AI proliferates through Asia beauty market with robotics and personalization

Various companies in Asia are ramping up investment in AI by leveraging the tech in the development of ingredients, tools, robots, and formulation software.

Late last week, Chinese surgical robotics and medical aesthetics company Puncture Robotic launched a hair transplant robot to integrate AI into the process of hair loss diagnostics and transplant treatment. 

Yesterday, Singaporean biotech company Nanyang Biologics partnered with Sweetch Group subsidiary Laboratoire Greenpharma to advance its AI-powered research and discovery of natural cosmetic ingredients.

At the same time, K-beauty manufacturer Cosmax partnered with Fujishin, a Japanese beauty trading company, to develop AI-powered customized cosmetics. As part of the partnership, Cosmax will develop hair care products made with AI-informed customized prescriptions to Japanese consumers.

Meanwhile, Japan-based L’oréal subsidiary Shu Uemura launched an in-store AI mirror experience to offer consumers a facial analysis and personalized makeup recommendations.

Personal Care Insights explores the varied approaches the companies are taking to stay ahead of the beauty tech curve.

AI-powered hair transplants

Hairo applies AI and robotics to hair transplantation.

Puncture Robotics debuted Hairo, its AI-powered hair transplant robot, at the 14th World Congress for Hair Research 2026, May 28–31 in Seoul, South Korea.

Hairo is China’s first National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Class III-certified hair transplant robot. The company says it is pursuing a vision of AI-powered hair transplantation.

The robot incorporates AI, computation, and robotics across the hair transplant process. It caters to hair diagnostics, surgical planning, robotic execution, and postoperative care.

The workflow of the robot starts by assessing and classifying the degree of hair loss through an AI-powered hair detection device. Then, the AI generates personalized simulations to give the patient a better idea of potential outcomes.

Later in the process, Hairo assists physicians in the operating room with preoperative planning and real-time procedural adjustment. Its machine-learning algorithm works by analyzing information collected during follicular extraction and adjusting operating guidelines according to follicular structure and scalp conditions.

The system combines 20-megapixel binocular cameras with millisecond-level image-processing algorithms. Puncture Robotic states that it can achieve sub-surface positioning accuracy of up to 0.1 millimeters and allows precise follicular-unit extraction while mitigating harm to adjacent tissue.

In the extraction phase, Hairo utilizes its proprietary Single-Hair Skipping algorithm to favor multi-hair follicular units while selectively skipping single-hair units. Company data states that the system can achieve a multi-hair follicular-unit extraction rate of up to 95%.

By prioritizing follicular units containing multiple hairs, the technology may help physicians improve the appearance of hair density while reducing the number of grafts required from the donor area.

“The system’s speed, stability, and ability to operate with ultra-fine needles demonstrate its potential to become an effective clinical partner for experienced surgeons,” says Dr. Guanzhou Zhu, founder of DCDC Hair Transplant Hospital in Taiwan.

The company is working on a long-hair extraction version of Hairo, where patients do not have to shave before extraction. It aims to address a common concern for patients seeking a more discreet experience.

Natural ingredient discovery taps AI

The Nanyang Biologics (NYB) and Sweetch Group partnership combines the differentiated expertise brought by NYB, Sweetch, and its natural active ingredient subsidiary Laboratoire Greenpharma.The partnership brings together three sets of expertise to create end-to-end natural ingredient innovation.

Greenpharma has expertise in phytochemistry, natural compounds, chemoinformatics, and ingredient discovery. Meanwhile NYB’s Vecura agentic AI platform enables bioactivity prediction.

Sweetch brings its capabilities in developing and commercializing high-performance bio-based ingredients through natural products, biotechnologies, and green chemistry to the collaboration.

Between the three sets of knowledge, the partnership boasts an end-to-end innovation platform for cosmetic ingredient discovery.

Integrating natural compound intelligence, AI, and sustainable ingredient innovation, the companies aim to improve the agility, accuracy, and optimization of ingredient discovery. The approach will help identify and prioritize the most promising bioactive molecules, accelerating their path from discovery to market-ready ingredients.

“By combining Greenpharma’s deep expertise in natural substances with NYB’s AI capabilities, we can identify promising bioactive molecules faster and with greater confidence, helping accelerate innovation for the beauty industry,” says Giang Nguyen, chief technology officer of Nanyang Biologics.

Looking to nature as one of the “richest sources of innovation,” Philippe Bernard, general manager of Laboratoire Greenpharma, states that the companies’ combined expertise will allow them to discover “differentiated ingredients with stronger scientific rationale and greater efficiency.”

“The future of beauty ingredients lies at the intersection of nature, technology, and sustainability,” says Cyril Gallardo, CEO at Sweetch Group. “This collaboration brings together expertise in natural products, AI-driven discovery, and green chemistry to create a unique innovation engine capable of delivering high-performance, bio-based ingredients that meet the evolving needs of brands and consumers.”

The collaboration will initially focus on skin care and cosmetics while exploring future opportunities in consumer health, where scientifically validated, nature-derived bioactives are increasingly sought after.

Cosmax’s customized cosmetics

Cosmax is expanding AI-powered customized cosmetics in Japan.In its first overseas expansion, Cosmax has established a joint venture with Japanese beauty specialist Fujishin. 

The partnership aims to apply AI-powered customization technology with Fujishin’s local infrastructure to assure distribution to the market, before pursuing further international expansion. The company is said to be exploring further expansions to the US or Europe following the Japanese move.

The venture will see Cosmax with a 51% stake and Fujishin 49%. The agreement outlines that Cosmax will be in charge of product planning and production management, and Fujishin will be responsible for marketing, distribution, and sales.

The cosmetics manufacturing company’s operational AI-customized cosmetics platform 3WAAU (Three Wow) recommends products based on one-on-one interviews with consumers and boasts over two million consultations over three years.

“This is the first time to implement a customized cosmetics business model in overseas markets by combining Cosmax’s AI-tailored prescription technology and local distribution capabilities,” says Lee Byung-joo, CEO at Cosmax. “We will target the global market by upgrading prescription competitiveness based on data accumulated in hair salons.”

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Over in Omotesando Hills, Tokyo, Shu Uemura has debuted its AI mirror in its flagship store, shu:ARTstage. The in-store technology developed by Loook.ai offers AI-powered 3D facial scanning, which provides facial insights that makeup artists can turn into personalized beautyShu Uemura's AI mirror provides personalized makeup recommendations. recommendations.

“A mirror has always been a passive surface,” says Nika Mantyka, Loook.ai co-founder. “We used the power of AI to shift this paradigm. Our AI mirror doesn’t just show your reflection; it actually sees and analyses you, acting as a beauty advisor to offer the best possible makeup looks and products based on your current appearance.”

The mirror is positioned as a permanent fixture and features multiple units. The tech is set to expand into a digital component in which consumers can download a personalized summary of their analysis via a QR code.

The summary includes a detailed analysis of consumers’ facial features and makes specific recommendations regarding beauty and makeup techniques that complement their faces.

“Another important aspect is that we integrated this tech into something people do every day and improved the existing routine instead of forcing a new behavior. This allows this new tech to blend in organically,” says Mantyka.

“Finally, we designed it to work alongside the artists, not instead of them, so the brand gets real data and real human expertise working together to provide personalized consumer service and boost sales.”