London – Experimental materials company The Unseen is breaking boundaries in the beauty sector with its dual reality make-up. Its Unseen Beauty brand is initially launching Spectra, an eye cream that transforms from a grey or black colour into a reflective silver when exposed to the flash of a phone camera. This scientific innovation allows wearers to capture an aesthetic that can only be viewed via digital means.
Building on its history of producing experimental materials, The Unseen Beauty represents the company’s first move into branded consumer products. By bringing its pioneering approach to mass audiences, The Unseen is allowing people to programme their realities. ‘I just thought, wouldn’t it be funny if you created a colour that physically existed, but was only ever seen in the digital space?' states Lauren Bowker, founder of The Unseen. ‘So it became an interesting question of that digital [versus] physical reality. How can I create something that exists in both worlds?’
As we consider future directions for beauty and wellness, the sector will increasingly be led by products that adapt to offer different experiences in the physical and digital worlds.
Strategic opportunity
The beauty and fashion sectors can explore how scientific innovation can meet people’s aesthetic desires – from cosmetics to hair colour and tattoos – without invasive or permanent treatments