hautpeel.com · Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Turning uncertainty into confidence through personalized skincare
How I designed Hautpeel — an AI-driven skincare platform that transforms discovery into a guided routine, with real beta users proving the approach works and actual skin improvements reported.
Insight
The problem was never about products
Skincare shoppers do not suffer from lack of choice. They suffer from lack of confidence.
of women report feeling frustrated trying to find skincare that actually works
of consumers feel overwhelmed by the skincare market
wish for a personalized routine tailored to their specific needs
The Context
Why women abandon skincare
Not because products don't exist. Because confidence doesn't exist.
Information Chaos
TikTok, influencers, contradictory ads. Every platform claims the answer. None feel trustworthy.
Low Confidence
Without personalized guidance, women buy wrong products. Drawers full of abandoned bottles kill motivation.
No Accountability
Most beauty apps are transactional. Browse, buy, leave. Nobody checks if products are actually working.
Routine Abandonment
Even good products fail without consistency. No guide through AM/PM steps. No proof of progress.
Research Quotes
Women in Saudi Arabia told us
"I want to take care of myself, but I don't know what's right for me."
"Everything online feels hype… I need guidance I can trust."
"I buy products, then stop because I'm unsure I'm doing it right."
Market Failure
The beauty industry is built to sell, not to help
Offline shops have limited selection and often overprice. Online platforms overwhelm with confusing catalogs and lack personalization. Neither builds trust in authenticity.
Offline Shops
Limited selection. Upselling. Often overpriced.
Online Shops
Overwhelming catalogs. Weak personalization. Hard to trust.
The Approach
Turn discovery into a guided loop
Instead of overwhelming choice, give clarity. Instead of transactional shopping, build a habit. The answer isn't more products — it's a trusted guide who understands your unique skin.
Scan
AI analyzes skin + personalized questions
Results
Skin score + concern breakdown
Routine
Clear AM/PM steps + products
Track
Daily check-ins + progress view
Repeat
Re-order + subscription loyalty
AI Outputs
Skin data becomes a routine users can understand
The scan does not end as a score. It turns into visual cards, concern signals, and a guided routine that explains what to do next.
Features
Four interlocking features
AI Skin Scan
Advanced face scan identifies key skin concerns in seconds — oil balance, dark circles, dryness, texture. Combined with onboarding questions for deeper personalization.
Scan alone feels robotic. Adding targeted questions deepens accuracy AND makes users feel understood — the trust moment.
Smart Routine Builder
Clear AM/PM steps with products matched to user's concerns. Every product has a reason — not just a list of recommendations.
Most beauty apps overwhelm with choices. We sequence step-by-step, showing why each product matters for that step. Clarity drives adoption.
Routine Tracking & Progress
Daily check-ins + visual progress tracking show skin improvements over time. Before/after scans and skin score trends build accountability.
Consistency is where skincare fails. By visualizing progress, users see why they should stick to routines. This drives subscription retention.
Curated Shopping
12,000+ products from 200+ verified brands. Every product is authentic and selected for quality. One-tap checkout with fast delivery.
Trust in authenticity matters more than selection size. Curation ruthlessly (200 brands, not 2,000) builds confidence. Users know Hautpeel products are real.
Live Product
From scan to routine to checkout in minutes
Actual app flow represented as portfolio-ready screen sequence.
Why Hautpeel Wins
Most platforms sell products. We drive outcomes.
Monetization
Two streams powered by one loop
Why this works
Most beauty platforms compete on selection and discounts. Hautpeel competes on outcomes. A woman tracking her skin's improvement is far more likely to re-order AND pay for premium features than someone just browsing products.
The routine builder creates habit. Habit creates repeat purchase. Repeat purchase funds the product.
Traction
Beta users proved the concept
Launched with zero paid marketing. Users discovered through referral. Early data shows strong validation of core assumptions.
User Outcomes
What beta users reported
Loved the Personalization
Onboarding questions made them feel understood, not just scanned. They trusted the recommendations because Hautpeel knew their specific skin.
Trusted the Scan Results
Skin score and visual breakdown gave credibility to believe in the approach and follow the recommended routine.
Stuck to the Routine
Tracking + daily check-ins built consistency. For the first time, they didn't abandon their skincare regimen midway.
Saw Real Results
Users reported visible skin improvements within 4–6 weeks. Before/after scans made progress undeniable.
Reflection
What I learned building this
What Worked
- Personality over features — onboarding felt conversational, not clinical
- Curation as trust — 200 verified brands > 2,000 confusing options
- Tracking as retention — showing progress kept people coming back
- Launching small — beta taught us more than any focus group could
- Focusing on outcomes — women don't want products, they want visible results
What's Next
- Move skin quiz before scan for better AI accuracy from the start
- Build in-app education about skincare science and ingredient benefits
- Add community features for routine sharing (carefully, without toxicity)
- Expand product reviews from users who've seen visible results
- Create personalized replenishment — remind users when products need refilling