SEOUL – South Korean cosmetics giant Amore Pacific has launched a new artificial intelligence (AI) beauty lab, where robots custom-mix face products and advanced technology recommends the most suitable lipstick colors, resulting in high demand and fully booked appointments.
“Everyone has their specific skin tone, but typically, people buy the most common colors available over-the-counter,” said Kwon You-jin, a 32-year-old customer at AmorePacific’s bespoke skin cosmetics service. “Knowing more about my own skin and seeing the before-and-after firsthand is a great experience,” she added, after receiving an AI-generated report on her skin condition. A robot then mixed a foundation perfectly matched to her skin tone.
The global beauty industry, including cosmetics, saw sales reach $625.6 billion in 2023, steadily increasing since a dip in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Statista Market Insights.
AmorePacific’s AI technology suggests the best options for customers from 205 different skin foundations and 366 different lip product colors. “We used deep learning and machine learning techniques to automate the process that experts use to evaluate data from many people’s skins,” said Lee Young-jin, an engineer advising AmorePacific’s custom beauty business.
Analysts highlight that AI can accelerate product development and minimize inconsistencies. “No matter how professional an expert is, individual deviations can be significant, and consulting 30 to 40 experts consistently is challenging,” said Yang Yong Suk, principal researcher at South Korea’s Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), who co-developed a deep learning model for cosmetic product texture. “Product development time has shortened, and more new products are launched faster. Combining AI technologies could lower hurdles further,” Yang added.
The market for AI in the beauty and cosmetics industries is expected to more than double from $3.27 billion in 2023 to $8.1 billion in 2028, driven by services such as personalized beauty recommendations, skin analysis and diagnostics, and virtual makeup artists, according to analysis provider Business Research Company.
