Beauty brand Black Radiance recently announced the launch of a new augmented reality app that helps empower BIPOC women.
Known as “Beyond Radiant,” the AR app offers users four different avatars that all have different professions and characters.
Each avatar is reportedly inspired by Black women who have trailblazed their career paths. Named “The Boss Babe,” “The Champ,” “The Innovator” and “The Content Creator,” the AR avatars are based on figures such as NASA Astronaut Jessica Watkins, the first Black woman to finish a long-term mission, and ice skater Starr Andrews, the first U.S. Black figure skater to win a Grand Prix medal.
Through the app, the beauty brand aims to help empower and inspire BIPOC women.
“In a world where beauty standards often feel limiting, Black Radiance dares to redefine what beauty can mean for women of color,” said the Vice President of Marketing at Black Radiance, K. Parris MacDonald, per an official press release. “The Beyond Radiant App feels like a natural progression to further offering space to women of color to be their authentic selves and see themselves reflected in the narratives of achievement and success.”
Black Radiance’s newly announced AR app comes amidst an increased use of AR and AI in beauty.
Along with an opportunity to virtually try on products, AR allows businesses to give users a way of finding the correct shade through analysis of skin, texture and lighting. Through the usage of AR as well as AI, users are also given the ability to receive an analysis on things such as environmental factors and skin concerns for better skincare routines.
Currently, over 50 beauty brands have adopted AR on Google’s AR platform alone with brands such as Covergirl, Dior Beauty, Fenty Beauty, Laura Mercier and Makeup by Mario joining in the past few months alone.
According to Google, users tend to show interest in beauty products 10% more when there’s a virtual AR tool available.
Overall, per the Vogue Business Beauty Index, 65% of beauty brand users are interested in AR’s implementation in the beauty business yet only 33% of companies offer it as a tool.
The AR virtual try on experience was previously identified to be one of the fastest growing parts of the augmented and virtual reality usage in the cosmetic and beauty brand, according to Global Market Estimates.
It was previously estimated to increase by a CAGR value of 25.5% between the span of five years alone from 2022 to 2027.
“The rising quality of life, the favorable impacts of cosmetics and personal care products on self-esteem and social connection, and the progressive consumer trend towards super-premium beauty brands are all expected to drive market growth throughout the forecast period,” said Global Market Estimates per their report.
