As I tried out the store for myself, I resonated with the skin analysis the most: the benefit of getting a customized routine, based on actual analytics from my skin, outweighs any opinion that could be offered to me from an in-store associate. It puts the power back into the customer's hands, and offers accuracy in an overwhelming retail environment. Having a store focused on one brand also keeps things simple.
I couldn't help but think about how interesting this technology would be in a retailer like Sephora or Ulta Beauty, where thousands of skin care brands co-exist, pairing thousands of products from hundreds of brands with each other. Could the future of shopping for a skin regimen eliminate the need for in-store beauty consultants altogether? If SK-II has any pull, it could be a strong possibility.
