Are we entering into an era of "touchless wellness"?

As beauty innovation continues to grow, we’re now entering an era of touchless wellness. A new category within the beauty industry that delivers treatment from physical to mental, emotional and spiritual, without using direct touch.

But what do the experts think?

Clinical facialist Kate Kerr believes that the sensory aspect of touch is crucial. According to Kerr the tactile aspect of aesthetic treatments, in particular facials, provides valuable insights beyond what the eyes can see. 

“My hands serve as my second set of eyes and are imperative to me understanding the skin's condition on a deeper level,” she reveals. “This enables me to tailor treatments according to individual needs. I can tell so much about a skin’s quality with just my hands. The sensory experience of touch builds a unique connection between me and my clients, enhancing their trust in me, particularly when they’re feeling vulnerable about their appearance.”

Machines can’t take diversity into account

“The skin on the face is diverse”, says Kerr, “with varying conditions and needs in different areas. For example, vascularity and sensitivity on the cheeks, acne and breakout on the chin, dark under eye circles. Designing a treatment that takes into account these variations is crucial for providing effective and tailored solutions. This involves customising techniques, modalities, and products to address each specific area. This optimises results but also minimises potential side effects and enhances the overall client experience. This is not something a single machine can do.”

Cosmetic and regenerative doctor, Dr Miriam Adebibe says that human connection is an important factor to consider. “Assessing and planning treatment is a complex decision making process between doctor and patient. My patients often have specific concerns with their unique feelings and beliefs. I feel this needs the intuition and experience that only an expert practitioner can bring. While common skin conditions could be initially assessed through touchless wellness, aesthetic-led treatments should always be human-led.”

Chief executive of The British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology  (BABTAC) and The Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (CIBTAC) Lesley Blair MBE warns that there are obstacles to safety. “In this age of technological advancements there really are few limits in terms of what is possible and trending, both in the products available and services and techniques provided.” she shares. “The concern is that these rapid advancements in beauty are not currently reflected by that of improved regulations or standardisation of fit for purpose training.”

What’s the answer?

Kerr believes that an integrated approach is key. “While touchless wellness practices may offer certain conveniences, they might not fully replace the personalised care and emotional support that come from hands-on interactions,” she suggests. “Balancing technological advancements with the human touch is key to providing holistic aesthetic experiences that address both physical and emotional well-being.” Dr Adebibe agrees, “although technology offers may advantages within medicine, human connection is still important to ensure the utmost level of care is offered.”

Within this, appropriate training and qualification is key emphasises Blair, “The innovations and advancements are exciting, but with that come some obstacles too, such as ensuring that training and practice remains current and fit for purpose which is especially challenging given the industry remains unregulated.”

As beauty innovation continues to grow, we’re now entering an era of touchless wellness. A new category within the beauty industry that delivers treatment from physical to mental, emotional and spiritual, without using direct touch.

But what do the experts think?

Clinical facialist Kate Kerr believes that the sensory aspect of touch is crucial. According to Kerr the tactile aspect of aesthetic treatments, in particular facials, provides valuable insights beyond what the eyes can see. 

“My hands serve as my second set of eyes and are imperative to me understanding the skin's condition on a deeper level,” she reveals. “This enables me to tailor treatments according to individual needs. I can tell so much about a skin’s quality with just my hands. The sensory experience of touch builds a unique connection between me and my clients, enhancing their trust in me, particularly when they’re feeling vulnerable about their appearance.”

Machines can’t take diversity into account

“The skin on the face is diverse”, says Kerr, “with varying conditions and needs in different areas. For example, vascularity and sensitivity on the cheeks, acne and breakout on the chin, dark under eye circles. Designing a treatment that takes into account these variations is crucial for providing effective and tailored solutions. This involves customising techniques, modalities, and products to address each specific area. This optimises results but also minimises potential side effects and enhances the overall client experience. This is not something a single machine can do.”

Cosmetic and regenerative doctor, Dr Miriam Adebibe says that human connection is an important factor to consider. “Assessing and planning treatment is a complex decision making process between doctor and patient. My patients often have specific concerns with their unique feelings and beliefs. I feel this needs the intuition and experience that only an expert practitioner can bring. While common skin conditions could be initially assessed through touchless wellness, aesthetic-led treatments should always be human-led.”

Chief executive of The British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology  (BABTAC) and The Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (CIBTAC) Lesley Blair MBE warns that there are obstacles to safety. “In this age of technological advancements there really are few limits in terms of what is possible and trending, both in the products available and services and techniques provided.” she shares. “The concern is that these rapid advancements in beauty are not currently reflected by that of improved regulations or standardisation of fit for purpose training.”

What’s the answer?

Kerr believes that an integrated approach is key. “While touchless wellness practices may offer certain conveniences, they might not fully replace the personalised care and emotional support that come from hands-on interactions,” she suggests. “Balancing technological advancements with the human touch is key to providing holistic aesthetic experiences that address both physical and emotional well-being.” Dr Adebibe agrees, “although technology offers may advantages within medicine, human connection is still important to ensure the utmost level of care is offered.”

Within this, appropriate training and qualification is key emphasises Blair, “The innovations and advancements are exciting, but with that come some obstacles too, such as ensuring that training and practice remains current and fit for purpose which is especially challenging given the industry remains unregulated.”