The synergy of clean beauty and AI: How AI transforms the game for clean beauty brands

• 05 Sep, 2023
• by Ivona Androic

In recent years, we’ve seen two significant movements merge, each designed to improve our lives in its own unique way.

Clean beauty has taken the skincare and cosmetics world by storm, focusing on natural, non-toxic, and sustainable ingredients.

Meanwhile, Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize industries across the board, including beauty.

This article will explore how the worlds of clean beauty and technology intersect, particularly in leveraging AI to improve sales and customer experiences for clean beauty brands.

What is clean beauty?

Clean beauty is more than just a buzzword. It’s a consumer-driven movement advocating for transparency, sustainability, and overall safety in the beauty industry. Unlike some cosmetic and skincare products that may contain harmful chemicals and synthetic elements, clean beauty prioritizes:

• Natural ingredients
• Cruelty-free testing
• Eco-friendly packaging
• Transparency in labeling

Consumers today are becoming increasingly conscious of what they put on their skin, leading many to seek out clean beauty brands that align with their values.

The trends shaping clean beauty

As clean beauty gains traction, several trends are emerging that show the direction in which the industry is headed:

1. Transparency in ingredients: Consumers demand full disclosure of the ingredients present in beauty products, wanting to be sure they’re cruelty-free. 
2. Zero-waste packaging: Brands are opting for reusable, recyclable, or biodegradable packaging to reduce environmental impact.
3. Personalization: Tailor-made products, curated according to individual skin types and concerns, are increasingly popular.
4. Inclusivity: A wider range of shades and formulations are being developed to cater to diverse skin types and tones. Our skin tone estimation, for example, is based on the Monk Skin Tone Scale, which was developed to include a more representative scale with respect to various races and ethnicities. 

These trends all point to a more conscious and customized approach to beauty. And they, in turn, perfectly set the stage for the integration of AI and other tech tools.

How beauty and technology are merging: Sustainability and sales

Technology has been a game-changer in virtually every industry, and beauty is no exception.

Innovations such as AR mirrors, AI-based skincare analyzers, and virtual try-on solutions have altered how we shop for beauty products.

AI and AR are becoming indispensable tools for clean beauty brands seeking to enhance customer experience while simultaneously addressing sustainability goals. And two key strategies, in particular, underscore how AI can revolutionize the game for clean beauty: reducing the need for physical product samples and decreasing product returns.

In addition, for clean beauty brands, the integration of technology offers a host of other benefits including enhanced customer engagement, increased sales, and a more personalized shopping experience.

Now, let’s dive into some of those more closely.

1. Reducing physical product samples

One of the major advantages of using virtual try-on features enabled by AR is the substantial reduction in the need for physical product samples.

Before the advent of AR technology, consumers often relied on in-store sampling to decide whether a product was suitable for them. However, this method was wasteful, not only in terms of product but also in packaging. Studies show that the beauty industry is one of the biggest waste contributors, as it produces as many as 120 billion packaging units a year.

What’s more, your customers’ preferences have changed as well and they want to use virtual try-ons. This is backed by the fact that when using virtual try-ons, customers are 2.4 times more likely to buy.  

➥ Main benefits for your clean beauty brand:

• Enhanced sustainability: By switching to virtual try-ons, brands significantly minimize waste, aligning with clean beauty’s focus on sustainability.
• Cost-efficiency: Reducing physical samples also means less expenditure on production and packaging, freeing up resources for other sustainable practices or product development.
• Improved hygiene: Virtual try-ons eliminate the need for shared samples, which can be a breeding ground for bacteria and germs, thereby ensuring a more hygienic shopping experience.

2. Decreasing product returns

By incorporating virtual try-ons in your customer experience, you can significantly alleviate the uncertainty that often accompanies online cosmetic shopping.

Customers can virtually ‘wear’ the product, gaining a realistic sense of how it will look and feel on their skin. This confidence-building feature directly tackles – and fights – the guesswork associated with buying cosmetics online.

This way, your brand can not only reduce waste and costs associated with returns but also dramatically improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.

