Top 10 Popular Face Filter Types and Where To Find Them (2024)

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Some of the most notable effects have become a worldwide phenomenon. The “bold glamour” filter on TikTok, for example, has been used in over 91 million videos and even sparked a countermovement.

However, filters dedicated to specific events (Christmas, Hanukkah, Dia de los Muertos, etc.) are an especially liked category. So are the effects dedicated to iconic characters or just ones that enhance the person’s overall looks.

Christmas filter & Santa filter

Christmas face filters have become a fun and interactive way to transform people’s appearance and spread holiday cheer. With a wide range of options available, users can adorn themselves with virtual elf hats, reindeer antlers, sparkling lights, or even a full Santa Claus beard. These filters incorporate augmented reality technology to overlay digital elements onto the user's face, creating an entertaining and immersive experience. Whether sharing selfies with friends and family or posting stories on social media, Christmas face filters add a touch of merriment and creativity to the holiday season.

Christmas filters

Thanksgiving day

These filters allow people to add virtual accessories and decorations to their selfies and videos. From turkey hats to pumpkin pie glasses, there are endless options for users to choose from. Thanksgiving face filters are a great way to bring some festive cheer to your online presence and share the holiday spirit with friends and family who may be far away.

Thanksgiving day filters

Beauty and touch-up filters

Beauty filters have gained immense popularity on social media platforms, offering users the ability to enhance their appearance with just a tap. These filters use advanced image processing techniques to smooth skin, brighten eyes, and add a touch of glamour to selfies. While they can boost confidence and create visually appealing images, it's important to remember that beauty filters present an idealized version of oneself and should be used mindfully, embracing natural beauty and promoting self-acceptance.

Beauty filters

Halloween

Halloween face filters have become a beloved tradition for celebrating the spooky season on social media platforms. They offer users a playful and creative way to transform their appearance into ghoulish creatures, mythical beings, or iconic characters. From vampire fangs and ghostly overlays to witch hats and pumpkin faces, these filters add an extra layer of fun and excitement to Halloween-themed photos and videos.

Halloween filters

Cartoon face filters

Cartoon face filters have enchanted social media users with their ability to transform individuals into beloved and iconic characters. From classic princesses to heroes, these effects bring the magic of animation to life. With the help of augmented reality technology, users can don virtual mouse ears, try on a magical sparkling ice crown, or even become the mischievous Cheshire Cat. These filters not only allow fans to engage with their favorite characters.

Cartoon face filters

Virtual makeup

Virtual makeup filters can apply any cosmetic to a user on camera. It is a way to enhance selfies or save time on getting ready for filming – it only takes a couple of clicks to put on an entire look. Virtual makeup try-on can also be a separate feature or an entire platform dedicated to trying cosmetics, skincare, and other items.

Virtual makeup

Wizard filters

The magical world of fantasy and movies is one of the most beloved. People cosplay as various characters and dream of visiting wizarding schools, or at least travelling to a dedicated theme park. With AR face filters you can let your users experience this in their live streams or video calls.

Wizard filters

Animal filters & Avatar filters

Ever since TikTok and Snapchat let people use cat ear filters, there were effects that added animal traits or outright turned humans into beasts. Since then, the offering vastly expanded, and now includes triggers – filters that start playing once a user makes a predetermined action (e.g. opens their mouth).

Animal filters

Avatars

Face morphing

Face morphing or face feature editing changes the shape and size of the person’s face and its elements for comical effect. Huge or minuscule noses, mouths, ears, etc. look funny and thus are popular among social media users.

Face morphing

How to get face filters

Now that you know what people like, there is still a matter of getting these effects for your own application.

The easiest way to do so is to license ready-made filters. For example, Banuba has an asset store with over 1000 masks. It has everything, from characters to funny haircuts, to trigger effects. This is the fastest and simplest way to expand your filter set.

Another option is making custom filters with special tools. A well-made virtual studio lets you create new masks from scratch or modify existing ones in a way you see fit. If you have a designer that knows how to work with 3D objects and faces, this is likely the optimal choice.

Finally, you can order custom-made filters. Chingari, an Indian social network, used 3D masks with Indian style as their competitive advantage and got over 30 million downloads as a result. This approach is the best for companies that need unique filters and don’t have the staff that can deliver them.

Bonus

There are, of course, more filters that you can use. See examples below.

Hair, glasses, and headwear

Virtual earrings

Eye recoloring

Freckles and accessories

Miscellaneous