Now that February is upon us, hopefully we can look forward to a lovely spring after what many of us have felt was a bleak winter. Daffodils are a great sight, heralding in warmer, brighter weather. Also heralding in an incredible future is AI (Artificial Intelligence) in beauty, which I believe will be the way forward.

To put it into perspective, in 2023 the AI beauty market was worth $3.27 billion – it is predicted to hit $8.1 billion in 2028 and predictions are that AI beauty tools will influence up to 70% of customer interactions by 2027. Let’s examine a little of what might become the new normal.

AI Beauty
The future of the lucrative beauty industry will rely heavily on AI, alongside AR (augmented reality) technology. Personalised experiences will be commonplace – a real positive to consumers, especially as we all of us have different skin types and needs. Gone will be the question of whether your skin is dry, oily, or flaky. AI will be able to examine and inform us far more precisely of what our skin requires, determine our face shape, and offer suitable products.

This all sounds very sci-fi, but it will become the way we view our beauty needs. AI is already being used by beauty companies to develop more sustainable products, analysing ingredient data as well as product lifecycles. AI can suggest eco-friendly alternatives, reducing the environmental footprint which is a win-win. Without question, AI is the future of the beauty industry.

Virtual try-ons
AI-enabled mirrors and headsets can assist customers with virtual makeup try-ons and personalised beauty recommendations in store. I think this will help eliminate the amount of times we thought a product looked perfect at the beauty counter, only to realise in the bright light of day that it was not the right shade at all.

You might already have seen skin analysis and diagnostics in some department stores, but expect this to become more familiar. These offer a basic analysis and are generally free, enabling us to buy the necessary products that might help prevent issues before they start. Formulations can also be created by AI, so you can purchase the exact formula your skin needs and keep an ID record for the future. You can also store this for future reference, as your skin changes over time.

Skin analysis
Using apps or smart devices, AI can analyse your skin through photographs or scans. These tools are great at detecting fine lines, wrinkles, pore size and pigmentation. Proven Skincare uses AI to create personalised regimes based on your unique skin.

Is it worth a try? My answer is a definite ‘yes’ – the majority of us, unable to afford private costly analysis or monthly regime products, will benefit from knowing our skin’s needs, not just for skin care but for the best type of cosmetics for our skin tone and face shape.

Many branches of Boots have the basic skin analysis machine, free to try. As with so many new inventions, we might initially hesitate, but the beauty industry is such a huge and profitable market that we know they will be investing in new technology to enhance future sales. Let us, as consumers, enjoy the benefits of their investments!