Providing highly personalized skincare solutions for every shade of skin.
OVERVIEW
Taking the Guesswork Out of Skincare
PROBLEM
Users want to eliminate the guesswork in finding a routine that fits their unique skin type, tone, and lifestyle.
AGITATE
Users rely on trial and error, wasting time, money, and effort on products that often do more harm than good.
SOLUTION
Personalized skin recommendations based on users’ data.
64%
feel lost and have no idea what they're doing in terms of skincare with so many options available (in a survey of 2,000 Americans)
- The New York Post, 2022
75%
of participants were white in 58 skincare studies, showing a significant diversity gap that overlooks the BIPOC population.
- Bustle, 2021
70%
of consumers feel overwhelmed by the huge variety of skincare and most are disappointed with the products they purchase.
- Forbes, 2021
DISCOVER
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
Gaps in the Skincare Industry:
A Lack of Personalized, Customizable, and
Inexpensive Solutions
To understand the current market and its offerings, I conducted a competitive analysis of top skincare brands, revealing the need for adaptable solutions with the flexibility to mix and match products across different brands and price points—making skincare both effective and affordable. Brands like Proven offer personalized, science-backed options but may be too expensive for some. Meanwhile, Neutrogena only recommends its own products, limiting user choice. Sometimes the best routine comes from combining products from multiple brands.
USER RESEARCH
Recruiting Diverse Participants for Inclusive Research
Recruiting a diverse participant group was vital in the interview process because I wanted to understand peoples' needs across various factors such as age, skin type, tone, and knowledge.
I recruited participants who had a variety of skin types (normal, oily, and dry), a variety of skin tones (fair, light, medium, and dark), a range of skincare knowledge (those who have little to no knowledge of skincare and/or don't have a routine, those who have some knowledge of skincare and have an established routine, and skincare enthusiasts who have a well-establish routine, regularly buy skincare, and like to try different products, routines).
It's important to note that people of color are often excluded in skincare research and product development, leaving a significant gap in effective and inclusive solutions.
Variety of
Skin Types
Variety of
Skin Tones
Range of
Skincare Knowledge
USER RESEARCH
Understanding What Users Perceive, Practice, and Know About Skincare
I conducted interviews to understand:
- How do people’s preconceived ideas and notions of skincare influence the way they take care of their skin?
- What factors influence how people make decisions about how they take care of their skin?
- How much importance do people place on skincare, if at all?
- What are the reasons behind why people implement a skincare routine?
- What types of barriers do people face that may make it difficult to access skincare products and information across different demographics?
USER RESEARCH FINDINGS
The Costly Gamble: Time and Money Wasted on
Uncertain Solutions
To make sense of all the user research, I created an affinity map that helped me identify trends and patterns among user pain points. I started by gathering all the notes from user interviews and grouping similar themes together. This process allowed me to visually organize insights, making it easier to see which issues were most common. As a result, I pinpointed four major pain points that users faced, which became the foundation for my next steps in the ideation phase.
🚩 6 out of 6 participants don’t want to go through the inconvenience of investing the time needed to research products and sort through a variety of resources.
🚩 5 out of 6 participants are hesitant to try new products due to the risk of spending money on a product that may not work.
🚩 3 out of 6 participants find that their lifestyles have a big impact on the condition and health of their skin but these factors are not being considered when creating a skincare routine.
DEFINE
USER NEEDS STATEMENT
Users want to eliminate the guesswork in finding a routine
that fits their unique skin type, tone, and lifestyle.
The four main pain points users are experiencing in the current market:
Lack of
Personalization
Time-Consuming Research
Failed
Trial/Error
Wasted Money
on Products
HOW MIGHT WE STATEMENT
How might we help users make more informed skincare
choices that are best for their unique skin?
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
Aligning Navigation with Users' Mental Models
Card sorting with users was key to shaping the app’s information architecture, keeping user mental models at the core. Based on user research, I structured the app to ensure intuitive navigation, allowing users to find information quickly. For example, when sorting product-related terms, most users grouped them by categories like product type, skin concerns, goals, and skin type— laying out the foundation of the app map.
DEVELOP
TASK FLOWS
Essential Flows
In designing Skincarelab, I identified three critical task flows essential to delivering a seamless user experience: 1) completing a skin scan, 2) reviewing and editing a recommended routine, and 3) ordering products. Each flow was carefully designed and iterated to ensure users could achieve their goals with ease, confidence, and minimal friction.
IDEATION EXERCISES
Think Fast: How Rapid Ideation Led to Creative Solutions
I rapidly generated ideas embracing the "no bad ideas" mindset to encourage creativity and explore a large quantity of possible solutions before further refinement.
IDEA PRIORITIZATION
Narrowing Down Solutions Utilizing User Feedback
After having six participants vote on their top 5 solutions they believed would address their need of wanting to know what solutions are best for their skin, I narrowed down the initial ideas to the top three. These were the three that received the highest number of votes or "dots." I then sketched out wireframes for each of these three ideas and narrowed it down to one solution to further explore.
Info Database
Requires too much reading & research.
0 out of 5 rating
Large database of articles regarding skincare topics on skin types, skin tones, lifestyle factors, etc. and products recommended to address different concerns. I rated this low because users want quick and easy information.
Trial Products
Requires users to go through trial/error
0 out of 2 rating
While this addresses the need for accessible skincare and the ability to try products at a cheaper rate due to smaller quantities, it still requires the user to test different products on their skin without knowing what works for their skin.
