Skincare, in its simplest form, has existed for thousands of years. From its early days in ancient Egypt and Rome to its introduction in product form to the masses during the 20th century, the act and regimes surrounding skincare have been a staple for a lot longer than many think. However, the skincare of the past bears almost no resemblance to the skincare products and practices of today. This gap will only become more noticeable as we venture deeper into the ever-evolving digital age.
In this article, dermatologist Dr Vanessa Lapiner weighs in on the technological innovations and trends that are revolutionizing skincare.
Your Skincare and Technology Innovation
In what feels like a matter of minutes, technology has become a part of almost every aspect of our lives and this has been no different for the skincare industry. The internet and the rapid pace at which digital technologies have come to life have not only transformed the way we approach skincare, but it’s also dramatically shifting the way we formulate and market it too.
Skincare is no longer limited to a physical result
Not very long ago, the purchase of and education around skincare was very much relegated to a physical, in-person experience. If you wanted to find out what skin issue you had or what your best skincare options were, you would have needed to make your way into a store, a salon or a doctor’s room. Here you would not only have your skin assessed by a professional, but would also to understand what products would be available to you.
Fast forward to today and skincare is no longer limited to the physical. We now live in a world where in minutes, you can open an app and have your face or even just a selfie analyzed by powerful facial recognition technology.
Apps are improving the look and health of your skin
Through an analysis of your facial features, skin textures and undertones, these apps can suggest, in real time, a selection of suitable skincare products as well as a number of lifestyle changes you can make to improve the look and health of your skin.
These apps and their advanced algorithms aren’t, however, just assisting the growing number of time-poor consumers in making decisions about their skincare in the comfort of their own homes or places of work, they are also adding value to the in-store experience too.
Countless brands are bringing in augmented reality and facial recognition driven technologies to improve their customers’ shopping experiences.
Via AI and smart mirrors, customers are given the chance to guide their own in-store experience and receive advice on products and routines that are tailored just to them.
Skincare is getting hyper personal
And it’s not just shopping experiences that are tailored to the individual. Another trend that has been brought on by the digital age is the idea of personalized skincare. Using the data drawn from facial recognition apps and interactive in-store experiences, brands are now able to not only create personalized skincare routines based on an individual skin type, concerns and preferences but they’re also able to work on product customization.
Powered by what we know of big data and machine learning techniques, skincare brands are now able to analyse vast amounts of data, including customer preferences, skin types and product reviews to understand the needs of their customer-base better. It’s these data-driven insights that will enable businesses to continually refine their formulas, ensuring their products remain effective, relevant and more individualized.
But personalization in the world of skincare doesn’t stop there. The rise of wearable tech, which now often house biometric sensors, is also bringing significant advancements to skin health and general wellbeing monitoring. Many smartwatches are now being built with skin sensors that allow you to track your stress, hydration levels and even sun exposure.
Helping you take proactive measures
Having access to data that is collected and analyzed in this fashion will allow skincare brands another avenue in which to create personalized routines that can be addressed in real time.
But better that, this incredible technology empowers consumers to take proactive measures on their own to ensure their skin is kept healthy.
Looking into the future, it’s undeniable that technology will continue to play a strong role in the skincare industry.
End note
Few other industries have adapted as fast to meet the changing needs and preferences of consumers, and it’s this agile and curious nature that will see many more exciting things coming from skincare in the next few years and beyond.
About Dr Vanessa Lapiner
Dr Vanessa Lapiner, MBChB, MSc Med (Cell Biology), FC Derm (SA), is a is a dermatologist based in Cape Town with key interests in integrative dermatology, mole mapping and dermo-cosmetology. Her research interests include pigmentation disorders, the gut: brain: skin axis, nutrition as a therapeutic tool in dermatologic disease management, healthy skin metabolomics and cosmeceutical formulation technologies.
She is the founder of TASH360, South Africa’s first integrative dermatology centre offering cutting-edge technologies and advanced diagnostic testing, as well as root4: high-performance, results-driven skincare and nutraceuticals marrying advanced science and safety. She is an active member of the DSSA, the SASDS, the VSSA and the Xeroderma Pigmentosum Society.
