Code, Culture, and Cosmetics : Why Diversity in Beauty Tech Matters

But amid all this innovation, we cannot solely rely on virtual experiences and advanced technology to reflect the diversity we want to see… and that poses the critical question: who is being left out on this new beauty frontier?

The rise of beauty tech should mean more inclusion, not just automation.  As someone who’s deeply invested in all types of design, I see the real world as being the highest fidelity of the “metaverse” or any other type of virtual reality experience trying to emulate our authentic selves.For the future of beauty to thrive, there must be a sense of authenticity and realism. Technology alone can’t fix the industry’s historic blind spots. If the metaverse is meant to be an extension of our reality, shouldn’t it reflect the richness of our real-world diversity? Before we charge forward into the next wave of beauty innovation, we need to take a step back and consider who has been historically excluded, and how do we ensure they aren’t erased from beauty’s digital future?

It's Now or Never: Embracing Diversity in Beauty Tech

Beauty tech is at a pivotal crossroads. Embracing inclusivity is not just a trend, it’s actually the foundation to a more equitable industry and future overall. Diversity in ANY industry isn’t a “nice-to-have”, its a must.

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 a seat at the table; they’re more likely to discard the table altogether and redesign it. They’re not asking for change but demanding it. As someone straddling the line between late-stage Millennial and early Gen Z (apparently, we’re called Zillennials—how cute, right?), I resonate with this mindset.

This generation is telling us what’s up: beauty doesn’t need to be polished, it needs to be real. When 62% of Gen Z prefers beauty content that isn’t over-edited and 70% appreciate when brand content isn’t perfect, it signals a shift away from the hyper-curated toward the raw, the unfiltered, the all-embracing. This isn’t just about consumer preference - it’s about dismantling antiquated beauty standards and rebuilding them from the ground up.

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 traditions that have a history of excluding many groups but creates an atmosphere where people can see themselves represented. Brands that ignore this shift risk becoming relics of the past. Those that embrace it? They’re not just shaping beauty, they’re shaping culture.

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.