In this tech-savvy day and age, beauty brands are doing everything they can to keep customers engaged in an increasingly competitive industry.
From artificial intelligence (AI) to augmented reality (AR), these are some of the technologies that are taking the beauty world to entirely new heights.
Virtual ‘try on’ apps
With online shopping showing no signs of slowing down any time soon, more and more beauty brands are using augmented reality (AR) to improve their experiences.
Sephora’s Visual Artist, for example, allows customers to virtually try on thousands of eyeshadows and lipsticks through smartphones or in-store. The app simply measures users' lips and eyes, and then tracks facial feature points so it knows where the cosmetics should go. It can also colour match shades and guide users through makeup tutorials.
Personalisation and AI
Last month, La Roche-Posay launched EFFACLAR SPOTSCAN, the world’s first acne diagnosis tool powered by artificial intelligence. Co-developed and validated by dermatologists, EFFACLAR SPOTSCAN is set to become the new frontier in the beauty space, helping acne sufferers troubleshoot skin breakouts from home.
Users can diagnose their skin problems by taking three selfies, which the technology uses to deliver an acne grade that is based on the global acne scale used by dermatologists worldwide. They will also receive steps on how to care for their skin and a personalised skincare routine from La Roche-Posay’s EFFACLAR range.
Smart skincare tools
Great for those searching for a quick and easy way to analyse and rate their skin, smart skincare tools are rapidly increasing in popularity.
Skincare brand, Olay, offers a smartphone service called Skin Advisor, which provides a personalised skincare routine with just the snap of a selfie. The brand also has a new app, ‘FutureYou Stimulation,' which uses AR to show users what their face might look like in the future.
3D or ‘e-makeup’
Designed only to enhance the digital self, one of the latest beauty tech crazes doesn’t even involve wearing real makeup.
Inspired by the AR filters on Instagram and Snapchat, ‘e-makeup’ artists have been labelled as the ‘artists of the future.’ Users can download unique and outlandish looks to make their photos and videos more shareable online, with some occasionally going viral.
Known online as Ines Alpha, Parisian Ines Marzat is one artist at the forefront of this trend. In fact, her creations have been seen on pictures of models, artists and musicians all over Instagram.
Printed makeup
Although it is yet to reach mainstream levels, some gadgets that have been released over the last few years suggest that makeup applying devices could soon be a beauty norm.
Proctor and Gamble (P&G), for example, recently unveiled its Opté Wand. This device scans the skin, precisely applying small amounts of makeup to hide burst blood vessels, age spots and other blemishes using advanced technology.
