What it does
OnSkin is a comprehensive beauty product analysis app. Its core function is to help users understand the ingredients in their skincare and haircare products. Users can scan barcodes (05:11), search by name (05:42), or even upload a photo (08:15) to get a detailed safety rating and ingredient breakdown. The app also provides personalized product recommendations and creates a tailored skincare routine based on an in-depth user quiz.
Where it shines
The app excels at providing deep, actionable information in an accessible format. The product details screen (03:04) is a great example, breaking down complex ingredients into easy-to-understand risk levels. The integrated AI cosmetologist (01:54) offers a powerful way for users to get answers to specific questions that a static database can't address. Furthermore, the community section (08:57) turns a utility app into a social platform where users can discuss routines and share advice, adding a strong retention layer.
UX highlights
- Multi-Modal Product Input: The app offers three ways to find a product: barcode scan, manual search, and photo upload. This flexibility ensures the user can find what they're looking for, regardless of their situation.
- Detailed Ingredient Analysis: When viewing an ingredient like "Alcohol denat." (03:36), the app provides health effects, details, and links to scientific sources, offering a high degree of transparency.
- Personalized Match Score: Beyond a simple safety rating, the "Skin Match" tab (04:00) analyzes a product's compatibility with the user's specific skin profile, providing a more nuanced recommendation.
- Gamified Engagement: The "Guess the Score" feature (07:45) is a clever mini-game that encourages users to engage with the product database and test their own knowledge, making the experience more interactive.
- Actionable Skincare Routines: The app doesn't just recommend individual products; it organizes them into a full morning and evening routine (04:45), telling the user exactly what to use and when.
Monetization & growth
OnSkin uses a freemium model with a prominent paywall presented during onboarding (00:35). The paywall cleverly features a toggle to "Enable Free Trial," which reconfigures the subscription options to highlight a 3-day trial that converts to a weekly plan. This targets both users willing to pay upfront and those who need to try before they buy. Key features like the "Personal AI cosmetologist" and unlimited scans are locked behind the "PRO" subscription, creating a clear incentive to upgrade.
Who it’s for
This app is ideal for consumers who are conscious about the ingredients in their beauty products. This includes individuals with sensitive skin, allergies, or specific concerns like acne or aging. It's also valuable for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choices in the cosmetics aisle and seeking an unbiased, data-driven way to make decisions. The community feature also appeals to users looking to share and learn from others with similar skin or hair types.
Notes & opportunities
The app is feature-rich, but the initial onboarding flow places a significant amount of friction (sign-up, paywall, permissions) before the user gets to the core personalization quiz. Testing a flow where the quiz comes first might increase completion rates. Additionally, while the product search is functional, the results list (05:49) could be enhanced with more visual information, like product images, to improve scannability.