The personal care industry has always been one to embrace trends and push them forward. Today, across all sectors, one of the most pervasive trends is one of technological transformation. Beauty and self-care companies have dived headfirst into this movement as the industry now stands on the edge of a new, digital era.
In 2018, L’Oreal announced plans to become the number one beauty tech company, departing from a focus on beauty alone. This pivot is representative of the sector as a whole, which is becoming increasingly tech-centric. Here are five examples of cutting-edge technology trends personal care companies are pursuing.
Hyper-Personalization
Offering a product line that fits every skin tone or need has been a challenge for beauty companies. Many are now embracing AI to enable a high level of personalization, combatting this issue. For example, some companies use AI to scan a customer’s face, find the exact foundation color match.
This mass personalization trend goes beyond aesthetics, too. A company called Proven Skin Care uses AI to scan millions of data points, producing health recommendations for different products according to users’ unique skin needs. Thanks to these analytics tools, customers can find products that work for them, no matter their specific situation.
Wearables
Wearable technology like smartwatches has erupted across many industries, but their personal care benefits are particularly noteworthy. Even though many aren’t from self-care companies, they include features like heart rate monitoring and sleep sensors. These technologies help users get a better understanding of their personal health habits.
These readings give users hard data on how healthy or unhealthy their sleep, activity and diet practices are. With that information, they can find a clear path forward for becoming healthier. When personal care companies take advantage of these technologies, they put health and wellness back into their customers’ hands.
Augmented Reality (AR)
Augmented reality, which superimposes virtual images over live feeds of the real world, initially gained popularity in entertainment. Now, beauty companies are using the technology to enhance the shopping experience. With AR mirrors, customers can see what cosmetics look like on them without having to apply them.
E-commerce sales have skyrocketed in recent years, but many customers like to try cosmetics before buying them, which was previously impossible for online purchases. AR solves that problem, giving users a virtual makeup testing experience. Customers can make more confident purchases, and beauty companies can make more online sales.
Biotechnology
Environmental issues have become increasingly important to consumers, so many self-care companies started using biotechnology to create sustainable products. More than 15,000 cosmetic products use glycerin, a safe, natural substance that comes from hydrolysis. Through scientific processes like that, companies can create products from renewable natural materials.
Similarly, many businesses are using biotechnology to make their packaging more eco-friendly. Petroleum plastics take centuries to decompose, but bioplastics can degrade in just six months or less. Scientific advancements like these help the personal care industry become more sustainable and appealing to consumers.
IoT Products
The internet of things (IoT) is a relatively new endeavor for the industry, but IoT beauty products are starting to appear on the market. L’Oreal, for instance, recently released a smart hairbrush. As users brush, the device will analyze their hair health and routines and make personalized suggestions.
Other companies make similar products, too, giving users access to data about their health they wouldn’t have otherwise. Like with wearables, this information can help them make more informed decisions in the future.
Technology Is Reshaping the Personal Care Industry
When people think of tech-centric industries, they most likely don’t think of personal care. Despite these notions, the self-care market is becoming increasingly tech-driven. As more companies adopt these technologies, the sector will improve for both consumers and businesses.
