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How L’Oréal, Sephora, Ulta, Olay, Amorepacific, Neutrogena, and others are shaping the future of skincare.
Technology in Fashion
09 December, 2025
Table of contents
The beauty industry is undergoing a profound transformation. What once meant a facial at the salon or applying creams from a jar now increasingly involves smart devices, AI-powered apps, biotech serums, and data-driven personalisation. The term “beauty tech” has evolved from shorthand for a “beauty technician” to an umbrella label for technologies - from skincare apps to LED masks - that are reshaping how consumers approach beauty.
Driven by rising consumer demand for bespoke skincare, convenience, and better - sometimes medically inspired - efficacy, beauty tech is not a niche anymore. It’s rapidly becoming a central pillar of the global skincare and personal care industry.
Beauty-tech is scaling rapidly: The global market reached $66,16 billion in 2024 and is forecast to climb to $172,99 billion by 2030, reflecting a strong ~17,9% CAGR over the next several years.
Skincare remains a major growth engine: The skincare category overall was valued at $115,65 billion in 2024, with expectations to grow to $122,11 billion in 2025 and further to $194,05 billion by 2032.
Personalised skincare is accelerating even faster: The personalised beauty segment generated $22,5 billion in 2024, and projections show it could reach $63,7 billion by 2034, driven by demand for routines tailored to individual skin needs.
What’s driving this growth: Consumers are becoming more conscious about skin health, increasingly expect customised solutions, and are adopting digital-first behaviours that make tech-enabled beauty intuitive and accessible.
Beauty tech has moved beyond novelty status - it is now a core growth driver within the global beauty and skincare markets.
Below are the major technologies and innovations that are redefining how people care for their skin and beauty.
AI-powered apps use facial scanning, computer vision and machine learning models to assess concerns such as wrinkles, dark spots, pores, uneven texture and hydration levels.
In 2024, L'Oréal Paris introduced an upgraded version of Skin Genius, enhancing the system with next-generation ModiFace AI models and expanded dermatological scoring. The update added assessments for melanin uniformity, skin-barrier health indicators, and an ageing-trend prediction feature that analyses changes across sequential selfie uploads. These improvements allow the tool to deliver more precise, long-term, and holistic skin insights tailored to users’ evolving needs.
La Roche-Posay’s Spotscan+ is an AI-powered acne and skin-diagnostic tool developed with dermatologists using a database of 6,000+ clinically graded images across all phototypes and acne severities. The tool expanded globally with upgraded algorithms that score imperfections such as pore visibility, redness, inflammation and lesion count, offering personalised routines based on dermatologist-validated grading scales. The newest version also integrates with La Roche-Posay’s treatment recommendations and tele-dermatology partners in select markets.
AR overlays makeup textures or simulated skincare results (e.g., pore-blurring, brightening, even-tone effects) directly on the user’s live camera feed, improving purchase confidence.
In 2024, Sephora expanded its AR capabilities through a partnership with Google, introducing enhanced “skincare outcome simulations” that show predicted improvements such as smoother texture, reduced dullness and more even tone. These upgrades improved online engagement and strengthened purchase confidence by letting shoppers visualise results before buying.
Ulta Beauty upgraded its GLAMlab platform with a new 3D engine and launched a Generative-AI Hair Try-On powered by NVIDIA’s StyleGAN2, allowing users to preview realistic hair colours and styles instantly. The platform also enhanced its personalisation features with AI-based skincare guidance and expanded shoppable virtual looks, making the try-on experience more interactive and purchase-driven.
LED masks deliver red, blue and near-infrared light to treat acne, inflammation, ageing and scarring through non-invasive light wavelengths.
Dr. Dennis Gross - SpectraLite FaceWare Pro FDA-cleared mask uses a combination of 100 red and blue LEDs to reduce acne and improve collagen production. Clinical trials show visible improvements in fine lines within 10 weeks, positioning it as a leading at-home dermatology device.
CurrentBody’s mask demonstrated 30% wrinkle reduction, 57% skin plumpness improvement and 27% skin brightness increase in 8 weeks in clinical testing thanks to its flexible LED panel design. Its efficiency and celebrity endorsements boosted its popularity across global markets.
Microcurrent devices mimic the body’s natural electrical signals to stimulate facial muscles, lift contours, and improve elasticity.
