API and usage examples.
• Demo: The Demo experience provides a basic feature experience page.
• Advantages:
  • High-precision face detection and feature point annotation.
  • Rich image processing features, easy to integrate.

2. Face++ (FacePlusPlus)

• Website: Face++
• Features:
  • Provides face detection and analysis, including facial feature points, gender, age detection, and facial expression recognition.
  • Beauty filters include face slimming, eye enlarging, blemish and acne removal.
• Supported Platforms: The API supports multiple programming languages, including Python, Java, JavaScript, etc.
• Documentation: Detailed documentation provides methods to call the API and usage examples.
• Advantages:
  • High-precision face detection and feature point annotation.
  • Rich image processing features, easy to integrate.

3. Banuba

• Website: Banuba
• Features:
  • Specializes in augmented reality (AR) filters and beauty features.
  • Offers rich preset filter effects, supports beautification, makeup, face slimming, and other functions.
• Supported Platforms: iOS and Android.
• Documentation: SDK documentation provides detailed integration guides and usage examples.
• Advantages:
  • Real-time filter application effects, excellent performance.
  • Rich library of filters and effects, supports personalized customization.

4. YouCam Makeup API

• Website: YouCam
• Features:
  • Provides a complete makeup solution, including makeup, beautification, hairstyling, etc.
  • Real-time filters and dynamic effects.
• Supported Platforms: iOS, Android.
• Documentation: API documentation offers detailed interface descriptions and sample code.
• Advantages:
  • Highly comprehensive features suitable for various makeup and beauty scenarios.
  • Well-known brand with mature technology.

5. Ximilar

• Website: Ximilar
• Features:
  • Offers various image processing features, including beauty filters, image enhancement, object detection, etc.
  • Customizable machine learning models that can be trained and deployed as needed.
• Supported Platforms: Provides RESTful API, can be used with various languages.
• Documentation: Documentation details how to use the API.
• Advantages:
  • Highly flexible, supports custom model training.
  • Diverse image processing features, covering a wide range of applications.