Has The Beauty Tech Boom Gone Too Far?
Cosmopolitan India|November - December 2022
With the rise of 24/7 social selling, Al influencers and the metaverse, our beauty bags are fast becoming savvier than smartphones. But what does this mean for our beloved industry? Is the technology designed to bring us together actually pushing us further apart?
Victoria Jowett
Has The Beauty Tech Boom Gone Too Far?

Charlotte Tilbury is in my living room. There she is, by my sofa, blowing me a kiss (Pillow Talk lining her lips, of course). Then, I blink, and she’s over by the television, one hand on her hip, smiling as if I am about to take her picture. It’s all very fun having her here and all, but she’s not much use. So with a quick swipe, I switch to wandering around one of her rose-gold shops, uncapping lipsticks, and watching her advisers apply their recommended products. I decide to try on a champagne gold eyeshadow, with a peachy nude lip. It doesn’t work so, in a flash, it’s wiped off and replaced with a chocolate smokey eye so perfect I want to step out of my living room, pop on a nice dress and head out dancing.

But then, it’s gone. I close down my phone and I am back in my living room, alone, with a bare face and empty hands. Such is the power of beauty tech today that I was able to do an entire virtual shopping experience from my smartphone. I didn’t need an app, a headset, or an in-depth tutorial from an IT expert to do so. I just opened my phone and scanned a QR code. Genius, right? Well, it’s just the beginning...

BATTLE OF THE BRANDS The world’s tech brains have certainly been busy lately. While we were in lockdown doing jigsaws, they were innovating the next big developments in the metaverse, the growth of blockchain technology, and even machine learning (yep, really). And the beauty industry has been listening, figuring out how to bring this technology to its customers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM COSMOPOLITAN INDIAView all
How To Survive The Awkward In-Between Stage Of Growing Out Your Hair
Cosmopolitan India

How To Survive The Awkward In-Between Stage Of Growing Out Your Hair

Never again will the threat of a halfway length leave us feeling trapped in a style.

time-read
2 mins  |
September- October 2024
Do You Know Why Beauty Trends Swing In Extremes?
Cosmopolitan India

Do You Know Why Beauty Trends Swing In Extremes?

We speak with make-up artists and content creators to find out if it’s just the dopamine rush of trying out something new or the fear of missing out in this hyper-connected world.

time-read
3 mins  |
September- October 2024
What's The Next Big Thing In Beauty And Wellness?
Cosmopolitan India

What's The Next Big Thing In Beauty And Wellness?

Charting the trends that have the potential to blossom into their fullest in 2025.

time-read
8 mins  |
September- October 2024
On our tech radar
Cosmopolitan India

On our tech radar

Let's take a look at the cool (latest) gadgets you should buy to be tech forward, shall we?

time-read
3 mins  |
September- October 2024
My seven minutes with Lily Collins
Cosmopolitan India

My seven minutes with Lily Collins

The Emily in Paris star on ie bold, her process, performing, and always being Team Emily.

time-read
5 mins  |
September- October 2024
Why are girls getting their period earlier?
Cosmopolitan India

Why are girls getting their period earlier?

Navigating puberty can be overwhelming (it's a LOT to handle!) especially when girls as young as seven are dealing with changes that could potentially have a big impact on their physical and psychological development.

time-read
8 mins  |
September- October 2024
All the deets on the coolest collaboration of 2024
Cosmopolitan India

All the deets on the coolest collaboration of 2024

Inside everything you need to know, and more!

time-read
3 mins  |
September- October 2024
Did someone say inner happy hour?
Cosmopolitan India

Did someone say inner happy hour?

Relish your cocktails along with our curated list of feel-good reads.

time-read
2 mins  |
September- October 2024
My guilty pleasure
Cosmopolitan India

My guilty pleasure

POV: Why watching cringe content on the Internet is my survival strategy.

time-read
3 mins  |
September- October 2024
Intermezzo, intervention
Cosmopolitan India

Intermezzo, intervention

Spoiler alert: In her latest, Sally Rooney yet again plays the therapist we didn’t realise we needed.

time-read
4 mins  |
September- October 2024