Skin Matcha

Context

SkinMatcha is a project focused on Human-Centred Design aimed at addressing skincare problems in young people. Skincare is a massive and ever-evolving field, offering endless opportunities for innovation and exploration. With consumers seeking personalized solutions and trustworthy information, apps can play a role in addressing their needs in this dynamic industry, allowing for creative approaches to education, product discovery, and user engagement. The concept aligns with consumer trends, addresses a clear need, and targets a tech-savvy audience, offering personalized content and streamlined recommendations.

Teenagers face confusion and insecurity about their skincare routines due to the overwhelming amount of product recommendations and conflicting advice. This often leads to using unsuitable products, resulting in frustration, worsening conditions like acne, or exacerbating dry/sensitive skin. There is a clear lack of personalized, skin condition-based skincare advice that matches their unique needs. The problem extends to external influences, with "children as young as 10 demanding anti-ageing products" and "Teens educating themselves on skincare trends" via TikTok, often leading to "lasting skin damage" from unsuitable products.

"Products that aren't developed for teenage skin can worsen acne, can irritate the skin, and can even cause lasting skin damage" - Dr Juliet Williams.

Our research focused on deeply understanding the users, their needs, motivations, challenges, and emotional triggers related to their skincare journey. We utilized observational research and online surveys, along with benchmarking existing apps, to gather insights.

Key Findings

Our research revealed that skincare education is minimal, leaving many teenagers unsure about how skincare works and how to select products for their specific skin type. Teenagers are overwhelmed by conflicting skincare advice, often influenced by social media, which may not match their skin's actual needs. This leads to social pressure and insecurity around acne or skin imperfections, affecting self-esteem and causing anxiety as teenagers feel their skin issues need to be "fixed" immediately. Our online survey showed 69% of respondents use skincare daily, 31% have no idea about their skin type, and 35% have experienced negative effects from products discovered via social media or friends.

Skincare Survey Findings (Teenagers)

35%%

Have no idea about their specific skin type.

31%%

Have used a product they discovered on Instagram or friends' recommendations and negative effected.

69%%

Use skincare products on a daily basis. They use more than 1 product.

Personas

The data we collected from our research helped us craft 3 personas embodying different teenage archetypes experiencing various skincare challenges. Ava James: the Acne-Conscious Teen. Max Williams: the Social Butterfly. Mia Jose: the Trend-Follower. Many of our design decisions were made with Ava in mind. If we could design a trustworthy and effective experience for teenagers like Ava, who struggle with acne and confidence due to misinformation and unsuitable products, they could develop healthier habits and share their progress, potentially influencing others like Max and Mia. Addressing Ava's core need for clear, personalized guidance allowed us to build a solution that resonates with the broader teenage audience, regardless of their specific skin type or current routine.

In other words: making Ava our primary persona allowed us to address the needs of all three, focusing on core issues of education, personalization, and combating misinformation. Around this point in our design process, our research highlighted key findings from social media trends and expert opinions that reinforced the confusion and insecurity teenagers face, which directly informed the features we prioritized. We considered how well these insights aligned with our goal to provide a personalized, data-driven skincare solution.

Our design challenge was: How might we help teenagers build effective, personalized skincare routines based on their unique skin conditions and needs, without being influenced by trends or misleading product recommendations? Our goal was to provide a personalized, data-driven skincare solution for teenagers (13-19), focusing on skin condition, to help them make informed choices and encourage healthier skincare habits with positive reinforcement.

Low-Fidelity Prototypes

Our low-fidelity prototypes served as the blueprint for the final app, allowing us to visualize and test its structure and functionality early in the process. Using simple sketches and wireframes, we focused on layout, navigation, and user flow, quickly identifying and addressing potential issues before moving to high-fidelity designs. This phase included initial ideas for onboarding, a SkinQuiz, and chat features.

High Fidelity Prototype

The high-fidelity designs defined the app's visual identity. SkinMatcha's purpose is to help teenagers create personalized skincare routines, guide them about their skin, and motivate them to stay consistent. The app focuses on 4 main features: Quiz (5-question daily quiz on skincare topics, personalized), Clean (user presses button, matcha cup glows, skin condition meter fills, symbolizing time and effort for results), Checklist (digital check-off of applied products, earning hearts as reward), and Calendar (tracks matcha cup care using meter and hearts). The app also features a virtual buddy minigame, building connection by caring for an animated matcha cup, a metaphor for daily skincare attention.

Usability Testing

We conducted moderated remote usability testing with 5 teenage participants (18 years old) via Microsoft Teams and Zoom, using a "Think Aloud" method to assess the "Create Routine" feature. We compared two versions of the "Create Routine" screen to see which was easier, more engaging, and whether predefined product options were preferred.

key Findings

Participants loved the personalized routine and fun avatar feature. However, users felt more comfortable navigating the app without the skincare product recommendation feature. Based on this feedback, we removed the skincare product feature to create a more streamlined and focused experience. The app helps teenagers make informed choices without being influenced by trends or peers, encouraging healthier skincare habits with positive reinforcement.

Creating SkinMatcha was a challenging but rewarding journey. Our team faced misunderstandings, which taught us the value of collaboration, adaptability, and clear communication. We learned the importance of effective communication, feedback, and flexibility in adapting to changes. Despite obstacles, our final product reflects collective effort and determination, proving that perseverance and teamwork can overcome any challenge.