How L’Oréal Turns Data into Personalized Beauty
CMVC has consulted for L’Oréal and recommended startups for its Big Bang Innovation Challenge each year. This perspective shows how emerging technologies can meet a global beauty company’s needs—and where entrepreneurs can find a practical route to industrial collaboration.
Technology needs domain knowledge
At CMVC’s April 2024 AI + Innovation China Conference, L’Oréal’s Valentin Peuch-Lestrade described the company’s approach to BeautyTech. The useful lesson for technology founders was the connection between new tools and a deep understanding of a customer domain.
L’Oréal’s presentation emphasized its knowledge of beauty: formulations, consumer needs and the experience of developing products. Data has value in that context, where it can support a defined task or a better consumer experience.
From broad reach to individual needs
The speaker described a move from “beauty for all” toward “beauty for each”: using technology to support more personalized experiences at scale.
For an investor, this raises practical questions about the application. What decision does the technology improve? What information is needed? How does the result fit the product or service the customer delivers?
External innovation has a role
The presentation also highlighted collaboration with technology startups and established technology companies. An industrial company brings application knowledge and a route to consumers; an external team can bring a specialized capability.
For founders, understanding that division of contribution can make a discussion more relevant. A clear explanation of the problem being addressed is more useful than a broad claim about AI’s potential.
An industry lens for investors
The presentation offers a way to think about technology adoption inside a large company. New tools become valuable through the data, expertise and workflows around them.
This account is adapted from Valentin Peuch-Lestrade’s 2024 presentation as Business Development Director, Research & Innovation Asia.