Welcome to the Future of Beauty Tech: From 3D Printed Makeup to Robot Massages to Longevity Science

When someone thinks of technology, they may think of AR glasses, computers, cell phones, laptops, and other devices, but not everyone thinks immediately about beauty. Tech is increasingly becoming an important part of the beauty industry and its future. 

In many instances, technology is the foundation of discoveries in the beauty industry. Many have used it to discover ways to correct skin imperfections while others have used it to uncover ingredients that are healthier for beauty products. 

Because of new discoveries in beauty tech, there are countless ways in which companies, scientists, and even developers are discovering more effective ways to make the beauty industry thrive. Below are six tech innovations the beauty industry has advanced through technology.

My Eyelash Stylist Is A Robot

Eyelash extensions are a well-known service in the beauty industry. The service is usually performed by an eyelash technician or stylist and there are plenty of eyelash bars that offer a spa experience. But will customers be willing to allow a lash robot to extend their eyelashes, even if it can be done in less than 20 minutes? The jury is still out. 

Pioneering a patent combination of AI, robotics, and machine vision, Luum is merging beauty and tech in terms of how customers are able to get a full set of eyelash extensions. CEO, Philippe Sanchez, and his team designed the Luum robot to place lashes one by one on customers in what they say is less than half of the time it would take a human. 

When done by a human, this procedure can take more than an hour and requires a great deal of dexterity and concentration. It is a procedure that even Sanchez admits is tedious and often requires the person doing the procedure to bend over for long periods of time.

According to Sanchez, the Luum robot has dexterity on a microscopic scale, and he says is safer and much more effective than a human lash expert. This treatment is semi-permanent, but one question is if the robot can match the lush lash spa experience that many lash stylists provide for their clients. Only the future will tell. 

My Makeup Is 3D Printed 

Many people suffer from skin conditions such as hyperpigmentation but imagine having an all-in-one precision skincare device that instantly corrects your blemishes. OPTE, a luxury brand owned by P&G, has created a skincare device that scans, detects, and corrects dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

First, the device scans the skin for hyperpigmentation using high-speed cameras. The OPTE patented algorithm then analyzes the skin while a safe blue light detects areas where the skin tone is uneven. 

Then, the company’s optimizing serum is applied to the hyperpigmented areas to instantly correct dark spots using 97% less product than foundation. The correction is not instantly permanent, but the company indicated that the serum has a mixture of advanced mineral pigments and 5% niacinamide which help prevent and fade dark spots over time. 

As technology leads us down the path of more personalization, the skincare industry is also heading in that direction. Personalized skincare, like the one OPTE offers, will probably become a bigger part of women and men’s skincare routines as the years progress. 

My Skin Is Regenerating Itself

OneSkin is a company composed of PhD-level aging experts that have spent years in the lab creating the first topical skin supplement called OS-01. According to the company, the supplement was developed to extend the skin’s cycle, keeping the skin's youth and health intact over a longer period of time. 

Applied after cleansing, the OS-01 can be applied to the face, neck, and hands, allowing the ingredients to extend the skin's longevity on a molecular level. According to OneSkin, it does this by correcting internal markers of the skin's health and external markers of the skin's strength, which in turn reduces the skin's biological age, increases the skin's strength, and improves the skin barrier, while leaving it firmer, smoother, and more hydrated. The company states that OS-01 is safe for all skin types, is vegan and cruelty-free, and has safe and clean ingredients. 

The company is pioneering products that aim to use biotechnology to explore longevity science, starting with the largest organ in our body, our skin. 

My Beauty Secret is Mushrooms 

After working in the tech industry, Shane Heath, set out to make a coffee alternative using mushrooms. His experimentations with various ingredients led to him not only discovering a new way to make tea but to also starting a business called Mud\Wtr.

Along with coffee, mushrooms are sometimes used in beauty products. Mushroom-infused beauty products can be found in major retail stores nationwide such as Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, and Free People. 

You can also find products in beauty stores such as Sephora and Ulta. Customers can buy items such as Youth to the People's adaptogen deep moisture cream with reshi and Acure's adaptogen-infused hair conditioner. Pacifica Beauty also carries a skincare line called Mushrooms and Caffeine 7% Solution.

Using technology and scientific research, mushrooms are known to have anti-inflammatory properties as well as antioxidants. It is also said that the adaptogens help with skin redness which is why it is found in so many beauty products.

My Body By XR  

When Salina Ray, founder of EnvisionBody, visualized people seeing themselves reaching their health and body goals, she decided to build an app to do just that. She created an application that allows people to envision their body with a 20% to 30% reduction in weight and/or increased muscle mass in real-time. 

Using augmented reality to create an emotional connection with users by interfacing with exercising equipment, this app is meant to motivate users to continue on their weight loss and health journey. Users see their enhanced real-time body image change as their activity level increases. As a person’s heart rate increases due to their activity, their body image will become more enhanced. 

There is also a feature that allows levels of weight loss to be displayed in small increments. This helps users to stay motivated and engaged. If a user loses 5lbs, EnvisionBody displays their body at a 15lb loss. 

Once the user drops more weight, EnvisionBody increases enhancements to the user’s display image to motivate them to reach a new goal.

It’ll be interesting to see what Envision Body’s tech will look like in the future when we’re wearing AR glasses.

My Masseuse Is A Robot 

Companies such as Capsix Robotics have created robots that can give people massages. Going beyond the massage chair seen in salons, the French company claims its robot masseuses can give users spa-like experiences. Featuring a protocol that includes a sound environment and heat, the company says its robot gives users customized experiences by adapting to the protocol of the user's morphology. The user is also given a remote control allowing them to change the functionality of the robot during each session. The question is if Monsieur Robot can add more pressure here and less pressure there and allow spa-goers to relax or be more focused on the remote rather than on letting go. 

Beauty Futures Full Steam Ahead 

From lash robots to 3D printed makeup to robotic masseuses, the beauty industry has embraced tech and is helping bring some major advancements to consumers' counters and beauty routines on a regular basis. The future of tech in beauty will no doubt continue to find new ways to make it more convenient for people to interface with their ideal selves and use technology to reach their beauty goals one gadget at a time.