AmorePacific’s AI beauty lab shows cosmetic customisation

• AmorePacific, a South Korean cosmetics giant, introduced its lab equipped with AI technology, predicting an upward trend in its product sales.
• Despite the direct benefits of the new AI application, the possibility of human consultants’ missing due could raise ethical issues due to the AI advisor’s efficient guidance.

OUR TAKE
AI’s integration into the cosmetics industry prompts sales and strengthens customer’s shopping experiences. However, it raises concerns that the more efficient guiding roles of AI in cosmetics may again replace human consultants, which results in the issue of unemployment.
–Ashley Wang, BTW reporter

What happened

A new AI beauty lab has been established by AmorePacific, a South Korean cosmetics giant. The lab where robots create custom-mixed face products and advanced technology recommends the perfect lipstick colours. Customers have quickly booked out the service, eager to experience personalised beauty solutions.

After experimenting, many consumers praised the AI-generated services. “Knowing more data about my own skin, and seeing the before-and-after firsthand, is a very good experience,” a 32-year-old customer at the firm’s bespoke skin cosmetics service said.

AmorePacific utilises AI to recommend the best products from a wide range of options—205 different skin foundations and 366 different lip colours. “We used deep learning and machine learning techniques to automate the expert process of evaluating skin data,” explained engineer Lee Youngjin, an adviser for the company’s custom beauty business.

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Why it’s important

AmorePacific is not alone in embracing AI. Global brands like L’Oréal and LVMH-owned Sephora are also using AI to tailor products to individual needs. The global beauty industry, including cosmetics, reached $625.6 billion in sales in 2023, steadily increasing since a dip during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Statista Market Insights.

The market for AI in beauty and cosmetics is projected to more than double from $3.27 billion in 2023 to $8.1 billion by 2028, according to Business Research Company. This growth is driven by expanding services such as personalised beauty recommendations, skin analysis, and virtual makeup artists.

AI technological advancement in the beauty industry signifies a shift towards more personalised and efficient customer experiences. As AI continues to integrate into beauty services, consumers can expect increasingly customised products that better meet their individual needs. Apart from that, the newly emerged AI application again raises issues of unemployment, which may trigger another round of debate about AI use.