SWAN Beauty Smart Mirror Delivers At-Home Skin Analysis

SWAN Beauty has entered the at-home skincare tech market with its Smart Mirror, a device designed to deliver individualized skin analysis. Priced at $795 USD on the brand's website, the mirror carries a grade of B. The product aims to curate personalized skincare routines by evaluating skin conditions without the need for a doctor's visit.

The skin analyzer within the Smart Mirror was built with input from dermatologists. According to Colby Mitchell, co-founder and CEO of SWAN Beauty, the device tracks pigmentation, fine lines, redness, UV damage and acne. "[It] keeps track of all your skin scores, so you can go back and see where you’ve had some improvements, if your fine lines are improving with retinol, if your acne score is improving," Mitchell said. To ensure accurate readings, the scan requires natural lighting, a bare face and hair pulled back, as inconsistent conditions between scans can throw off the results.

The Smart Mirror also features a smart makeup AR function, developed alongside celebrity makeup artists. Both the skin analyzer and the makeup feature feed into SWAN Beauty's marketplace, which includes 2,500 products and allows users to shop directly from the mirror.

During testing, the mirror prompted the user to download the brand's mobile app and start a year-long subscription trial. The touch screen capabilities made the device feel like an oversized tablet rather than a traditional vanity mirror. The skin scan process involves the mirror using its built-in camera to take a close-up photo of the face. While getting the lighting, angle and distance right proved finicky initially, the process became intuitive with use. After capturing one photo, the mirror breaks down skin by the five categories mentioned: pigmentation, fine lines, redness, UV damage and acne. In addition to an overall score out of 100, each category receives an individual rating. The analysis also provides recommended skincare ingredients, a general breakdown and a photo with concerns highlighted.

The skin analyzer was found to be thorough and informative despite its dependence on lighting and photo quality. While not as in-depth as a VISIA scan, the results were reported to be fairly similar. The mirror's ability to track skin progress over time was noted as especially interesting, as it can help gauge how a routine is actively affecting the skin. Beyond skin analysis, the makeup tutorials were considered beneficial for beginners experimenting with new techniques. The mirror's online shopping capabilities were also highlighted as potentially helpful for purchasing recommended products on the spot.

Above all else, the reviewer appreciated that SWAN Beauty is bringing impressive capabilities to the at-home market. The product comes with a hefty price tag and requires a yearly membership fee after the trial expires to continue using the skin analysis capabilities. For the reviewer, its most valuable insight was finding the specific skincare ingredients to implement into a routine, which can be difficult to figure out independently.", "table": [["Feature", "Detail"], ["Price", "$795 USD on the brand's website"], ["Grade", "B"], ["Skin analyzer categories", "Pigmentation, fine lines, redness, UV damage, acne"], ["Marketplace products", "2,500 products"], ["Subscription", "Yearly membership fee required after trial expires"]]]