Feb 26, 2025
Code, Culture, and Cosmetics : Why Diversity in Beauty Tech Matters
What happens when technology starts dictating beauty standards without diverse voices in the room?
We are living in a revolutionary era for the beauty industry. The worlds of beauty and technology are merging at an unprecedented scale. AI-powered skincare, virtual try-ons, and even Web3 spaces are transforming self- expression, making beauty more interactive and personalized than ever. This period is changing not just the way we interact with beauty products and services but the entire experience of self-care – which in return is opening doors for underrepresented communities in the space.
It's Now or Never: Embracing Diversity in Beauty Tech
Beauty tech is at a pivotal crossroads, and embracing diversity and inclusivity is no longer something that’s just nice to have,it’s something imperative to have to create the future we want. Whether you're a tech expert, beauty industry professional,or either an enthusiast of either, every one of us has a role to play in shaping the future of beauty.
Anyone’s who’s been under a rock for the past few years, might be unaware of Generation Z’s bold and unapologetic approach to doing things differently. They’re not interested in reinventing the wheel; they’re more likely to discard the wheel altogether and learn to fly instead. As someone caught between late-stage millennialism and early Gen Z (apparently, we’re called Zillennials—how cute, right?), I resonate with this mindset.When 62% of Gen Z prefers beauty content that isn’t over-edited and 70% appreciate when brand content isn’t perfect, it’s reassuring to know that an all-embracing, forward-thinking world isn’t far off. While this generations demand for authenticity and inclusivity has set a stage for this shift, diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are also reshaping the industry’s landscape. This isnt just meeting consumer expectations but also creating a level playing field where diverse voices and perspectives are represented and valued.
These efforts have lead to better representation of skin tones and types in beauty products and marketing campaigns. For example, as of 2021, 40% of the top 25 mainstream beauty brands offered 40 or more shades of foundation, reflecting a commitment to catering to the diverse needs and lived-experiences of consumers. This type of push for inclusivity helps dismantle traditional beauty standards that have a history of excluding many groups but creates an atmosphere where people can see themselves represented.
This conversation is one of the key reasons I wanted to start this repository of information. While there are plenty of statistics to dissect the beauty industry, I also know from experience that beauty is deeply influential, personal, and powerful. Our relationship with beauty begins at a young age, and how we internalize beauty standards can vary based on our upbringing. Despite the downsides of mainstream beauty standards, today’s generation—and the ones to come—are pushing aside monolithic and outdated ideals, showcasing their nuanced, out-of-the-box, all-inclusive views on beauty. This isn’t just a trend; it’s a movement of empowerment and self-expression.
The resolute spirit of today’s generation isn’t fearless without reason—it has inspired many, including those in the beauty and technology industries, to think inventively and with a futuristic lens.
The Vital Role of Diversity in Shaping Beauty Tech
Beauty tech is not just about AR filters and AI-driven skin care; it’s also about making sure everyone sees themselves reflected in a digital beauty experience. But let’s be very clear : AI is only as devoid of bias as the data it’s trained on. The outcome is not only inaccurate but it’s exclusionary if the datasets behind virtual try-ons, skin diagnostics, or shade-matching tools don’t include a diverse array of skin tones and facial features.
Brands that authentically integrate diversity into their core values are more likely to inspire and empower their consumers. This is why diverse trams in beauty tech aren’t just good for optics but they’re essential. A homogenous development team means limited perspectives, and limited perspectives lead to flawed innovations that reinforce the same old stories.
But the impact of diversity goes even further. Take AI driven-shade matching for example. If the training data is overwhelmingly based on lighter skin tones, what happens? People with darker complexions get left out of the equation, forcing them into a cycle of products that don’t serve them. That is not future forward tech-driven progress, but it’s tech-driven erasure.
It’s not enough for brands to claim inclusivity in marketing campaigns; they need to embed it into their development processes, from product design to algorithm training. Because in beauty tech, the difference between “innovation” and “exclusion” is who’s in the room making the decisions. When we embrace diversity, we're not just creating better products – we’re building a better industry that serves the rich diversity of our world.
How Inclusivity Benefits Everyone
There’s a concept I learned about when I decided to become a designer called the The Curb-Cut Effect. It’s when features designed for specific groups end up benefiting a much larger audience. Think about it: curb ramps were made for wheelchair users, but they also help parents with strollers, travelers with luggage, cyclist, and more.
The same thing happens in beauty.
One of my favorite references to use for this is about Fenty Beauty. When Fenty Beauty launches with 40 foundation shades in 2017, it wasn’t just a win for people with deeper skin tones- it was a win for everyone. Suddenly, even those with lighter complexions found better undertones, and the entire industry was forced to level up. What started as an initiative for inclusivity became a golden standard for shade diversity.
In beauty tech, the lesson is the same.When we prioritize diversity and inclusivity whether in product formulation services developing AI algorithms or AR experiences we’re not just meeting the underrepresented. We’re enhancing the user experience for all.
But this won’t happen unless we demand it.
This is the moment to be intentional, to push for innovation that doesn’t just keep pace with technology but actively shapes a more inclusive, future-forward industry. We are the ones who decide what beauty tech becomes. Our voices, our expectations, and our demand for better representation will define the standards that come next.
So let’s not just watch this transformation but let’s participate in it. Beauty tech is developing, and we need to make sure it develops in a way that represents and serves everyone. We move the space forward with intention and purpose by investigating, critiquing, and interrogating the innovations that are impacting it. The more we advocate for inclusivity, the more we build a beauty tech landscape that is vibrant, collective, and innovative.
