Is AI's Role in Beauty Inevitable?
Beauty fans are becoming increasingly skeptical.
AI is slowly seeping into every facet of our lives. For beauty fans, this means that artificial intelligence is playing a vital role in reshaping our usual practices. Whether it’s AI-powered skin diagnoses or makeup influencers made entirely from algorithms, it’s becoming especially evident that AI isn’t only woven into the fabric of beauty — it’s an unavoidable force.
As an industry built on people and the promise of inclusivity, the implementation of AI has led to a fair amount of skepticism in the beauty community. Beauty fans are seemingly reluctant to embrace AI, and the widespread rejection means that it’s more difficult than ever to navigate the ever-evolving state of beauty. So, we looked to our audience to discover whether or not AI has a place in beauty. Are all of these AI innovations truly beneficial to the beauty community?
92% of Hypebae readers indicate negative sentiment towards AI-generated beauty content or virtual influencers.
Based on findings from HYPEMIND, the insights arm of Hypebeast, 92% of Hypebae readers indicate negative sentiment towards AI-generated beauty content or virtual influencers. Beyond this, Hypebae readers expressed clear discomfort or outright rejection when it comes to AI’s role in beauty. While some were more open to AI in general, they established boundaries — specifically citing that artificial intelligence does not belong in beauty.
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For visual artist Carol Civre, in spite of how unavoidable AI has become in the beauty space, she still doesn’t see it as essential. Additionally, she finds that AI can actually cause more problems than viable solutions. “AI models are not always trained on sets of inclusive data. I see beauty brands in 2025 struggling to come up with a line of concealers that accurately represent a diverse and inclusive range of skin tones,” she tells Hypebae. “This is beauty without AI, which ironically is what AI is trained on. So, if the pool it has to pull from is already flawed, you can only assume that it will create some imperfect results — unless it’s developed and implemented with these issues in mind.”
While acknowledging that AI posses the potential to undermine the principles of beauty, Civre also notes that the momentous push to AI can often feel disingenuous to consumers. “AI feels a little bit trendy in the way it’s being approached by a lot of creative industries,” she says. Civre finds that the way brands are scrambling to incorporate AI into their business models is a clear sign that what they’re really seeking is to merely be part of the conversation surrounding AI.
As an artist, Civre understands how daunting the implementation of AI is. For this reason, she urges everyone to continue to question whether or not it feels necessary. ”If a technology feels threatening to you, I think that’s all the more reason to engage with it smartly and responsibly,” she says.
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Although beauty fans have their doubts, brands show no signs of abandoning their AI practices. Rich Foster, executive creative director at Left Field Labs, says that AI’s integration is not just inevitable — it’s the key to modernizing the beauty world. After developing a virtual skincare concierge, Foster believes that beauty fans won’t outright reject AI forever — as long as brands are being transparent about its uses.
“Consumers want to know how AI is helping them, what it remembers, and that their data is being handled responsibly. The experience should feel like a helpful guide, rather than a soulless machine,” Foster says. While this optimistic view of AI isn’t as common among beauty fans themselves, brands are holding out hope that the tides will eventually turn.
To beauty executive and AI strategist Malia Leong, the skepticism is healthy. “In beauty, trust and transparency is everything. I approach AI the same way I approach clean formulations: tell people what’s in it, why it’s there and what it does for them,” she tells Hypebae. Leong says that consumers are more tapped in than ever — which leads them to sense when brands have lost the human touch.
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In addition to the belief that AI is inherently divisive in beauty spaces, Leong also echoes the sentiment that tech can threaten the very principles that beauty fans resonate with most. “AI is only so powerful right now because of the decades of human creativity and originality. If we use it intentionally to support what I like to call ‘intelligent artistry,’ we can make beauty more inclusive, culturally accurate and sustainable.”
As the beauty space faces an immense amount of changes and newfound moral dilemmas thanks to AI, the future is more uncertain than ever. While brands maintain that AI is inevitable, members of the community are approaching with caution. No matter where you look, AI is sure to find you — and beauty fans are after the same level of transparency they require from their analog skincare routines.
While you’re here, read about the best amber perfumes.
This research, conducted by Hypebae and HYPEMIND, draws on a survey of 100 respondents (90% female, 10% male) across key markets including the USA, UK, Germany, France and Spain. In addition to the survey, we conducted expert interviews with industry professionals and thought leaders in the skincare sector.
