SpoiledChild and Il Makiage parent company Oddity Tech Ltd. is extending its data-driven product development model into OTC and non-prescription dermatological care with its recent launch of METHODIQ, a telehealth platform that combines AI-enabled skin analysis, clinician oversight and customized treatment plans.
CosmeticsDesign US spoke to Tom Amsterdam, CEO of METHODIQ, who explained that while the platform includes prescription options, the same efficacy-first framework applies to its OTC and cosmetic products, which are developed to meet higher substantiation and performance expectations.
Efficacy driving formulation and ingredient standards
According to Amsterdam, shifting consumer expectations are pushing the personal care sector toward more rigorous development benchmarks.
“Efficacy has become the forcing function across beauty, wellness, and healthcare,” Amsterdam said. “Consumers are no longer satisfied with cosmetic promises alone – they expect products to work, be measurable, and stand up to medical-grade standards.”
He added that the traditional distinction between beauty and healthcare is becoming less relevant to end users. “Today’s consumers are no longer separating beauty and skin concerns from healthcare,” he explained. “Ingredient efficiency and formulation standards are being pulled towards accurate medical benchmarks rather than cosmetic promises alone.”
For suppliers and formulators, this shift is increasing demand for ingredients supported by stronger data, clearer mechanisms of action and measurable outcomes, even for non-prescription products.
AI-enabled ingredient innovation beyond off-the-shelf actives
METHODIQ’s product development strategy also highlights how data science and biotechnology are influencing ingredient innovation. The company is drawing on its in-house biotech capabilities at Oddity Labs to develop proprietary compounds for use across its portfolio, including OTC and cosmetic formulations.
“In the first six months following launch, METHODIQ will introduce four hero products powered by proprietary compounds developed by Oddity Labs,” Amsterdam said. “This marks a deliberate shift from relying on existing, off-the-shelf ingredients to creating our own breakthrough formulas.”
AI plays a central role in this approach. “We use a proprietary, AI-driven molecular discovery engine to identify novel molecules with highly targeted efficacy,” he explained, which “enables us to develop differentiated, state-of-the-art treatments that directly address consumers’ most pressing needs.”
He added that the same development philosophy applies regardless of product category, as “our portfolio spans prescription, OTC, and cosmetic products, all unified by the same efficacy-first philosophy.”
Clinical validation and data transparency shaping R&D
Beyond ingredient discovery, AI-driven diagnostics and progress tracking are influencing how products are developed and validated. Amsterdam said METHODIQ was designed as an integrated system rather than a standalone product offering.
“With four years of heavy R&D investment for METHODIQ, we’ve created a complete system to drive results,” he said. “Not just a single product solution, but a full package with dermatologist-developed formulas, advanced computer vision for diagnostics and tracking, personalized protocols, and a mobile app for guidance and check-ins.”
For Oddity, this system-level approach is speeding up development timelines while raising scientific expectations. “AI is accelerating everything from ingredient discovery to clinical validation,” Amsterdam said, adding that data-driven feedback loops allow for continuous optimization of formulations and protocols.
Navigating cosmetic and drug regulatory boundaries
As interest grows in products that sit between cosmetic and therapeutic positioning, Amsterdam stressed the importance of regulatory discipline. “At Oddity, we’re very deliberate about respecting regulatory boundaries while still pushing innovation forward,” he said. “Every product is developed, positioned, and substantiated according to the more rigorous regulatory framework to which it belongs.”
He added that clarity around claims is critical for manufacturers operating in this space. “Our approach starts with intent and claims,” Amsterdam explained. “If it’s cosmetic, we ensure claims, ingredients, and substantiation stay firmly within that definition, even when the underlying science is advanced.”
Supply chain opportunities in data-driven skincare platforms
Looking ahead, Amsterdam foresees AI, computer vision and telehealth platforms as transforming skincare into adaptive systems rather than static regimens. “Together, these technologies move skincare toward better efficacy with true personalization at scale,” he said.
He noted that this evolution could reshape supplier relationships. “For ingredient and formulation partners, the opportunity lies in working earlier and more collaboratively within this ecosystem,” Amsterdam explained, predicting that “the supply chain will increasingly favor partners who can integrate science, data, and manufacturing excellence to support personalized care with demonstrable results.”
