Skin Match Technology is Now Inference Beauty: A New Name for a New Era in Personalized Beauty Tech

What started as a skin-focused recommendation engine has grown into one of the most comprehensive, intelligent, and inclusive personalization platforms in the beauty industry. Our new name—Inference Beauty—reflects that evolution.

“When we first launched, our primary focus was skincare. Skin Match Technology spoke directly to that mission—matching users to the right skincare formulas based on their skin needs,” says Estella Benz, CEO and Co-Founder. “But today, we’re so much more than skin.”

Why Inference Beauty?

In data science, inference means drawing conclusions based on evidence, context, and learning. That’s exactly what we do. Inference Beauty uses real product data, proprietary ingredient science, and behavioral analytics to infer what customers truly want, need, and love—helping them discover beauty products that fit their unique preferences, values, and routines. From AI-powered foundation matching to fragrance discovery, we go beyond skin to deliver smart, data-driven personalization across skincare, makeup, fragrance, hair care, and body care.

“Inference Beauty is about intelligent, inclusive recommendations—so every customer feels seen, understood, and supported in their beauty journey,” says Benz.

A Brand Identity That Reflects Innovation

This rebrand is more than a name change—it’s a reflection of rapid product innovation, category expansion, and business momentum.

• Multi-category Personalization: Today, Inference Beauty powers personalized discovery across fragrance, makeup, skincare, hair care, and body care—backed by AI algorithms, ingredient explainers, and category-specific tools that enhance relevance and engagement.
• Plug & Play Integration: Beauty brands and retailers choose Inference Beauty for frictionless integration, fast time-to-value, and results that convert. Our scalable SaaS solution is built to serve companies of all sizes—from indie startups to global retailers.
• Foundation Matching Technology: Our AI-powered Foundation Shade Finder, featuring facial analysis and cross-brand shade mapping, now outperforms our original skincare matching tool in usage and engagement—underscoring consumer demand for smart, visual tools that reduce uncertainty.
• Fragrance Visualization & Matching: Finding a scent online can feel abstract. That’s why we created Fragrance Visualization, enabling shoppers to discover perfumes based on notes they already know and love. Retailers like Import Parfumerie, with one of the largest fragrance assortments in the market, have already reported increased gifting conversions through this feature.
• Ingredient Transparency Tools: Built for beauty’s increasingly complex regulatory landscape, our transparency suite now drives 31% of revenue—helping retailers stay compliant while empowering consumers with clear, trustworthy product information.

Reaffirming Our Commitment to the Future of Beauty

As Inference Beauty, we remain dedicated to our founding values:
transparency, personalization, inclusivity, and innovation.

We believe the future of beauty e-commerce is intelligent, customer-centric, and radically inclusive—and we’re here to build that future, side by side with the brands and retailers shaping it.

“Inference Beauty reflects who we’ve become: a trusted, intelligent layer powering the future of beauty e-commerce,” says Benz. “We’re not just matching. We’re understanding.”

Our Story: From Skin Match Technology to Inference Beauty

Founded in 2017 by Robert Baumgartner and Estella Benz, began with a simple but ambitious vision: make beauty product recommendations smarter, more transparent, and deeply personalized.

What started as a skincare-specific matching engine has since evolved into a category-spanning beauty tech platform—powering intelligent product discovery across skincare, makeup, fragrance, body care, and hair care. But our commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and innovation has remained unchanged from day one.

Building the Foundation: 2017–2018

As Swiss nationals with a passion for both data and beauty, Baumgartner (CTO) and Benz (CEO) pitched the concept of Skin Match Technology to a group of forward-thinking investors. With funding secured and a strong technical foundation, the company officially launched with two pilot clients in 2018: a luxury Swiss retailer and REN Clean Skincare. From the beginning, the mission was clear: help consumers make informed choices by connecting them with products that match their unique needs, preferences, and values.

Growth and Global Reach

Over the years, we’ve grown into a globally active team of 10, working with beauty brands and retailers across the globe—from Australia to the U.S. Today, our platform powers smart personalization and ingredient transparency for some of the world’s most trusted names in beauty. Our plug & play SaaS model and proprietary ingredient intelligence make us the preferred partner for companies seeking scalable, brand-friendly digital experiences that drive both trust and conversion.

Milestones and Recognition

Our journey has been marked by innovation—and recognized by the industry:

• Winner of the Douglas Forward Beauty Challenge, selected from over 100 beauty tech startups to pitch at Douglas HQ. We proudly received the Special Jury Award in Beauty Tech.
• Selected to participate in L’Oréal’s Beauty Tech Atelier accelerator program at Station F in Paris, a hub for innovation in the beauty industry.
• Estella Benz named one of the Top 3 Finalists for Entrepreneur of the Year by the Swiss Economic Forum.
• Awarded the Customer Relations Award 2022 in the “Newcomer” category—recognized for our dedication to building meaningful digital interactions.
• Featured in top-tier media including CNN Business and BeautyMatter, with thought leadership contributions and brand mentorship by Benz for Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW).

Always Evolving, Always Transparent

From a skincare matching tool to a multi-category platform, our evolution has been guided by one core belief: transparency builds trust—and trust is the future of beauty. We’ve expanded our technology, refined our data models, and deepened our understanding of beauty consumer behavior—all while staying true to our mission to make personalized beauty discovery simple, inclusive, and clear. As we continue this journey under our new name—Inference Beauty—we’re more energized than ever to lead the beauty industry toward a smarter, more personalized, and more transparent future