In 2024, NuFACE released updated clinical results for its Trinity+ microcurrent device, showing significant improvements in facial contour and firmness. In a controlled study, 90% of participants saw enhanced cheek contour, 93% reported reduced deep forehead lines, and 91% noted improved jawline definition and overall smoothness. These results reinforced Trinity+ as one of the most trusted at-home microcurrent options for non-invasive lifting.
ZIIP Halo’s app-connected device blends nano- and microcurrent waves to deliver targeted facials for sculpting, depuffing and clearing breakouts. Its dedicated programs, developed with an electrical-esthetics expert, are highly rated for achieving clinic-style results at home.
Smart mirrors use HD cameras, multispectral imaging or infrared sensors to track skin changes, offer daily scoring and recommend personalised routines.
No7 and Revieve implemented a smart skincare advisor that uses AI image analysis to assess concerns and recommend personalised routines. In 2024, the results were strong: users of the tool delivered 3,6× higher conversion and a 48% increase in average order value, proving the retail impact of diagnostic hardware/software.
Maybelline created a 4.000 m² AR mirror installation in a shopping mall, enabling visitors to virtually try mascara in real time using an AI-powered large-format display. The activation generated over 3 million organic views, turning passive advertising into an interactive, social-media-driven brand moment.
Biotechnology enables lab-grown molecules, bio-fermented actives and precision-engineered ingredients with enhanced purity and sustainability.
Biossance (Amryis) sources squalane through sugarcane fermentation instead of shark liver extraction, eliminating animal cruelty and improving ingredient efficacy. Its biotech squalane is now widely adopted across the industry for hydration and barrier repair.
Givaudan continued to accelerate its investment in white biotechnology, culminating in the opening of its new White Biotechnology Innovation Centre in Toulouse in 2025. The facility is dedicated to developing sustainable, high-precision cosmetic ingredients through fermentation and biotech engineering. Givaudan’s long-term collaborations with biotech leaders such as Amyris and Manus Bio have already produced renewable alternatives like Clearwood®, a biotech-derived substitute for patchouli oil that reduces reliance on environmentally sensitive natural raw materials.
Skin DNA and microbiome kits analyse markers like collagen breakdown, sensitivity, antioxidant response, and microbiota balance to customise treatments.
Unilever Group piloted a microbiome-powered personalisation program with Watsons in the Philippines, using a simple skin swab and a “Microbiome Analyzer” to assess an individual’s skin flora composition. Based on the results, consumers received a personalised routine featuring products from the Pond's portfolio, marking one of Southeast Asia’s earliest mainstream retail deployments of microbiome testing for skincare.
Labore, an Indonesian dermatological skincare brand, develops formulations designed specifically for the microbiome of sensitive skin in humid, tropical climates. The brand focuses on balancing the skin’s natural flora while strengthening the barrier, addressing common regional issues such as heat-induced irritation, sensitivity and pollution-triggered imbalance.
IoT devices sync with apps to track usage patterns, hydration levels, cleansing routines and personalised recommendations.
FOREO Luna 4 connects to an app that analyses skin moisture, sensitivity and cleansing habits, then adjusts vibration intensity accordingly. The device gamifies skincare through progress tracking and personalised wash routines.
In 2024, Amorepacific upgraded its personalised sheet-mask service with the launch of IOPE Tailored 3D Mask 2.0, featuring faster and more precise facial scanning. The system captures the user’s facial contours in seconds and prints a hyper-customised hydrogel mask in-store, ensuring an exact fit and targeted ingredient delivery based on individual skin concerns.
Smartphone-compatible sensors and advanced cameras now measure hydration, texture and melanin in seconds.
Yves Saint Laurent Beauty’s Rouge Sur Mesure is an at-home, AI-powered lipstick creation device built on L'Oréal Parisl’s Perso technology platform. The system uses a companion app that employs the smartphone’s camera and AI to analyse the user’s outfit, mood, or preferred colour palette, then recommends and virtually previews shades before dispensing a custom blend using three colour cartridges inside the countertop device. While not an in-store scanner, it showcases how L’Oréal is merging personalised beauty tech with luxury branding by enabling consumers to create fresh, bespoke lipstick shades on demand at home.
Olay’s AI-powered Skin Advisor tool analyses a single selfie combined with basic user inputs to deliver personalised skin assessments and product recommendations. The platform continues to attract strong engagement reflecting growing consumer trust in accessible, tech-driven skincare diagnostics. Historically, Skin Advisor has delivered significant commercial impact - including a 2× increase in conversion rates and a 40% uplift in average cart size in China - demonstrating the retail power of smartphone-based skin analysis.