➥ Main benefits for your clean beauty brand:

• Increased customer confidence: By seeing how products will actually look on them before making a purchase, customers are more likely to be satisfied with their choice, reducing the chance of returns and increasing the chance of repeat purchases.
• Significant impact on return rates: Research indicates that implementing a virtual try-on solution can result in up to 64% fewer product returns, enhancing both customer satisfaction and your brand’s bottom line.

3. Predictive inventory management

Effective inventory management is a linchpin for any successful retail operation. But it carries special significance for clean beauty brands committed to sustainability.

Using machine learning algorithms, AI can accurately forecast demand for specific products based on historical data, seasonal trends, and even real-time market shifts. This predictive inventory management aligns perfectly with clean beauty’s emphasis on reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices.

➥ Main benefits for your clean beauty brand:

• Reduced overhead: According to a study by IHL Group, the total cost of inventory distortion cost (due to overstocks and out-of-stocks) is projected at $1.77 trillion in 2023. Accurate inventory predictions help avoid overstocking or understocking, thus reducing storage costs and minimizing waste.
• Efficient product planning: Virtual try-on solutions like Arbelle’s can provide valuable insights for new product launches or experiments with different combinations. This real-time data would be difficult to track in physical stores but can guide informed decisions on category and stock management.
• Customer satisfaction: Ensuring that popular items are always in stock leads to faster shipping times and higher customer satisfaction. According to research, retailers who excel at demand forecasting have 15% less stock, a 17% stronger order completion rate, and 60% higher profit margins.

By incorporating these AI and AR strategies, clean beauty brands not only align with the digital age but also offer an enhanced, personalized experience that today’s savvy consumer has come to expect.

Whether it’s through virtual try-ons or AI-driven personalized recommendations, the synergistic marriage of clean beauty and technology is redefining the way we experience and purchase beauty products.

Strengthen your brand with clean beauty and virtual try-on solutions

The integration of clean beauty and AI is not merely a trend; it’s an evolutionary step in the beauty industry.

As clean beauty continues to set new standards for transparency and efficacy, AI technologies offer the tools needed to meet these high expectations. From improving customer engagement to enhancing personalization and reducing waste, the marriage of clean beauty and technology is here to redefine the future of the beauty industry.

And the advanced virtual try-on solution provided by Arbelle is here to help redefine your beauty brand.

Our cutting-edge technology seamlessly merges the ethos of clean beauty with the convenience and personalization that only AI and AR can offer:

• Ultra-realistic makeup experience: Arbelle provides an experience that is as close to looking in a mirror as it gets. Customers can virtually ‘wear’ your products, feeling confident in their appearance and your brand.

• Highly realistic virtual representations: Our technology ensures that the digital versions of your real-life makeup products are as true-to-life as possible, reducing the guesswork for customers and increasing the likelihood of purchase.

• Powered by #1 face tracking technology: The use of advanced face tracking technology guarantees an impeccable AR makeup fit in real-time, further enhancing customer satisfaction and product relevance.

• Sales and marketing hub: When integrated with other features like skin tone estimation and FaceAnalysis for age and gender estimation, Arbelle becomes more than just a try-on solution. It’s a comprehensive hub that provides invaluable data for product recommendations, customer research, and strategic planning.

• Fully customizable solutions: Arbelle can be tailored to meet your exact business needs – from AR makeup and UI to custom features.

By integrating Arbelle’s virtual try-on technology, your clean beauty brand won’t just be another name in the marketplace. You’ll be a forward-thinking, customer-centric brand that marries ethical responsibility with technological innovation, giving your customers the whole package.

The future of clean beauty and AI

As technology continues to evolve, so will the ways in which it can benefit the clean beauty sector. From ever-more sophisticated personalization algorithms to AI systems capable of developing new eco-friendly beauty formulations, the possibilities are virtually endless.

The synergy of clean beauty and AI offers a promising path towards a future where beauty is not just skin deep, but also ethically sound and technologically advanced.

For more information and a top-notch AI solution for your own brand, don’t hesitate to contact us!