When tech meets beauty

From gadgets that calculate your skin's age to smart mirrors, how technological innovations are changing the face of the industry

- VAISHALI DAR

JUST PICTURE THIS. You collect a sample from your cheeks using a facial tape strip. After dissolving the special sticker in a buffer solution, the resulting liquid is then placed into a cartridge, which is further inserted into a tabletop device. While the device processes the sample, you can answer a short questionnaire and have your face imaged using an accompanying device.

In a few minutes, you get your report. The device not only calculates your skin's age but also gives personalized advice on how to slow down the appearance of aging, minimize guesswork and predict responsiveness to certain key ingredients such as retinol.

Cool, isn't it? Now imagine another situation. You're in front of a mirror—using AI, it not only detects your emotional reactions to various makeup looks, but also guides you toward the shades and styles that spark joy.

Welcome to the world of technological innovations, where tools and devices are revolutionizing the way we look at skincare and make-up experiences and changing the face of the beauty and cosmetics industry.

Unveiling the future Earlier this year, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, French multinational personal care giant L'Oréal showcased its Cell BioPrint, a tabletop hardware device that offers personalized skin analysis in just five minutes. Developed in collaboration with Korean startup NanoEnTek, the device leverages advanced proteomics, which is the study of proteins and their impact on skin aging, to shift skincare from a reactive to a proactive approach. "At L'Oréal, we're looking toward the future of beauty, blending cutting-edge discoveries with our long-standing beauty expertise. With skin being the largest organ, and a key part of people's wellbeing, the Cell BioPrint is an exclusive microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technology coupled with our century-long skin science leadership," says Barbara Lavernos, deputy CEO in charge of research, innovation and technology at L'Oréal Groupe.