Skin Scan
Specific routine recommendations
5 out of 5 rating
Skin scanning technology paired with an extensive AI knowledge provides users with products that will address each of the concerns than appear in the scan.
IDEA SKETCHING
Iterating the Skin Scan Interface (Round 2)
I explored various design options for different screens that make up the Skin Scan, drawing inspiration from products like leading e-commerce platforms in fashion, makeup, and beauty. This approach allowed me to consider multiple possibilities and identify the most effective solution through sketching.
INITIAL EXPLORATION
REFINED IDEAS
MID FIDELITY WIREFLOWS
Forming the Overall Structure and Functionality
I created mid-fi wireframes to focus on the overall structure and functionality of the product.
I was able to explore and test different design ideas and concepts and get feedback without investing too much time or resources.
DELIVER
USABILITY TESTING
How Can We Improve the Product?
The goal of usability testing was to get valuable user feedback on the effectiveness of my product and what could be improved and iterated on to create a better user experience. Each participant went through different task scenarios.
Research objectives for usability testing:
- Recognize any roadblocks or difficulties users encounter when navigating the site and completing task flows
- Assess if site features are designed in a way that is intuitive and usable
- Identify opportunities where the design can be simplified for better usability
- Identify any issues with accessibility
- Gain insight into the overall satisfaction of each task flow
Users went through 3 task flows:
1. Complete
skin scan
2. Review &
edit routine
3. Order products
in routine
FEEDBACK AND ITERATIONS
Improving Cues and Providing More Options
5
test
participants
100%
success rate
across tasks
1
avg. difficulty rating out of 5
A lot
of feedback for
improvement
Overall, participants navigated through the flows with ease with no errors across all three tasks. However, comments and feedback after the tests revealed two main pain points: users felt uncertain during the skin scan due to a lack of feedback and found the routine review process too restrictive. Without clear indicators, users weren’t sure if their scan was processing correctly. When reviewing their routine, limited product choices left users wanting more control and information. These insights led to key improvements that made the experience clearer, more engaging, and highly customizable.
1
Before
❌ Only Live Scan Available
Users could only complete the skin scan by taking a live photo, limiting accessibility for those in poor lighting or wearing makeup.
After
✅ Added Photo Upload Option
Added an option to upload an existing photo from their phone's photo library, giving users more flexibility and ensuring they can complete the scan anytime, anywhere.
2
Before
❌ No Indication of Scan Progress
After pressing "Take Scan," the user instantly moved to the next screen with no indication that the scan was actively processing. This abrupt transition left users unsure whether the scan had been completed successfully, reducing confidence in the process.
After
✅ Visual and Text Feedback During Scan
Introduced a "Scan in Progress" state with an animated bar moving across the face, providing real-time feedback and making the experience feel more responsive and engaging. The animation reassures users that the scan is actively occurring, reducing uncertainty and creating a more intuitive process.
3
Before
❌ Limited Product Choices
Users were limited to three product recommendations per routine step, with no way to explore additional options or see product details. This limited personalization and left users with fewer opportunities to find the right products for their specific needs.
After
✅ More Customization and Product Insights
Added a "View More" option, expanding choices to nine additional products per step. Users can now click to see product details, including ingredients and pricing, for a more personalized experience.
✅ Clear Instructions and Visual Cues
Before their routine appears, an animated loading screen reassures them that their AI-powered recommendations are being curated. A follow-up prompt encourages users to select a product for each step, ensuring a seamless and informed decision-making process.
HIGH FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
Taking the Guesswork Out of Skincare
Problem Addressed
Users struggle to find skincare routines tailored to their unique skin type, tone, and lifestyle. Many feel overwhelmed by too many product options and lack clarity on what works for them.
Design Solution
Personalized skincare routine recommendations based on AI-driven analysis of the user's data.
How Does This Solution Address the Problem?
Time
Efficiency
Users can quickly build and follow a skincare routine without excessive research or trial and error.
Customizable Options
Users can review a curated list of products for each step of their routine with the option to explore additional product choices based on budget, routine complexity, and personal preference.
Lifestyle Integration
AI analyzes skin scan data to ensure recommendations fit various needs, whether users have sensitive skin, prefer minimal routines, or need multitasking products.
Educational Value
Skin Scan Results provide detailed insights, helping users make informed choices suited to their daily habits.
Results and Feedback
5 out of 5 users
reported feeling more confident and informed about their skincare choices after using Skincarelab.
5 out of 5 users
said the AI-powered skincare routine made them more likely to trust the recommendations and try new products.
4 out of 5 users
said the Skin Scan results added a layer of transparency and education, helping them better understand their skin concerns and needs.
4 out of 5 users
appreciated the ability to explore multiple product options and review detailed product breakdowns.
REFLECTION
Closing Thoughts
Taking on a complex problem
As a skincare enthusiast, I knew before heading into this project that the problem would involve a multi-faceted solution. Skincare is complex and because it's not one-size-fits-all, I ensured that the solution was inclusive and accounted for a diverse group of individuals. Keeping this at the forefront taught me that regardless of the problem, inclusivity and accessibility should always be prioritized. 
Balancing Constraints and Future Growth in Design
I learned how to work with limited time, resources, and technical constraints, while also considering the possibility of future iterations and features.
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