Like it or not, AI has become an inextricable part of our daily lives. From facial recognition on your smart phone, to Google Maps helping you avoid that traffic jam on 95, AI is out here doing the most to make your life easier. And its uses don’t stop at the beauty counter.
If you could harness AI to upgrade your skincare routine, would you?
The beauty industry has seen an influx of tech-driven beauty tools that promise the age-old fountain of youth. We are seeing more and more LED light therapy wands and masks, RF beauty instruments, microneedling LED 2-in-1 combos, ultrasonic massaging tools, and most recently, a rise in AI skin analysis devices and apps.
These AI skin analyzers use high-resolution images, sensors or 3D imaging to analyze your skin’s condition in real-time, assessing factors like hydration, pigmentation, wrinkles, pores and overall skin health. These tools can be used to detect skin diseases, recommend skincare products and track skin progress over time. For anyone that loves customized skincare and cold hard facts, AI-backed skin analysis may be your favorite beauty tool in 2025.
Naturally, I wanted to test out an app and see what the hype is all about. After scouring the internet and Apple App Store, I was hard-pressed to find a free AI skin analysis app. Many were brand specific; I was reluctant to believe Mary Kay's app would be unbiased. I opted to test out the Skin Guru Skin Scanner 3-day free trail and after only a few minutes, I was disappointed to find myself in a sales funnel for Amazon-based skincare products. The analysis was not in-depth or informative. I’d give it a 0/10.
If you are hoping to integrate AI analysis into your skincare routine this year, I highly recommend consulting a licensed esthetician or your dermatologist, instead of an app. We expect that the technology will improve over the short-term and the app analysis will become more data-driven as opposed to sales-driven. (We’re not holding our breath.)
I love a robust arsenal of beauty tools, but the best ones I have ever used are pretty damn cheap, if not free. Things like good old sleep, exercise, and facial cupping to name a few, have done wonders for my skin without the use of AI analysis or sophisticated devices.
Those of us who currently opt for an obsidian gua sha over a "Skin Gym Beauty Lifter Vibrating T-Bar" may be in the minority, but it has us asking: In the days of technological beauty advances, can technology beat tried-and-true beauty techniques?
Live Like You Green It,
Danielle
