21 hours ago
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I am a proud member of Gen Z, but apparently, my youthfulness is not evident on my face. While at CES, an AI-powered skin analysis app from Perfect said my skin age was over a decade older than my biological age.
I admit, I was initially upset about this. After a good laugh, however, I realized that the AI beauty advisor had given me a comprehensive report on the state of my skin. It's all thanks to AI-powered technology, which is playing a growing role in the complex web of health, wellness and beauty.
Read more: Best of CES 2026 Awards
The skin analysis was simple. An initial survey inquired about my sunscreen usage, my existing skincare routine, and the climate of my home, all of which play a significant role in the health and appearance of my skin. I got up close and personal with the tablet's camera, which took a photo of my face. Less than a minute later, I had a thorough report and analysis.
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You can see in my report that it evaluates your skin in a variety of areas.
CNETApart from the depressing skin age, I also got an overall score that takes into account a variety of factors. That number was much less alarming, and the report broke down its findings into specific categories: redness, wrinkles and moisture levels. These were much more accurate than my skin age -- my skin looked and felt better the next day after I drank water, just like my low moisture score indicated I should do.
I'm choosing to blame my mature age on the frenzy that comes from running around CES 2026.
There are other AI-powered and smart skin analysis programs, like Sephora's Smart Skin Scan, for instance. I liked that Perfect didn't feel like a sales website. The company works with brands to integrate its technology into customer experiences. The report wasn't trying to tell me I had a specific problem and then immediately try to sell me an expensive serum or lotion to fix it.
You can also take your skin report a step further and use its generative AI-powered tools to see how your face would look in different scenarios, such as if you added a new step to your routine.
Perfect offers several AI-powered beauty tools, including those that allow you to try on different hair and makeup styles. Chief Growth Officer Wayne Liu told me that those tools aren't merely stickers that show you what shade of lipstick and eye shadow colors would look like on you. Rather, the AI program actively adapts to each user's face and skin tone.
The "beauty stack" running behind the scenes is made of three layers, Liu said. The initial perception layer uses non-generative computer vision technology to assess the condition of your skin. A data intelligence layer uses that info and generative AI to render what you would look like if you made specific changes -- changed blush hue, added a night cream, cut your beard into a different shape, etc.
In a recent development, a final conversational element is introduced, allowing you to use a chatbot-like window to request a series of adjustments.
For example, Perfect collaborates with a luxury beauty brand to develop a tool that enables people to visualize how they would look over time if they were to incorporate a specific product into their skincare routine. As a customer, I would want to know how effective a product is before potentially spending a significant amount on expensive skin care. The app is now available for download, and you can receive a complimentary consultation and a 14-day free trial.
AI-enabled beauty tech is here, and, if handled responsibly, could hold promise. The true test will be being able to make it useful, rather than just a tool for selling serums, sprays and creams. I, for one, am choosing to believe that my skin age is just a number.
