Tech talk: Top stories on the tech developments making waves in the beauty industry

K-beauty brand Tolymoly digital push pays off with accelerated online growth​

K-beauty brand Tolymoly’s efforts to strengthen its digital capabilities are yielding good results as sales from its online business, including its own e-commerce platform see growth.

Sales on TonyStreet recorded 52% growth compared to the previous year.

Furthermore, traffic increased by 75%, with the share of young consumers aged 18 to 34 increasing by about 11.5%. New membership also increased by 25%.

How brands are pursuing multi-sensory strategies in the digital world​

From non-fungible tokens to augmented reality, and live commerce to the metaverse, major beauty brands are increasingly pursing multi-sensory strategies in the digital space, according to panel of industry experts.

As the world moves into a new era of the internet, it raises another set of questions on how the beauty industry, which is centred around how things look, smell and feel, can effectively leverage digital tools to achieve their goals.

These compelling questions were discussed during a digital beauty panel at Cosmoprof Asia 2022.

Scent Journer is tapping tech and data to stand out in niche fragrance market​

An emphasis on tech and data is crucial for indie fragrance brands to become trendsetters in the increasingly saturated niche market, claims a Singapore start-up that is tapping AI and social media research.

Speaking on the Indie Pioneers Podcast, ​Lian explained why she emphasises so much on scientific data like a typical skin care brand would, even though she primarily trades in perfumes.

“Scientific innovation is super important because we want to be a brand that brings out innovation rather than follow a trend. We want to be the trendsetters.”​

L’Oréal and J&J unveil CES 2023 ‘inclusive’ tech innovations​

International beauty majors L’Oréal and Johnson & Johnson have launched smart beauty innovations in lipstick, brow care and skin supplements at this year’s CES tech tradeshow.

The first L’Oréal prototype device was a handheld makeup applicator ‘Hapta’, designed for users with limited hand and arm mobility The second was a smart eyebrow makeup applicator Brow Magic, designed to give users bespoke brows for their face shape in seconds.

Johnson & Johnson also unveiled a 3D-printed, personalised skin health supplements offering under its mass skin care brand Neutrogena.

L’Oréal invests in South Korean temp tattoo startup Prinker​

International beauty major L’Oréal has acquired a minority stake in Korean temporary tattoo tech startup Prinker to fast-forward its vision of advancing beauty tech that empowers self-expression.

Barbara Lavernos, deputy CEO in charge of research, innovation and technology at L’Oréal, said the company was continuing to partner with “high-end technology startups to create the future of beauty”.​

“Through this strategic investment, we can fulfil our deep commitment to bringing breakthrough beauty technologies that truly empower boundless personalisation and self-expression into the hands of every person.”​