Virtual Try-On Targets Customization: How Will AI Facial Recognition and Skin Tone Analysis Impact the Cosmetics Market?

According to reports from Fortune, the pandemic led to the closure of physical stores, with global beauty industry revenue projected to drop by 20% to 30%. This situation has significantly impacted beauty brands as consumer purchasing power declined and demand softened, posing major challenges to corporate revenue.

During the pandemic, people were required to stay home, and working from home became the new normal. Since people no longer needed to commute to work every day, the demand for makeup decreased accordingly. Additionally, as the pandemic spread, people began wearing masks for protection, which further reduced the frequency of applying makeup. Unable to show their faces, many chose to forgo makeup, leading to a decline in cosmetics consumption.

Furthermore, due to the cancellation of social activities and gatherings, many people lost the opportunity to socialize in person. Without seeing friends and family, the importance placed on physical appearance also declined. This further dampened the demand for cosmetics.

For beauty brands, the pandemic brought immense economic uncertainty. Many physical stores were forced to close temporarily, and offline sales were heavily impacted. However, some brands adopted innovative ways to respond to this situation. They ramped up their online sales efforts and launched various promotions to attract customers. During this unique period, the internet became a powerful tool for breakthroughs. Through live streaming and social media, the connection between brands and consumers became even closer.

Despite facing significant challenges, beauty brands still have the opportunity to adapt to this unique environment and find new revenue growth points. As vaccines become more widespread and the pandemic is brought under control, people's demand for makeup and personal image will gradually recover. Brands can seize this opportunity to reposition their products and services, develop innovative products that meet new needs, and utilize a combination of online and offline sales strategies to seek growth opportunities.

According to TechCrunch, L’Oreal launched a virtual try-on service (try-before-you-buy) to allow consumers to enjoy a shopping experience similar to physical stores online. Utilizing VR and AR technologies, they provide services such as skin analysis and online trials for lipsticks and liquid foundations, allowing consumers to experience various looks on the web.

Through this virtual try-on service, consumers can freely try and compare multiple makeup effects from the comfort of their homes without having to visit a physical store. They can use VR technology for skin analysis based on their specific skin characteristics and select the most suitable products based on the results. Moreover, consumers can test various lipsticks and liquid foundations online to ensure that the product texture and shade meet their needs.

This virtual try-on service also offers the advantages of easy operation and fast checkout. Consumers only need to use a mobile phone or computer to easily access L’Oreal's official website or app to start using the virtual try-on service. They can freely choose from various looks and see the effects in real-time. If they like a particular look, they can add those products to their shopping cart and check out online with just a few clicks. The entire process requires no waiting in line and is extremely convenient and fast.

L’Oreal's virtual try-on service has brought immense convenience and enjoyment to consumers. They no longer need to spend significant time and money visiting physical stores to try products; they can easily experience various makeup effects via the internet. Simultaneously, this service makes it easier for consumers to find their preferred product textures and shades, thereby increasing purchasing satisfaction.

Perfect Corp also integrated with AI this year to launch "YouCam Tutorial." Through YouCam Tutorial, users can try on makeup on their phones or computers and enjoy one-on-one guidance from professional makeup artists without visiting a store. Users can upload their photos, and the system will analyze suitable makeup styles based on the user's face shape and skin tone, providing detailed steps and techniques to help them achieve their desired look.

This innovative solution based on AI technology not only significantly enhances the user's makeup experience but also helps them avoid common makeup mistakes. Through precise facial recognition, YouCam Tutorial can better adapt to different face shapes and provide specialized makeup tutorials based on individual skin conditions and personalized needs. The launch of this solution undoubtedly provides makeup enthusiasts with a more convenient and practical way to learn makeup.

In addition to providing personalized makeup tutorials, YouCam Tutorial offers users a real-time virtual try-on feature. Users can try different makeup styles through a camera or by uploading photos, previewing the results, and making choices based on the actual effect. This feature not only reduces the time and experimentation costs for users when trying on makeup but also avoids the risk of purchasing cosmetics that do not suit them.

Although the pandemic has gradually subsided, consumer shopping habits have undergone fundamental changes. The convenience of online shopping means most people still prefer this method post-pandemic. Brands are actively seeking ways to provide more online service experiences to meet consumer demand. Among these, virtual try-on is a notable emerging service that breaks the previous limitation of having to visit physical stores to try cosmetics; now, the try-on experience can be completed entirely online.

Many fashion brands have joined the virtual try-on service sector, offering more personalized options and customized services that give consumers a "one-on-one" special treatment without leaving home. This trend not only allows brands to better meet consumer needs but also provides a more innovative and intelligent way to shop. The emergence of virtual try-on technology has brought great convenience to consumers, allowing them to easily select and try cosmetics online, saving time and energy.

As virtual try-on technology continues to evolve and improve, more innovative services and features will emerge in the future, making the consumer shopping experience richer and more diverse. Brands will continue to strive to provide more online options to meet the needs of modern consumers and actively utilize technology to create a better shopping experience for them. This transformation has not only changed consumer shopping habits but has also brought more opportunities and competitive advantages to brands, opening up more possibilities for the future online shopping market.