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One fateful November day, I drove from Boston to a large development company in Beverly, Massachusetts. I walked down a very small corridor and entered a room that was clean, white and full of robots. I was there to visit SmartSKN Labsand these robots turn me into a fan favorite, created by an AI skin-care expert called K-AI.
I’m always looking for the best, most effective products. I need powerful ingredients and effective delivery systems. I love science, and so does everyone else, in terms of the number of new skin care products in the world $182 billion global market. The requirements are not available. Unsurprisingly, this is where AI comes into play.
The role of AI in personal beauty is not new. Skin care brands like Proven and hair care brands like Prose are already using AI algorithms to help consumers optimize their behavior. SmartSKN is doing something I don’t have to see — using AI to automate, on-demand — and when it gains traction, it could revolutionize the beauty industry, while also improving our skin health and reducing our carbon footprint.
At the lab in Beverly, Val Neicu, co-founder of SmartSKN Labs, shared big dreams for the future of robotics. First, I wanted to see what he could do.
How it works
Everything starts with Muilli AI Dermascope. This smart device examines the skin at a microscopic level using 60X magnification and captures detailed images of its surface for further analysis using artificial intelligence. Honestly, no one should have to suffer the death of an ego that sees their flaws grow, but woe, beauty and pain. With dermoscopic imaging comes something called bioimpedance measurement, which measures moisture and oil in the skin and plays an important role in the overall assessment.
Dermascope at SmartSKN labs that can create my skin care products with the help of AI.
Then, in the SmartSKN program, I ended up asking questions about my skin color, anxiety and lifestyle. This enabled the Smart SKN AI to better understand what I do so it can tailor my skincare routine. It is also longer; The system has been trained on 150,000+ different skin types from around the world — all skin types, fair and feminine — and is growing every day.
Finally, thanks to the trifecta of dermoscopic imaging, bioimpedance measurement and skin health questions, I had the results of my skin analysis. It measures sensitivity, color, wrinkles, redness, pore size, oiliness and dryness.
The line consists of essence/serum, ampoule and lotion. At the end of each product on the robot kiosk, I had the option of adding additional features that would increase the value such as highlighting or strengthening. Then the robot, which looks like a bionic arm, started working.
Picked a bottle, mixed it and poured my special formula into the bottle and tied it on top. All this takes about five minutes. Then the robot dropped my special item into a container for me to pick up, as if I had just won a toy from a claw machine. The robot also printed my letters, which contain a QR code with my unique profile, and instructions for entering the packaging.
Skin screening results in the SmartSKN app.
Where robots come from and where they are going
The AI robots, which SmartSKN has exclusive rights to, are made in Korea and use powerful ingredients popular in Korean skin care brands for every skin type. For those who don’t know, the K-Beauty industry was 91.9 billion in 2022with an expected annual growth rate of 9.3% between 2023-2030. Korean skin care’s history of using quality, high-quality ingredients is well-known. You can check SmartSKN’s Rolodex of ingredients Here.
The SmartSKN team pays attention to its specifications, Neicu is clear about its position in the market. “We’re not a skin care company, we’re a technology company,” he said. Robots can also create other things. Although he has not yet dipped a toe into hair care, it is not off the table. Neicu explained to me that SmartSKN’s latest offering is to “show people what we can do.” In the next phase, they want to issue a technical license so that companies can use the analysis part of Muilli and the AI part in their products.
“Just as we have created a catalog of 150 ingredients that are in this machine to create our skin care lines, (other brands) can use their own ingredients,” he said. “They can take their line to the next level if they have a flexible base, and they can design based on skin colors.”
Neicu believes that skin care brands can have a lower price and better loyalty if they can customize each brand. “Something can be good, but not great for me. The ingredients can work, but the foundation can be too much or too dry. The bottom line is 90% of the product experience.” He spoke passionately, and as I listened I couldn’t help but see the potential for not only smart skin care, but solutions for a sustainable future.
“We don’t want more things. We need better things”
Don’t get me wrong: I love buy skin care. I collect serums like kids collect Funko Pop Toys. But I’m also realizing that over-hoarding – the culture of junk, so to speak – is not good for our skin or the planet.
Think about the last time you walked into a beauty store, surrounded by walls and walls of products. What happens to an item that is not purchased? Next, think about what the brand needs to do to fit the market: Make more sales, not because the market is hollow, but to survive. What’s new is one hell of a drug.
Neicu sees a stable future. “Imagine that you are walking in (a beauty retailer) and there are no more shelves. Every company has a robot. There is no waste, they manage their products well, there is a good management system. of the administration of the administration of the administration of the administration of the administration.
This also made me think about my time and money. With anything new, I have time to wait and see. Will this work for me? Sometimes I go out, sometimes I don’t. If it doesn’t work, have I wasted my money (again)? What if I can’t make a refund? When I say the quiet part out loud, it sounds silly to me that in 2024, we’re just here. just thinking The product can work for our type of special skin. We may change our coffee and our cars, but when it comes to the health of our skin, let’s just… keep thinking.
The products are made on demand from an analysis of your skin in order to reduce waste.
“We’re throwing money at the stake because, what? The bottles look pretty?” Neicu said. “Because the promoter told me to buy it? Because the company dropped a new product? It has to be good.”
They also indicate the possibility of a severe skin rash. “Obviously we know there are more products on the market than 20 years ago. Directly related to the rise of medicine is the health of people’s skin. Seventy percent of Americans say they are concerned about their skin.” Neicu believes that he has given himself acne and acne problems by using various drugs over the years.
“People are chasing products, especially with social media madness. There is a huge lack of education, especially among young people. Also, it seems that every celebrity has a skin care line. We don’t need more products. They want better products.”
SmartSKN aims to simplify skin care for everyone. Personally, I want a routine that takes, at least, 5-10 minutes to complete. (That’s “me time,” right?) Smart SKN supports skin care knowledge for those who don’t need a 6-12 night routine. Neicu said their consumers drive the game, but pointed out that men, in particular, are drawn to both the innovation of the AI-generated regimen and its simplicity.
The control interface allows you to specify the weight of items and other conditions.
Go to the lab or try it at home
SmartSKN is new, which means they are still figuring out how to get their skills in front of the public. Currently, the only way to meet the robots in person is to drive to Beverly. The company is working on setting up pop-ups in major cities. “People need to see how this happens,” Neicu said.
Your other option is to purchase the Muilli AI dermascope and download the SmartSKN app. It’s not cheap, but the advantage of having Muilli is that it tracks your skin’s changes over time, based on factors such as seasonal changes and lifestyle changes. With each scan, your skin care line is tailored to your skin’s condition.
Robots know better
Since I started using my skincare, the biggest thing I’ve noticed is that my skin feels better, whereas before it used to be oily on some days and dry on others. It’s worth noting that I use mild, gentle cleansers; exfoliate regularly with chemical and physical exfoliators; use Vitamin C daily and I usually finish my night routine with a light oil to lock in moisture. I used to do all that before going to SmartSKN labs.
Today, my skin looks clear, clean and hydrated, and I think I have the robots to thank for that.
Opinions expressed by CNET Voices are their own.
