Anyone who purchased a makeup one day knows it is not an easy task: the market is taken by an infinity number of brands, people have very different skin colors and face types, and products are usually expensive to allow for error.<\/p>\n
In order to solve those issues, beauty brands have recently launched different apps and gadgets to promote their portfolio and connect to the customer on a more personalized way. These technologies help to directly address customers concerns, solving their beauty pain points without wasting time or money with products that won\u2019t actually do a great job. Companies can have access to infinite behavior consumption data, using it as input to develop products and more targeted and efficient market campaigns. Personalization builds loyalty by offering a more intimate relationship and is a crucial tool to differentiate a company\u2019s product and customer experience in the competitive beauty market.<\/p>\n
L\u2019Oreal, the world\u2019s largest cosmetics company, is taking the lead in the beauty industry and betting on augmented reality and machine learning. Since 2012, the company has its own Technology Incubator division, a start-up like team focused on matching beauty and technology [1] and in March of this year, L\u2019Or\u00e9al announced the acquisition of Modiface, a major Augmented Reality beauty company that provided solutions for L\u2019Or\u00e9al and its competitors. The acquisition gives L\u2019Or\u00e9al a leg up and highlights the importance of securing a technological march over competitors already in the short-term. [2]<\/p>\n
The first product launch of the Technology Incubator Division was the Makeup Genius in 2015, a mobile app that uses Augmented Reality to let customers try makeup using their cellphones and uses a collection of data points around facial characteristics, including face shape, skin tone and wrinkles. Most recently, in 2018, the company launched a similar app in partnership with Modiface called Style my Hair 3D, this time focused on simulating different hair colors in live mode. These technologies help retailers determine how people with specific facial characteristics may be more likely to purchase certain types of products, and help predicting inventory with greater accuracy. [3]<\/p>\n
Another innovative technology focused on hair was put in the market in 2017 with the K\u00e9rastase Hair Coach, the world\u2019s first smart hairbrush. [4] The brush has sensors equipped with modern microphone technology that captures the hair\u2019s soundwaves and submits them through analytical algorithms to diagnose the hair health. The customer can use the accompanying mobile app to check a detailed report that takes into account factors such as humidity, temperature and wind, and to receive personalized treatment recommendations. The company suggests a continuous use of the product to allow time for the algorithm to compare the data and learn more about your behavior to give a more accurate recommendation.<\/p>\n
Over the longer term, L\u2019Or\u00e9al is also investing on 3D printing and taking the lead on addressing the next wave of disruption in the industry: the product personalization. The company has already many prototypes and has recently applied for a patent of a 3D printing of fake nails that envisions molding a custom-shaped false nail for its customers. [5] The 3D printing can also play an important role on product development and trial phase. On May 2015, L\u2019Or\u00e9al announced a partnership with the bio-engineering start-up Organovo to work on 3D printing of human skin. Currently, L\u2019Or\u00e9al grows skin samples in a lab using incubating technique performed by hand by their 60+ scientists. The adoption of an automated process using 3D technology could increase efficiency of production significantly and for some companies replace animal testing. [6]<\/p>\n
L\u2019Or\u00e9al is on the right track leading the beauty industry technology disruption and made a smart move in acquiring Modiface this year. The company should keep eyes open to new companies and technologies in the market and work to increase awareness and adoption of its current technologies. It is very important that L\u2019Or\u00e9al also takes the lead on the ethics of the market and builds trustful relationships with its customers regarding to Data Security and reliable recommendations.<\/p>\n
For the longer term I see opportunities in partnerships with healthcare players to apply these technologies to a more profound diagnosis of customers health. For instance, data collected from the hair\/skin could diagnose high UV exposure or lack of a specific vitamin and a better understanding of the impact of human behaviors (i.e. hours of sleep) on hair\/skin health. These advancements could lead to development of powerful personalized products. However, some questions remain open on the customer side: can we trust L\u2019Or\u00e9al personalized recommendation or it serves the company\u2019s best interest for selling specific products? Will the smart detection technology be extended to other dimensions of our lives? (i.e. glasses that monitor our vision or teeth brushes that monitor oral hygiene)<\/p>\n
(788 words)<\/p>\n
Sources:
\n[1] https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2017\/03\/30\/fashion\/craftsmanship-loreal-beauty-technology.html
\n[2] https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-loreal-acquisition\/loreal-buys-canadas-modiface-in-digital-makeover-idUSKCN1GS0PV
\n[3] https:\/\/www.lorealparisusa.com\/beauty-magazine\/beauty-tips\/beauty-trends\/try-on-beauty-products-with-augmented-reality.aspx
\n[4] https:\/\/www.loreal.com\/media\/press-releases\/2017\/jan\/kerastase-and-withings-unveil-worlds-first-smart-hairbrush-at-ces-2017
\n[5] https:\/\/app-cbinsights-com.prd2.ezproxy-prod.hbs.edu\/research\/loreal-top-patents\/
\n[6] https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/speaking-of-science\/wp\/2015\/05\/19\/3d-printed-human-skin-is-loreals-next-big-thing-and-its-not-creepy-at-all\/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.fdee43d5d126<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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