SALT LAKE CITY — Technological advancement has taken down a variety of different industries as our society has grown accustomed to having everything we need less than a touch away.

From taxis to phone books to print media, there are hundreds of services that are almost completely obsolete now due to innovations that have transformed consumer needs.

Although there are many industries falling at the hand of technological progression, there are several that are bigger and better than ever thanks to their ability to adapt in this electronic age. The beauty industry is one of these industries that seems to be thriving as technology becomes a bigger part of our lives.

Total revenue for items classified as beauty products or cosmetics has seen consistent year-over-year growth for the past decade despite the ever-changing demands of its audience. As technology has created a base of consumers who want quick, easy, and cheap solutions to their problems, the beauty industry has responded by building out an entire category to appeal to their new audience: beauty technology.

Major beauty retailers, cosmetic surgeons, and even tech companies are building solutions under the beauty technology category that keep the industry thriving. If you can name a time-consuming beauty process, technology has likely created a solution to make it more tolerable. Here are some of the key things technology has brought to the beauty industry that have helped it thrive in a volatile market.

Inclusivity

It used to be that achieving the perfect makeup look for prom or a night out required either makeup skills or a trip to the stylist. This typically meant that most of us who never quite mastered the art of creating the perfect cat eye were left out to dry unless we were willing to pay for professional application.

Understandably, this led to a bit more exclusivity in the beauty industry as those of us who couldn’t figure out how to use the products on our own lost interest. The creation of tutorial mecca sites like Pinterest and YouTube changed all of this by giving outsiders a look at how the beauty experts used mainstream products to create professional looks. Experts say social media is making beauty a more inclusive and far-reaching industry than it was before.

“I believe the internet has widened the marketplace for the beauty and fashion space,” said YouTube beauty phenomenon Michelle Phan. “We are living in an era where people want to share, so of course there will be a growing need for more diversity and ideas.”

Semi-permanent solutions

Consumers have long been tired of investing a great deal of time and effort into tedious beauty processes. Although the first solution might be for us to simply quit doing things like shaving our legs or gluing on eyelashes in order to achieve a certain look, the beauty industry beat us to the punch with quick and simple solutions.

Processes like laser hair removal and eyelash extension application have ushered in a new era of semi-permanent cosmetology by providing simple and fast solutions to common beauty complaints. On top of this, semi-permanent solutions are getting more affordable and attainable as the beauty technology industry grows.

Dr. Chris Kelly from Revivology in Utah says treatments for hair removal are getting simpler, faster, and more effective by the minute.

“Laser hair removal practitioners are now implementing a dual-wavelength technology for faster treatments and faster results,” Kelly said. “Modern lasers are now able to achieve increased patient comfort as well as efficacy. This means patients enjoy not only a less painful experience during laser hair removal but are also required to come in less frequently to maintain results.”

Increased influence

Like it or not, we’ve become a world obsessed with social media. With the rise of social media came the creation of a whole new channel for beauty industry experts to reach potential consumers. One of the ways the industry has used this channel is by developing a new marketing tactic called influencer marketing.

Influencer marketing typically involves a brand approaching a high-profile social media user to strike up a deal for product promotion. The difference between this and traditional celebrity endorsements is that the lower prices and higher accessibility involved with social media stars make the process a bit more widespread.

"Just walking down the beauty aisle at any local store gives me anxiety — and I'm a makeup artist," said Caitlin Picou, Owner of Kismet Cosmetics in an article on SheKnows. “Bloggers are able to cut through the clutter of traditional 'advertising' and provide real feedback on new beauty products. We identify with certain bloggers and we build a trusting relationship. So when your favorite beauty guru falls in love with a product, then you know it is a must-have."

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Realistic transformations

It used to be that if you were born with thin eyebrows or short lashes, you simply had to deal with it or struggle with temporary solutions for the rest of your life. Thanks to innovations in the technology surrounding the beauty sphere, this is no longer the case. Biotech and consumer technology research within the beauty industry have led us to solutions for common issues like these.

For example, serums like Latisse or Lash Food have been proven to help grow thicker and longer lashes with regular use. So if eyelash extensions don’t sound too appealing and you’re sick of gluing on falsies, biotech beauty sector has provided yet another solution to help you out.

Microblading is another technology currently on the beauty market. This process fills in your brows using a microblading pen that draws on each hair individually to achieve a natural-looking set of brows that will last up to 3 years.

"This is a way for (women) to have full eyebrows without having to draw them on every morning," said Whitney Johnson, owner of BrowsByWhitney, in a previous KSL article. “(Microblading has) been around in other countries for years, but it just hit the United States the last couple of years and really here in Utah just this year."

After years of technological progression squashing outdated industries annually, it’s refreshing to see that it has actually amplified the success of the beauty industry. Although it might seem like we’ve already come a long way in terms of progression in beauty, the industry’s boundaries are virtually limitless when it utilizes technology as a friend rather than a foe.

Realistic transformations

It used to be that if you were born with thin eyebrows or short lashes, you simply had to deal with it or struggle with temporary solutions for the rest of your life. Thanks to innovations in the technology surrounding the beauty sphere, this is no longer the case. Biotech and consumer technology research within the beauty industry have led us to solutions for common issues like these.

For example, serums like Latisse or Lash Food have been proven to help grow thicker and longer lashes with regular use. So if eyelash extensions don’t sound too appealing and you’re sick of gluing on falsies, biotech beauty sector has provided yet another solution to help you out.

Microblading is another technology currently on the beauty market. This process fills in your brows using a microblading pen that draws on each hair individually to achieve a natural-looking set of brows that will last up to 3 years.

"This is a way for (women) to have full eyebrows without having to draw them on every morning," said Whitney Johnson, owner of BrowsByWhitney, in a previous KSL article. “(Microblading has) been around in other countries for years, but it just hit the United States the last couple of years and really here in Utah just this year."

After years of technological progression squashing outdated industries annually, it’s refreshing to see that it has actually amplified the success of the beauty industry. Although it might seem like we’ve already come a long way in terms of progression in beauty, the industry’s boundaries are virtually limitless when it utilizes technology as a friend rather than a foe.

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