Over the past several years, the Internet of Things (IoT) has made its way into the beauty industry. Gone are the days of buying a product and simply hoping it’s the right color for your skin tone or complements your eye color. Now, using IoT combined with augmented reality and artificial intelligence, brands can offer a much more personalized experience to you.

NOTE: This is part of our ongoing IoT series. See also our previous article IoT in the Home

Studies have shown that 77% of consumers have chosen, recommended, or paid more for a brand that provides a personalized service or experience, so the potential here is huge. The beauty industry itself is continuing to grow year over year, and is predicted to exceed $715B by 2025. Though currently, most beauty products are still purchased offline, the online’s share is climbing while the offline declines. Especially as more and more products tap into the IoT, beauty ecommerce is going to surge.

You may have heard of virtual “try on” apps. Some of these can show how makeup looks through digital overlays using image recognition and face tracking. Others take in your skin tone or texture and recommend the perfect products for your skin tone. Though influencer marketing may have been valuable in the past, it’s no match to these smart beauty products that are responsive and personalized to you.

We work with some of the largest and most prestigious luxury and beauty providers. We have noted some very strong leaps forward in personalization and how technology is being leveraged in the nuanced (and somewhat subjective) beauty space.

As sensors continue to shrink in size and increase in on-chip computing power, IoT devices will continue to take on ever-more complex and nuanced tasks. Device cameras are beginning to see skin tone and also measure humidity, moisture levels, and other factors that can inform overall health. Organic molecules that form the building blocks of perfumes are beginning to be able to be mixed and printed on the fly.

There are several trends developing. So far, they can be sorted into a few main categories: Skin analyzers, color customizers, and perfume designers. Check out some examples of what’s out there now:

Skin Analyzers:

Color Customizers:

Perfume Designers:

As sensors continue to shrink in size and increase in on-chip computing power, IoT devices will continue to take on ever-more complex and nuanced tasks. Device cameras are beginning to see skin tone and also measure humidity, moisture levels, and other factors that can inform overall health. Organic molecules that form the building blocks of perfumes are beginning to be able to be mixed and printed on the fly.

Technology will continue to weave into our daily lives, enhancing the experience of personalization, uniqueness, and expression.

Our Innovation Blog

IoT for Beauty

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