Image by: Vichy
With just one selfie, Vichy’s new Skinconsult AI technology detects signs of ageing and gives a personalised skin routine based on recommendations from real life dermatologists. Here’s how I got on.
I have a confession to make: I don’t really understand my skin. Not properly, anyway. I have a vague understanding of my skin type (combination/oily if you’re wondering) but have even wondered how correct that is. Skin types are, after all, not set in stone. Many of us fluctuate at different times of year due to environmental factors such as climate or pollution, whilst certain skin types are actually the result of not treating other complaints such as dryness. Yep, oily skin can be the result of lack of hydration - who knew?
With that being said, I am a woman-possessed when it comes to trying new beauty products that promise to combat what I believe to be my top skin concerns. I know my hyaluronic acid from my salicylic, and the benefits of CBD oil versus Vitamin C. However, I suffer from sensitive skin that’s prone to blemishes so am somewhat apprehensive to go gun-ho into anything too harsh. Seriously, new cleansers have resulted in a rash too many times. But, as a result, I’d say I’m not addressing my concerns to the best of my ability. In an ideal scenario, I’d head to a dermatologist for a full diagnosis, but time, money and not having a real clue where to go has always held me back - until now.
Leading skincare brand Vichy’s new Skinconsult AI has been designed to bring the expertise of a dermatologist to your fingertips, using only a selfie to formulate a skincare plan tailored to you. Combining augmented reality and artificial intelligence, this nifty bit of smartphone tech scans the face to identify your most prominent signs of ageing and recommends a targeted solution to combat them. It’s the first AI skincare analysis that’s comparable to a live diagnosis by a dermatologist. Oh, and did I mention it’s totally free?
You can get a read whilst wearing make-up but fresh faced is best for more accurate results
So, how did I get on? Luckily, there was no app to download so if you’re perpetually low on storage like I am, there’s no need to go on a deleting spree. I simply accessed Skinconsult from my mobile browser. As the first step, I was asked to take a new image or upload an existing one for analysis. There are a few rules: no glasses and no make-up (and therefore nowhere to hide). After uploading a selfie from my phone - taken first thing in the morning in natural light for full brutal effect - my picture was then graded against images of thousands of other dermatologist patients in my age group. So far, so simple. I then input my skin type and hey presto - a few seconds later, the results were in.
On the screen was my skin matrix and how my skin stacked up against 7 signs of ageing – lack of firmness, fine lines, deep wrinkle visibility, pore visibility, under eye wrinkles, lack of radiance and dark spot intensity. I was off to a good start with the news that my eye areas are 75% better than most others my age. Then, for the truth: lack of radiance, fine lines and - gasp! - deep wrinkles. Luckily, the latter wasn’t highlighted as an immediate concern so I took the suggestion as more of a preventative measure. It’s worth noting that depending on the image used (I experimented with several), your results can vary due to lighting and whether you woke up on the right side of bed that morning so it’s wise to also apply your own knowledge of your skin too.
Discover your skin concernsUnderneath my skin chart, I was able to read a little more detail about what each area of concern actually meant and how I scored against them. Then, below: the holy grail. A personalised skincare routine based on my results and in the precise order I needed to apply them. Obviously, all the products featured are by Vichy, but as a brand that prides themselves on being suitable for sensitive skin, I was keen to go all in and see if a new routine would see some positive results.
The Routine:
Morning
Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Booster 75ml
Liftactiv Serum 10 Supreme
Liftactiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector
Slow Âge Fluid Moisturiser
Evening
Normaderm Phytosolution Purifying Cleansing Gel
Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Booster 75ml
Slow Âge Night Cream & Mask
Weekly Booster
Double Glow Peel Mask
Find your perfect skin routineThe verdict? After 4 weeks of use, it’s still a little early to tell but there are some products that are definitely making an instant impact. The Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Booster is a brand bestseller and it’s easy to see why - it feels instantly plumping which is perfect for winter. The Vitamin C skin corrector also has an immediate effect, instantly tightening skin and giving a glassy, brightening sheen most noticeably across the forehead. I do believe that, to keep my skin blemish free, less is more but I intend to take my routine into my own hands, strategically using certain products more or less at different times of year. Consider me sold.
Try Skinconsult for yourselfNovember 07 2019 by Camilla Hunt
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