Producing Smart Devices for the Cosmetics Industry
The demand for personalized products and smart devices is growing louder—also in the cosmetics industry. This involves not just the cosmetic formulas applied to skin, but also devices that help analyze, create, and formulate individualized products. Patrick Williams knows the market and what these devices need to deliver, and he shares his insights with COSSMA.
Consumers are looking for personalization in all product categories, and the beauty industry is under pressure to offer environmentally friendly, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled devices that are integrated into the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem.
The beauty industry’s adoption of technology is expanding from skincare and skin tone analysis, identifying dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles, to personalized color customization in cosmetics and hair care, to AI-powered fragrance and personalized lip color mixing devices. Companies throughout the value chain, from concept to plastic injection molding, have to evolve to remain competitive.
Personalized by technology
Consumers are increasingly selective, seeking more personalized product experiences that fit their lifestyle. To meet these needs, innovative products require IoT connectivity features like Bluetooth, wireless charging, radio-frequency identification (RFID), and consumer-compliant data collection and analysis to provide customized treatment options in real time.
In recent years, there’s been a surge in IoT devices for consumers focused on personal well-being. A report by Market Data Forecast predicts the global beauty devices market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.2% from 2022 to 2027; from USD 46.18 billion in 2022 to USD 115.87 billion in 2027.
Putting into practice
It’s now widely recognized that for brands to succeed in a highly competitive market, new products must leverage data and connectivity to personalize the customer experience.
Many companies have the design skills needed to develop revolutionary products and deliver the experiences users expect. The current challenge is sourcing all components and raw materials and finding an experienced, dependable partner to take their ideas into production.
That’s why it’s critical for brand owners to select the right contract manufacturing partner who understands not only consumer devices and the plastic manufacturing process, but also IoT devices, to bring their concept to life quickly and reliably.
Current project
A recent example is a smart beauty product project by an international plastic molding group with facilities in nine countries, which, after two years of design and product development, was ready to go to market in the second half of 2022.
In this case, the biggest advantage of operating in-house innovation centers was being able to shorten the development cycle using 3D-printed injection mold tools with design-intent materials.
This accelerated approach can take a design from concept to reality in just 72 hours. The innovation centers also included an electronics lab, further strengthening design capabilities for electromechanical functionality and validation testing—a key factor for product reliability and compliance with international regulations.
The future?
Smart beauty devices are used to offer personalization to consumers, but they’ll also enable new business models based on usage and recommendations. This means these devices will need to be longer-lasting and more sustainable.
Greater consumer awareness and a focus on sustainability mean any manufacturing partner in the value chain must be able to demonstrate its environmental impact, as well as responsible material sourcing.
For example, there is an initiative to reduce material thickness and to use in-mold labeling to reduce material use. As beauty and healthcare devices converge through data collection and connectivity, a plastics molding vendor’s ability to embed these new technologies into the design and manufacturing phases will result in a cosmetically attractive product that’s more than just skin deep.
