Will You Subscribe To Shiseido's Monthly Skincare Service?

It's like Netflix but for your skin

There's really no stopping innovations in beauty technology today. Following the news of wearable skincare and YouTube launching AR makeup try-ons now comes Shiseido's new skincare subscription service. The Japanese beauty and skincare company introduces Optune, a 10,000 yen (~USD92) monthly subscription service that uses a smartphone app and a serum dispenser to deliver a bespoke and optimal skincare experience to its user. The service is said to be the solution for those who find it hard to get the right products for their skin woes. But how exactly does it work?

Scan, analyse, deliver

Just like most of today's tech advancements in beauty, Shiseido's Optune makes use of the power of our smartphones to start working its magic. Using the iOS software the company has developed, the user is asked to take a photo of their skin to detect surface-level skin conditions. It then takes its analysis a step further by asking the user to input other factors that could affect their skin, such as one's menstrual cycle, sleeping patterns and other lifestyle attributes to ensure a more accurate assessment.

The results are then sent to the cylinder dispenser that is said to cover and detect 80,000 skin patterns to ensure you find the right serum mix to match your skin's needs. The perfect concoction is made possible by installing five cartridges called Optune Shots to the dispenser, which is given to the user based on the information they input upon their application of the service.

Innovative but not exactly new

As we mentioned previously, while this is an interesting development, it's not exactly something jaw-dropping at this point. After all, there's Clinique iD, which allows you to customise your moisturiser; there are also brands like Curology, Kiehl's, and Skin Inc. that offer concoctions for more bespoke yet uncomplicated skincare. And of course, who could forget The Ordinary's budget-friendly mix-and-match philosophy?

But what may be the upside to Shiseido's service is the idea of commitment and constancy. Similar to how you finally subscribe to the gym to push yourself to workout, this service may just be the answer if you find it hard to retain a routine due to your schedule (or any other excuses!). This is because not only is it an investment given the price, but it's also an appliance that would be glaring at you if you don't use it.

But is it worth it?

Just like any other emerging beauty product, trend or tech, only time will tell if something is truly worth what it's promising. In the case of the Shiseido Optune subscription service, paying USD92 a month isn't exactly friendly on the budget. But as we highlighted earlier, it really depends on what you want to get out of your skincare experience. For us, we have yet to see where this tech will take us and what the reviews will say.

Shiseido Optune Skincare Subscription Service

(Photo from: shiseidogroup.com)

Still, don't let this stop you if the Shiseido Optune subscription service piqued your interest. Optune is still not available outside of Japan, but the beauty company is looking to expand the service soon globally for more people to try, enjoy, and invest in. This serves as good news since it will give you more than enough time to think about your decision.

(Cover photo from: shiseidogroup.com)

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