3D printing enables bespoke makeup brushes, personalised sheet masks, gummies and precise-dose skincare patches.
In 2023, Using the Skin360 app’s analysis of pore size, wrinkles and moisture, Neutrogena and Nourished creates personalised “derma gummies” which are 3D-printed with targeted nutrients. This merges ingestible beauty with tech-driven diagnostics.
Its MaskiD™ system uses a smartphone facial scan to generate a 3D map of the user’s face, allowing the app to identify different concerns across specific zones such as the T-zone, cheeks and under-eye area. The data is then used to micro-3D print a personalised hydrogel mask (FDA-approved and biocompatible materials), placing targeted active ingredients only where they are needed - for example, hydrating formulas under the eyes and anti-acne actives across the forehead.
AI models analyse millions of data points (ingredients, skin types, climate, reviews) to design new formulations or optimise existing ones.
Revieve’s AI platform powers digital skin analysis and personalised beauty recommendations for leading brands like Unilever Group, Shiseido and No7. Retailers use it to increase conversion rates and reduce product mismatch.
Energy-based devices stimulate collagen, tighten skin and improve tone, once available only in clinics.
TriPollar’s at-home STOP RF device delivers heat-based stimulation to boost collagen fibres and rejuvenate skin. Clinical results show visible contouring and smoothing after several weeks of use.
TheraFace PRO (by Therabody) combines microcurrent, LED, RF warming and percussive therapy in one device to address multiple skin concerns. Its multifunction approach reflects the convergence of skincare and wellness tech.
Consumers increasingly expect skincare tailored to their unique biology, climate and lifestyle. AI tools such as L'Oréal Paris Skin Genius and La Roche-Posay Spotscan+ analyse the skin through dermatologist-trained models to offer personalised routines, while microbiome programs like Pond's Microbiome Analyzer deepen biological insight. Brands like Proven Skincare use massive datasets to generate custom formulations, and biotech innovators such as Givaudan and Biossance support cleaner, high-purity ingredients. Together, these innovations shift skincare from guesswork to precision.
Beauty tech makes clinic-level skincare accessible from home, especially for busy users and those outside major cities. Devices such as Dr. Dennis Gross SpectraLite, CurrentBody LED, NuFACE Trinity+, and ZIIP Halo deliver dermatologist-inspired results without appointments. Multifunctional tools like TheraFace PRO combine several technologies in one device, offering comprehensive, daily routines. This convenience is one of the strongest adoption drivers globally.
With beauty shopping increasingly digital, AI and AR tools are becoming essential to reduce uncertainty and improve confidence. Sephora’s 2024 Google-powered AR expansion and Ulta’s GLAMlab (NVIDIA StyleGAN2) allow customers to preview skincare effects or hair colours in real time, dramatically improving conversion. Meanwhile, No7 x Revieve and Maybelline’s 4,000 m² AR mirror activation show how diagnostics and AR displays can elevate both online and offline retail. These tools reduce returns and bring the in-store advisory experience into digital environments.
Consumers expect transparency, sustainability and safer ingredients, pushing brands toward biotech innovation and measurable results. Biossance’s biotech squalane and Givaudan’s 2025 White Biotechnology Centre demonstrate how lab-engineered actives improve purity while reducing environmental strain. Diagnostics like Olay Skin Advisor and IoT devices such as FOREO Luna 4 help users make evidence-based decisions. The drive for cleaner, data-backed skincare continues to shape product development.
Beauty tech today blends AI, IoT, 3D printing, biotechnology and predictive analytics into unified ecosystems. Tools like FOREO Luna 4, Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Sur Mesure (Perso), Neutrogena MaskiD™, and Revieve’s AI advisor illustrate how diagnostics, formulation and device feedback loops now work together. This convergence is transforming the routine into a connected cycle: analyse → personalise → treat → track → refine. The result is smarter, adaptive skincare powered by multiple technologies working together.
APAC’s diverse skin tones, climates and pollution levels make personalised skincare especially valuable. Solutions like Labore’s microbiome-focused formulas and Pond's Microbiome Analyzer address region-specific concerns at scale. Amorepacific’s IOPE Tailored 3D Mask 2.0 demonstrates how advanced customisation thrives in digitised beauty markets like Korea. High digital adoption rates further accelerate the region’s role as a beauty-tech innovation hub.
