12. Skin Electronics¶
Beauty technology is an emerging field at the intersection of cosmetics, personal care, and advanced digital innovation. It focuses on using sensors, wearable devices, artificial intelligence, and smart materials to enhance skincare, improve product performance, and personalize beauty experiences. As consumer interest grows in data-driven wellness and high-precision skincare, the industry is rapidly adopting technologies once limited to medical or industrial use.
Reference¶
This week the lecure given by Katia Vega was the most mindblowing of all weeks to me. Suddenly everything we learnt in electronics made sense when applied to the skin and needing input and output readers. It was so abstract to me before.
Here are some slides from the lecture :
What is the difference between skin electronics and wearables ?
Body & Skin Electronics¶
Skin electronics—also known as epidermal electronics or biocompatible wearables—are ultra-thin, flexible devices designed to be worn directly on the skin. These devices conform to the body’s contours and can measure various physiological signals without discomfort. Their development is transforming both beauty and health monitoring.
Applications in Beauty and Skincare¶
Real-Time Skin Analysis: Flexible sensors can track hydration levels, pH, sebum production, and temperature. This allows personalized skincare routines based on continuous data rather than periodic testing.
Smart Cosmetic Patches: Beauty patches infused with microcurrents, microneedles, or delivery enhancers can improve the penetration of active ingredients. Some patches now include micro-sensors to monitor whether users are receiving the intended dose.
UV and Light Exposure Monitoring: Ultra-thin UV sensors placed on the skin help individuals track sun exposure and prevent skin damage, improving long-term skin health.
LED and Phototherapy Wearables: Light-based beauty devices use red or blue LEDs to target acne, inflammation, or signs of aging. Body-worn formats allow localized treatment with consistent exposure.
Emerging Body Tech Trends¶
Electronic Tattoos (E-tattoos): Temporary tattoo-like circuits that can measure sweat, muscle activity, or stress levels, merging aesthetic design with functionality.
Haptics for Wellness: Wearable patches that use gentle vibrations to promote relaxation, improve circulation, or enhance product absorption.
Smart Clothing for Skin Health: Fabrics embedded with sensors can measure posture, muscle tension, or movement patterns, contributing to wellness and beauty by preventing strain and improving body alignment.
References & Inspiration¶
There was two alumni projects that really inspired me. First one is from Aleksandra Piotrowska in which she built an NFT hidden under nailpolish. Sadly, we do not have NFT chips at the lab but I would really like to experiment with them.
Images from Aleksandra Piotrowska.
There is also a project by Isobel Leonard in which she used the workshop by Rico to play music on her Garage Band app on her phone thanks to activating the circuit through playing with her ponytail.
Tools¶
Potentiometer Switch Breadboard Board ESP32 Tactile Buttons Switch Slider-Variable Resistor or Potentiometer Breadboard many Jumper Wires USB C cable (programming & power) Mobile Phone
Software¶
Arduino IDE > BLE MIDI library - In Library Manager…search for BLE-MIDI library by Lathoub and install it
Mobile Phone > GarageBand (or other synthesizer app that allows BLE MIDI connections)
Process and workflow¶
Testing :)
This is the result with a breadboard and jump wires. There is a potentiometer and a switch as an input. Garage Band linked by bluetooth on my phone is the output.
- Turn potentiometer
- Press on the switch so that it send the signal to the phone
- press a keyboard key
- If you want to change note, repeat step 1, 2 and 3.
Close up:
I wanted to include my buttons as the switch in hair extension + have the potentiometer as a button on a choker necklace¶
- CHoker : Potentiometer is hidden with my button
- Hair extensions : I soldered my button to electronic copper wires
- All wires are from this red wire that I cut at the ends so that it's conductive
Code by Rico¶
include //BLE MIDI Transport library¶
include //BLE ESP32 library¶
BLEMIDI_CREATE_INSTANCE("RicoSynth", MIDI); //make instance of BLEMIDI
const int buttonPin = 21; //button/digital switch pin const int potPin = 2; //potentiometer/analog modulator pin
//variables int midiNote; int btnState; int lastBtnState;
void setup() { pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT_PULLUP); //define button pin mode pinMode(potPin, INPUT); //define potentiometer pin mode
MIDI.begin(); //start MIDI
}
void loop() { midiNote = map(analogRead(potPin), 0, 4096, 60, 80); //read potPin and remap value to range of 60 to 80
lastBtnState = btnState; //reset lastBtnState to equal current btnState btnState = digitalRead(buttonPin); //assign read voltage state to btnState
//trigger a note if(lastBtnState == 1 && btnState == 0){ //if there is a difference between last button state and current button state MIDI.sendNoteOn(midiNote, 127,1); //send MIDI note generated by pot position }
}