Perfect Corp raises the bar on digital beauty engagement
Its recently launched YouCam AI Pro App aims to bring a new level of personalization to online beauty consumers. Thanks to a text-to-image tool, the app can instantly generate desired images with key word prompts, which can then be interpreted in 20 different artistic styles. The technology ultimately helps users to interpret their creative beauty ideas into vivid and high quality images.
CosmeticsDesign-USA (CDU) spoke to Perfect Corp Founder and CEO Alice Chang (AC), to find out more about the latest addition to its portfolio and the impact it is expected to have on a number of key beauty categories.
CDU: What is the potential impact of this technological development on manufacturers and suppliers to the cosmetics and personal care product industries?
AC: Perfect Corp’s YouCam suite of apps features the most advanced and precise AR and AI-powered virtual try-on and skin diagnostic technology available on the market today. The collection of apps has become known as a powerhouse for beauty, skin and fashion technology. Featuring the award-winning YouCam Makeup and YouCam Perfect apps as well as the new YouCam AI Pro app powered by generative AI, the suite of apps offers consumers a variety of immersive and inspirational experiences to explore.
The experiences available in the apps allow users to access true-to-life virtual renderings of beauty and fashion items, empowering consumers to discover new products through hyper- realistic AR and AI filters. The inclusive technology is optimized for all ages and ethnicities to ensure that all app users can get inspired and find their perfect product match. The app also features a variety of tools powered by cutting-edge AI, including Perfect Corp.’s AI skin diagnostic, which provides detailed skin analysis and product recommendations in a matter of seconds. Perfect Corp. has also delivered a range of interactive features powered by Generative AI technology. These tools are redefining creative expression with AI-Powered Text-to-Image, and image-to-image technology, that allow app users to access endless fashion, beauty, and avatar inspiration.
The implications of this technology for manufacturers and suppliers in the cosmetics and personal care industries is significant. The technology allows brands to digitize their product portfolio and eliminates the need for physical product samples. In providing try-on experiences through a fully virtual platform, brands and retailers are able to reduce the product waste created during the product sampling process, minimizing their carbon footprint and promoting more sustainable business practices. The technology also enhances and improves the consumer experience, allowing shoppers to access a more personalized shopping journey. VTO experiences streamline the product discovery process, helping shoppers find the products best fit for their needs. This in turn helps reduce item returns and helps cosmetics manufacturers better understand the needs of their consumers. The technology has also been proven to increase conversion rate, drive add-to-cart interactions, and boost digital engagement metrics such as product page views.
CDU: Can you share some background information about the software development process behind this technology?
AC: At Perfect Corp., our mission is to solve consumer pain points through the power of digital innovation. As a beauty lover myself, I understood firsthand how challenging the process of finding the right makeup shade could be. I knew that there was incredible potential for AR/AI technology to improve the beauty shopping journey, and help shoppers more easily find the products best suited to their needs.
However, we knew that it would take time to develop AI and AR technology that was precise and realistic enough to provide consumers with a personalized virtual try-on experience. We tested many iterations of this technology before bringing it to market, and worked tirelessly to develop advanced capabilities, such as our advanced Face AI and AgileHand technology, that would ensure a best-in-class VTO experience. Ultimately, we were able to bring to market the most advanced and realistic AR experience for beauty and fashion available today, which has since helped over 600 brands transform their consumer journey.
Since launching Perfect Corp.’s virtual try-on technology and partnering with the world’s most iconic beauty brands to bring VTO experiences to life, we have also worked closely with our brand partners to optimize our AR solutions to best meet the needs of their consumers. In working closely with our brand partners to understand the specific challenges and needs of their shoppers, we ensure that the AR solutions are truly enhancing the retail journey, educating consumers, and matching shoppers with the optimal products for their needs.
CDU: Were there any challenges that needed to be overcome in order to launch this technology
AC: When developing AR virtual try-on solutions for the face and hands, there are many details to be considered. We had to ensure that the technology represented makeup shades accurately, and have since developed an in-depth shade matching process that allows brands to have true-to-life digital renderings of their products. We also had to ensure that the AI and AR technology depicted realistic representations of how the makeup shades, nail color, and fashion items would appear when worn. This required us to fine-tune and optimize the AR for all skin tones, lighting conditions and environments. As a result, we developed our Face AI technology, powered by AI deep learning tech, to ensure that all consumers would have a personalized, engaging VTO experience that streamlined their shopping journey and mirrored the experience of a physical in-store try-on.
When developing VTO solutions for the hands for products such as nail color and jewelry, we were also presented with the challenge to create a solution that allowed the consumer to move their hand and view realistic renderings of the products. With the development of our award- winning AgileHand technology, we were able to develop a solution that maps a full range of hand gestures and movements to deliver true-to-life results. The solution features specialized 3D hand-mapping technology and uses advanced Physically Based Rendering (PBR) technology to aid in precision renderings for 3D objects with true-to-life finishes and effects.
CDU: How is this technology different or innovative when compared to similar options currently available on the market?
AC: The technology leveraged in the YouCam suite of apps is truly the most precise AI and AR beauty, skin and fashion technology available today. With many other virtual try-on solutions, AR filters appear almost like a sticker, and do not show an accurate or realistic representation of the product as it will appear when worn. With Perfect Corp.’s technology, the consumer can try-on various products, and even experience them in a real-time, live camera view to see the product from various angles. With this technology, the consumer can really access a valuable virtual try-on experience that helps them to make a more confident, informed purchase decision.
CDU: Are there future plans for further development and innovation in this space?
AC: Yes, as we look to the future, we plan to introduce new technologies and features that empower consumers and enhance the shopping experience for all. In 2023, we have introduced new app technologies such as our AI Fashion and AI Avatar tools, which leverage the power of generative AI to help consumers virtually try-on fashion styles and create hyper-realistic digital twins. Looking ahead, the possibilities for generative AI in beauty and fashion industries are limitless.
This technology can truly transform how consumers experience beauty and fashion, and Perfect Corp. will remain dedicated to enhancing the lives of consumers through digital innovation.
