Beauty Reinvented: Exploring Recent and Upcoming Innovations at the Intersection of Beauty, Science, and Technology

Beyond Packaging and Pigment: The Role of Science and Technology in The Beauty Industry

The synergy between the beauty industry, science, and technology has always harbored immense potential. In these ever-expanding fields, the inevitable influence of science and technology on the future of beauty will be both exciting and surprising.

Though this synergy is far from newfound, in recent years we have had the privilege of witnessing the emergence of innovative beauty products, tools, and services that hinge on personalization, convenience, sustainability, and accessibility - shifting our conception of the beauty industry as we know it.

With recent advancements in 3D printed cosmetics and devices, accessible beauty products, smart beauty devices, neurocosmetics, biotechnology-backed skincare, and AI-infused personalization, the beauty industry has achieved new heights - with more exciting innovations to come. To match the pace of the burgeoning beauty industry, we wanted to be sure to highlight some of our favorite recent innovations, products, tools, and devices while providing insight into the creative possibilities that consumers cannot wait to try for themselves.

Recent Standouts at The Intersection of Beauty, Science, and Technology

Future Society Fragrances: Future Society leverages biology to unlock the impossible in beauty, starting with fragrances from extinct flowers. Using extracted samples of extinct flowers from the Harvard Herbarium, scientists utilized DNA sequencing to identify genes that encode fragrance-producing enzymes. They printed these codes, inserted them into yeast, and cultured them through a fermentation process to produce scent molecules. Today, they have six scents from extinct flowers which have been collected in their Scent Surrection Set.

Nimble: Invented by “world-class engineers, physicists, mathematicians, coders and beauty lovers,” Nimble has developed the world’s first at-home smart nail salon. It’s meticulously engineered to produce a manicure in just minutes, all from the comfort of your own kitchen table. To do so, Nimble uses 2D and 3D scanning technology, as well as advanced AI to learn the exact size, shape, and curve of your nails. Insert the base coat, polish, and top coat into a little machine, and Nimble’s smart robotic arm will precisely apply 2-4 coats of polish for a high-shine salon-quality manicure. Does this sound uncomfortable? Worry not; the machine comes with a “hand assistant” to ensure your experience is both ergonomic and safe.

Medicube Age-R Booster H: APR Corporation's newest tool, Medicube Age-R Booster H, was unveiled at CES 2024. The Medicube Age-R Booster H is a deep absorption technology tool leveraging electroporation. Electroporation delivers voltage pulses to the skin to create little microchannels that enable products to penetrate more effectively – leading to glowing, firmer, skin.

YSL Rouge Sur Mesure: Debuting in 2021, The Rouge Sur Mesure is a tool that enables consumers to customize lip color. At the foundation of this device is Perso, the world’s first AI-powered device for skincare and cosmetics. When used in tandem with the app, users can create thousands of custom shades using color cartridge sets from YSL’s extensive lines of reds, nudes, oranges, or fuchsias.

3d shu:brow: shu uemura’s custom 3D brow innovation allows users to create custom brows at home in seconds. Using printing technology and L’Oréal’s Modiface AR recognition technology, 3D shu:brow provides users with the utmost precision in brow shaping and personalized recommendations based on facial scanning.

On the Horizon

L’Oreal Colorsonic Hair Brush: L’Oréal’s Colorsonic Hair Brush was announced in 2022 and unveiled at the end of last year. Expected to launch this spring, L'Oréal Colorsonic is the first hair color device of its kind. It makes hair coloring easier by automatically mixing and depositing formula right at the root, delivering long-lasting salon-like hair color at home.

Amore Pacific Lipcure Beam: The Lipcure Beam is a groundbreaking beauty tech device that combines lip diagnosis, care, and makeup capabilities in one unit. The Lipcure Beam has a precision sensor that is capable of diagnosing the condition of the lips. When applied, it instantly detects moisture levels and provides diagnostic results. That’s not all. The Lipcure Beam is also a makeup tool. Based on the diagnostic results, the brush-like cosmetic applicator emits optimally customized visible light to aid in lip care when separated from the cap.

HAPTA: Also unveiled at CES 2024, this motion-stabilizing device harnesses the power of technology to assist those who have limited mobility. This handheld computerized makeup applicator can be customized for those wishing to improve their application precision. HAPTA “makes the expression of beauty more accessible, more achievable, and easier than ever before.”

Kérastase K-SCAN: The K-SCAN is a smart camera that not only allows stylists to offer more precise care, but the device also provides clients with the opportunity to understand their hair and scalp more deeply through microscopic images and AI-powered analysis. The device uses UV, Cross Polarized, and White LED light to examine and diagnose the health of the scalp, and then sends individualized data to an app that tracks changes over time. The tool is expected to roll out sometime in 2024.

The beauty industry has always been about challenging norms and creating new frontiers of personal style, but in recent years, the intersection of science and technology has opened up entirely new avenues of expression. From harnessing the power of extinct flowers to creating unique fragrances to AI-powered tools for accessible makeup and hair care, the lines between science, beauty and technology will continue to blur.

What can we expect to see in a decade? In two? Perhaps we will have options to purchase personalized skincare products tailored to complement our unique genetic makeup. Or, augmented reality may decrease the need for physical products altogether; perhaps we will be manipulating the means by which we are perceived, rather than our actual physical forms. Whatever the future brings, tech will no doubt continue to assist us in finding new and creative ways to authentically express our truest selves.