Can This Mirror Expertly Curate Your Skincare Routine?
We put SWAN Beauty’s Smart Mirror to the test.
The intersection between skincare and tech is rapidly expanding. From endless skin devices to electric sensors at the dermatologist office, beauty is in its high-tech era. As a result, our routines are have become more specific than ever. Most notably, beauty fans have become extremely knowledgeable about skincare ingredients — which means they no longer need to see a doctor in order to achieve their desired results.
Since the universal philosophy no longer suits our skincare needs, we’re all in search of ways to further curate our rotations. In many cases, this means thoroughly evaluating things like discoloration and texture to build a personalized routine. Harping on this, SWAN Beauty is championing the Smart Mirror, which is said to deliver an individualized skin analysis from the comfort of your own home.
Dear Diary, Meet the SWAN Beauty Smart Mirror
Best for: Skin analysis, online shopping
Price: $795 USD on the brand’s website
Grade: B
Notes From an Expert
According to Colby Mitchell, co-founder and CEO of SWAN Beauty, the smart mirror’s skin analyzer was built with input from dermatologists to track 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 tells Hypebae. To get an accurate reading, the scan calls for natural lighting, a bare face and hair pulled back, since inconsistent conditions between scans can throw off the results. The mirror also boasts a smart makeup AR feature, developed alongside celebrity makeup artists. Both the skin analyzer and makeup feature feed into Swan Beauty’s marketplace, which includes 2,500 products, and allows users to shop directly from the mirror.
Diary Entry
Personally, I don’t always have the opportunity to get a face scan, so I was excited to see what the Smart Mirror was capable of. When I first booted up the plug-in mirror, it immediately prompted me to download the brand’s mobile app and start a year-long subscription trial. Since I have little experience with devices of this caliber, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect — but using it also didn’t feel unnatural, since the touch screen capabilities made it feel like an oversized tablet rather than my usual vanity mirror, although my reflection was constantly looking back at me as I was navigating around.
As for the skin scan itself, the mirror uses its built-in camera to take a close-up shot of your face to analyze. Admittedly, it was a bit finicky to get the lighting, angle and distance right on the first try, but it became intuitive the more I used it. After capturing one photo, the mirror breaks down your skin by the five categories Mitchell had mentioned: pigmentation, fine lines, redness, UV damage and acne. In addition to an overall score out of 100, each category also comes with an individual rating that makes up the average total score — along with recommended skincare ingredients, a general breakdown and your photo with the concern clearly highlighted.
My Findings
While I did dabble with the rest of the mirror’s features, the skin analyzer was what initially drew me to it. Even though the scan can be quite dependent on lighting and the overall quality of the photo, I still found it to be pretty thorough and informative. It might not be as in depth as a VISIA scan (although my results from the two were fairly similar), but it’s a straightforward and seemingly credible way to assess your skin without having to seek the advice of a medical professional. Plus, it’s especially interesting to continually use over a period of time, as it can help gauge how your routine is actively affecting your skin.
Since I was most interested in the skincare aspect of the mirror, the other features didn’t call out to me as much. However, the makeup tutorials in particular can be beneficial for beginners looking to experiment with new techniques and looks. Beyond that, the mirror also has ample online shopping capabilities, which although unexpected, might be helpful if you’re looking to buy recommended products on the spot.
Sincerely, Hypebae
Above all else, I appreciate that SWAN Beauty is bringing such impressive capabilities to the at-home market. It comes with a hefty price tag and also requires a yearly membership fee after the trial expires to continue using the skin analysis capabilities, but it could be worth the investment if you’re looking for a long-term way to track your skin progress. For me, its most valuable insight is finding the specific skincare ingredients to implement into your routine, which can be especially difficult to figure out on your own.