Many beauty-tech devices - especially LED masks, microcurrent, RF and ultrasound tools - require regular, long-term use to deliver the results they promise. Consumers often expect instant improvements, leading to frustration when progress takes 4-10 weeks. Maintaining proper technique and usage frequency is also critical, meaning adoption can drop if routines feel too laborious.
AI diagnostics depend on facial images, biological data and behavioural inputs, raising concerns about how this information is stored, used and shared. Tools trained on limited or non-diverse datasets may misinterpret skin conditions or fail to recognise certain tones and textures accurately. There is also rising scrutiny around AI “hallucinations” in beauty apps, where shadows, pores or lighting artefacts are incorrectly flagged as skin problems.
High-quality LED devices, DNA kits, personalised serums and IoT-enabled tools often come at a premium, putting them out of reach for many consumers. This creates a divide between tech-driven skincare narratives and what mass audiences can realistically access - particularly in emerging markets. As beauty tech becomes more advanced, affordability becomes a key barrier to widespread adoption.
RF, ultrasound and high-intensity LED tools blur the line between cosmetic devices and medical-grade equipment. Without standardised global regulations, safety claims can vary widely, and misuse can lead to irritation, burns or over-stimulation. Brands must provide clear instructions, clinical evidence and dermatologist-backed validation to ensure consumer trust.
As diagnostics, apps and devices become more sophisticated, users may overly depend on digital assessments and ignore professional dermatological advice. Beauty tech can provide guidance and visibility - but it cannot replace medical evaluations for chronic skin issues like eczema, rosacea or hormonal acne. Brands must position these tools as supportive, not diagnostic substitutes.
Brands are shifting from selling standalone moisturisers to offering end-to-end ecosystems: diagnostics → personalised formulas → app-linked tracking → automated refills. This creates sticky, long-term customer relationships, as seen with models like Proven Skincare, FOREO Luna’s app ecosystem and Perso-powered personalisation. Beauty tech transforms skincare from a product purchase into a continuous service relationship driven by real data and customised updates.
Diagnostic tools - including AR/VR try-ons, AI skin analysis and smart mirrors - reduce decision fatigue and increase purchase confidence. Retailers such as Sephora, Ulta Beauty and No7 (via Revieve) demonstrate that when consumers can preview outcomes or analyse their skin virtually, conversion rates rise significantly. These tools blur the line between in-store consultation and digital shopping, creating a seamless hybrid retail model.
Beauty tech empowers users to track hydration, pore size, texture changes, collagen levels or the impact of individual ingredients over time. Devices like NuFACE Trinity+, CurrentBody LED Mask, and apps like Olay Skin Advisor allow consumers to see quantitative improvements rather than relying on subjective impressions. This shift from guesswork to evidence-based self-care builds trust, loyalty and better routine adherence.
Beauty tech enables tailored skincare in markets with high climatic diversity and varied skin profiles but limited offline advisory infrastructure. APAC brands such as Labore and Amorepacific (IOPE 3D Mask 2.0) show how tech can deliver region-specific solutions at scale. Diagnostics via smartphones and mass retail partnerships - like Pond's Microbiome Analyzer - help democratise expert-level guidance across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
Brands that adopt AI, IoT, biotech and 3D printing gain an edge in innovation, marketing visibility and consumer trust. From Neutrogena’s MaskiD™ to Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Sur Mesure, tech-led product differentiation increasingly influences brand positioning and premiumisation. As consumers grow more tech-comfortable, “beauty tech capability” becomes a core competitive asset, not a novelty.
Beauty tech has transformed skincare from a product-driven category into a data-led, diagnostic-first ecosystem. What began with simple AR try-ons and at-home LED masks has evolved into a sophisticated landscape of AI-powered skin analysis, microbiome mapping, biotech-derived actives, IoT-enabled devices and fully personalised formulations. Consumers are no longer guessing what their skin needs - they are measuring, tracking and optimising it through real data.
As AI, IoT sensing, biotechnology and 3D printing converge, the industry is moving closer to precision skincare, where routines adapt dynamically to changing environments, stress levels, climate and lifestyle. For brands, the opportunity lies not in adopting technology for novelty, but in building trustworthy, inclusive and clinically grounded systems that genuinely improve user outcomes. For consumers, it represents unprecedented control: personalised routines, measurable progress and high-performance results previously limited to dermatology clinics.
Ultimately, beauty tech is no longer the “future” of skincare - it is the new baseline expectation. Brands that embrace this shift thoughtfully will define the next decade of beauty, where science, software and self-care merge into one seamless, intelligent experience.
Cover Image: L'Oréal Paris.