Feb 12, 2025
Beauty ReWired : What the heck is BeautyTech?
Suppose you think about beauty and technology as separate concepts. In that case, they each stand on pillars of innovation, creativity, and a blend of art and science that work to shape culture in society in unique ways. But when “beauty” and “tech” come together, especially in the realm of beauty technology, we’re talking about a whole new way of redefining and enhancing how we perceive and interact with the world. This is the essence of beauty technology: integrating tech into the user experience of cosmetic, beauty, and wellness products and services. It’s about personalization, customized usability, and a touch of futurism that transforms everyday beauty routines through tangible products, services, or concepts.
According to Perfect Corp., a leading SaaS AI tech company, beauty tech is an emerging trend that combines AI and AR-powered virtual try-on technologies and diagnostics. The goal? To speed up purchasing decisions and create a seamless user experience while offering incentives and added value. Advanced algorithms, machine learning, and AI are crafting customer-focused experiences and leading developments like personalized skincare suggestions and virtual makeup trials. These innovations offer a tailored experience and showcase the growing popularity of beauty tech. Think about wearable devices like LED red light therapy face masks, nail printers, or data-driven solutions that analyze customer preferences, skin types, and product reviews to create personalized products. Despite their varied functions and user experiences, all these technologies embody the core of beauty tech: innovative, sophisticated ways to enhance the consumer experience, making it more accessible, inclusive, and captivating.
Béatrice Collin and Marie Taillard, in their book Digital Makeover: How L'Oréal Put People First to Build a Beauty Tech Powerhouse, discuss how beauty tech is a disruptive industry that embraces nuance. L’Oréal, for instance, asserts that beauty technology is about beauty enhanced by digital capabilities—beauty that’s responsible, sustainable, and rooted in new green sciences. It's beauty that’s diverse and inclusive, adapted to everyone’s needs and expectations. They highlight how a beauty company’s embrace of tech can leverage cloud, data, and AI to enhance both employee and consumer experiences and show that beauty tech is not just about technological advancements but also understanding and catering to the needs and values of people.
When most people hear beauty tech, they think AI skincare scanners or virtual try-ons. And yeah, that’s part of it. But beauty tech is more than just cool gadgets. It’s a reimagining of beauty itself. How we create it, experience it, and connect with it in both digital and physical spaces. For me, beauty tech isn’t just about innovation. It’s about storytelling. It’s where technology meets culture, self-expression, and identity. It’s how ancestral beauty rituals get preserved, how augmented reality lets us experiment with looks in new ways, and how smart formulations are changing skincare at a deeper level.
But here’s the thing : the typical conversation around beauty tech in terms of trends and products. I see it as something bigger. The way we experience beauty is shifting faster than ever, and I’m not just following that shift. I’m not just keeping up with beauty tech. I’m redefining how we talk about it. Instead of just tracking trends, I’m exploring how technology is shaping beauty through culture, personal identity, and the way we see ourselves. I’m questioning what gets left out of the conversation, who gets access to these advancements, and how beauty tech can be more than just convenience. It can be revolutionary.
So like why do you care about it and why should I?
For me, it’s like experiencing my own Hannah Montana moment (I’m truly living in the best of both worlds!). I’ve always had a deep passion for art, digital design, and storytelling, with an affinity for various topics. Yet, beauty always seemed to capture my attention, much like technology did, especially when it came to gadgets or software that could bring whatever I living in my imagination to life. Growing up, I was captivated by OG YouTubers like Michelle Phan, who constantly pushed the boundaries of beauty and did things outside the box. I devoured magazines like Teen Vogue, Seventeen, i-D, and Essence, soaking up every beauty and style tip I could find, hoping to see people who looked like me—and feeling a rush of excitement when I did. My love for beauty and technology intertwined seamlessly, leading me to discover everything from Augmented Reality beauty filter tutorials to beauty hackathon recaps. These experiences didn’t just pique my interest—they deepened my passion and made me realize just how much there is to explore at the intersection of beauty and tech.
Jourdan Dunn and Arlenis Sosa appear in i-D Magazine's Pre-Fall 2009 I-D #302 Pretty Young Thing issue. I will never forget the thrill of seeing this spread as a teenager.
Though still emerging, the beauty tech industry is rapidly advancing, and more people need to tap into this vibrant and evolving sector. It holds immense potential to break new ground and drive innovation forward. By embracing tech and staying informed about its evolution, we can unlock new storytelling opportunities, from exploring cultural aesthetics to redefining beauty in inspiration and excitement for the future of beauty. Through immersive and advanced technologies and other sustainable solutions, we can reshape beauty standards and champion diverse expressions, ensuring everyone feels seen and valued.
So, yes. Yes, the high-tech device that lifts your cheekbones is incredible, and the color-matching skin ID technology that helped me pick my new foundation is phenomenally spot-on. But when it comes to beauty tech, the potential for solutions is endless. The futurist energy behind this movement has so much room for impactful innovation. It can revolutionize the industry by redefining what we see as “beauty technology” or advancements in this space. For me, it’s about crafting a world that celebrates the brilliance of beauty and technology, profoundly intertwining them with culture and going beyond the superficial. This vision encompasses enhancing the user experience in meaningful, culturally relevant, and transformative ways, ultimately reshaping how we understand and engage with the world.
Do I have all the answers? Of course not, and that’s precisely why I started this blog— to dive deep into this electrifying topic that combines two of my favorite things and bring you along ;)
Why beauty tech matters and how you can get involved ?
Beauty tech is evolving, but it still thrives on fresh voices, bold perspectives, and those willing to challenge the norm. Despite the significant contributions of diverse and ethnic communities to the beauty industry, their presence isn’t always reflected in the spaces where innovation happens. Stepping into this world isn’t just about participation, it’s about reshaping it, ensuring that representation extends beyond consumer trends and into the future of beauty itself.
Bringing your creativity and skills to the table isn’t just about advancing your career; it’s about shaping a more inclusive and innovative future. You don’t need to be a tech wizard or a beauty scientist to make an impact. Ideas matter. Maybe it’s designing virtual try-ons that match all skin tones, building AI-powered skincare that gets melanated skin, or rethinking how we experience beauty in digital spaces.
The industry is hungry for new ways of thinking, and the best part? There’s room for you. Whether you’re a creative, a strategist, a problem solver, or someone who sees gaps that need filling, your perspective is valuable. Start where you are, learn as you go, and connect with others who are just as passionate about pushing beauty tech forward. If you’ve been waiting for a sign, this is it.
The future of beauty is not just something to observe; it’s something to actively create. The industry is eager for innovative ideas and new ways of thinking. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to take action, this is it. The future of beauty is shifting, and your perspective has the power to push it forward—let’s shake things up.
