Google Meet introduces a portrait touch-up feature allowing users to apply a skin-smoothing effect.

Google Meet has introduced a portrait touch-up mode, entering the competition with Zoom and Microsoft Teams. This new functionality enables users to enhance their appearance during video calls, offering options such as complexion smoothing, under-eye lightening, and eye whitening.

There are two portrait modes provided by Google — "Subtle," offering light cosmetic adjustments, and "Smoothing," which presents a "slightly more" noticeable difference. The default setting for this mode is off and can be activated in the settings.

According to Google, this feature caters to various scenarios, stating, "Whether you’ve just come back from the gym, are recovering from a cold, or are jet-lagged, portrait touch-up is available to help you feel your best."

Acknowledging the high demand for this feature, Google notes that beauty effects in video-conferencing apps are popular. While Microsoft Teams has collaborated with Maybelline for digital makeup colors, Google Meet does not yet include a virtual makeup feature.

A notable limitation is that the portrait touch-up mode is not accessible for users with personal Google accounts. To utilize this feature, a premium account such as Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Education Plus, Google One, or Google Workspace Individual is required.

Presently, this feature is exclusively available on mobile devices, with plans to launch it on the web by the end of 2023.