Spotless AI
Less Guessing, More Glowing
At-A-Glance
In a world where skincare often feels confusing, inconsistent, and overwhelming, ‘Spotless AI’ offers users a way to finally take control. It personalizes guidance, progress tracking, and habit-building tools, and helps users make smarter decisions, stay consistent, and actually see results, without the guesswork.
Startup Project
My Role
Team
Timeline
Waterloo, ON
Jun - Sep 2024
STARTING THOUGHTS
Skincare shouldn’t feel like a guessing game
For years, my skin was one of the first things people pointed out, and not in a kind way. It changed how I saw myself. I spent months stuck in a loop of trial and error, hoping something would finally work and when it did, everything changed. Today, I see that same struggle in so many others around me; lost in products and false promises, just trying to feel good in their own skin.
SOLUTION
A clearer path forward
Through my research, I realized the solution had to bring clarity, not more noise. Something that makes things easier to follow, keeps people motivated, helps them build better habits, and shows them what actually works for their skin in a simple way.
DISCOVERY
It’s a growing problem...
Skin concerns are more common than most realize, but, they are often overlooked, under treated, or dismissed entirely. And in a massive industry, long-term solutions are still surprisingly hard to find.
1
Over half of North Americans report struggling to maintain a consistent skincare routine.
2
1 in 3 Canadians deal with a skin issue significant enough to affect their quality of life.
3
The North American skincare market is worth over $100 billion, yet most people still bounce between products, trying to figure out what works.
So it made me wonder:
When conducting research, outside of my own experiences, I wanted to understand the underlying reasons people struggle with finding a routine. Why do some never start? Why do others give up? What gets in the way, and what might actually help?
And it shows...
💡
I started asking real people the questions that no product label could answer:
User Interviews
How do you find skincare products for your concerns?
Do you experience difficulty when applying products?
Where do you find skincare advice, and how do you verify its reliability?
What influences your decision to try new products/routines?
What products do you use, and in what order do you apply them?
How do you determine if a product is suitable for your skin type?
X
14 Interviewees
And here’s the stood that stood out:
Key Findings & Results
90%
Struggle to find products
Many participants admitted to constantly switching between products, not out of curiosity but out of desperation. When nothing works, it feels easier to stop trying.
75%
Rely on unverified sources
Buying products that show no results or worsen the condition often end up being replaced. This cycle repeats itself, leading to wasted money and inefficient results.
60%
Unsure about skin compatibility
Even with multiple products or routines, most participants felt confused about how to tell if something truly suited their skin type and concerns.
85%
Overwhelmed by information
Too many conflicting opinions left participants exhausted. Even after doing research, most still felt uncertain about what to trust and where to start.
💡
“At first, I thought Spotless would just be a sole product recommender. But after talking to users, it became clear the real issue wasn’t picking products, it was the frustration, confusion, and lack of support around the whole routine.”
Before jumping into potential solutions, I started monitoring competitors similar to Spotless:
Competitor Analysis
Routine ends up product-focused, not habit-focused
No education, motivation, or tracking
Heavy focus on upselling only company products
Personalized treatment plans using AI + selfie scan
Option to order custom products directly
Backed by dermatologists
No personalized product suggestions
Journaling > actual guidance
Doesn’t explain how or if products are working
Simple interface with a daily routine checklist
Decent skin diary & logging features
Helps reinforce consistency over time
More of a research tool than a daily skincare guide
Lacks personalization and specific skin goals
No routine tracking or progress features
Clear ingredient explanations
For checking irritants or comedogenic ingredients
Free and easy to navigate
💡
“We can see that most of these tools follow a similar pattern. They focus heavily on products, ingredients, or basic routine logging, but offer little support in helping users stay consistent, track real progress, or understand whether their skincare is actually working.”
At this stage, prioritize features based on impact, feasibility, and necessity for the MVP:
Feature Prioritization
MUST HAVE
Necessary for the product
Personalized routine builder
Progress timeline tracker
Gamify for keeping motivation
Smart skincare reminders
Habit-based point system
SHOULD HAVE
Significant in the long run
Product match tags (High/Low Match)
Resource articles linked to goals and condition(s)
Routine breakdown & usage tips
Support tool for specific questions
Product Scanning
COULD HAVE
Slight increase in product worth
Mood-based skincare check-ins
Product expiration reminders
Virtual dermatologist consultations
WONT HAVE
Can be ignored for now
Daily journal prompts
Skincare community feed / forums
Match percentages & confusing statistics
EMPATHIZE
Understanding users’ needs and painpoints
With a clearer picture of my findings, I began translating research insights into a real user story to guide design decisions.
User Persona
Kristen Bell
Demographics
Age: 20 years old
Education: Undergraduate
Location: Toronto, ON
Occupation: Student
Burnt Out
Skeptical
Hopeful
Overwhelmed
“ I’ve tried everything; TikTok hacks, product hauls, drinking water, nothing works and I’m done.”
Goals
Regain confidence and feel good in her own skin
Stick to a routine without giving up halfway
Understand what actually works for her
Fustrations
Background
Kristen, who is in her early 20s, hit her breaking point after a pharmacy cashier suggested a stronger cleanser “might help with that.” It wasn’t said with bad intent, but it stung, like her skin was a public flaw. That small moment made her realize how much of her confidence revolves around her appearance. She’s tried everything, only to burn out and blame herself for never being consistent. Dermatologist waitlists drag for months, and she’s drained from wasting money on products that never work.
User Journey Map
IDEATE
Making it easier for users to hit their goals
After having done the research and narrowing down possible ideas, I came up with variations of what potential solutions could look like.
First, I quickly brainstormed different concepts for prioritized features:
Crazy 8s
Then, once the idea became clear, I made a structure that meets user expectations:
Information Architecture
Today
Snapshot of day
Routine
Add products
Daily check-in + Points
Progress
Scan face
Timeline
Past comparison
Points
View points
Redeem points
Home
Search for products
Scan products
Reccomended
Things to avoid
Past History
Personalized products
Reminders
Products
Brands
Ingredients
Previously used products
Products
Personalized articles
How-to guides
Myth busters
Interactive quizzes
Crisis mode guides
Resources
AI Buddy
Skincare basics introduction
Onboarding
LOW FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
Laying the Groundwork
Today
Product Info
Routine
Spot; AI Buddy
Progress
Resources
MyPoints
Meet Spot 👋
A friendly guide built to bring consistency, motivation, education, and personality across the app, supporting you through routines, feedback, and progress.
Ask Questions
Stay Motivated
Feel Supported
Skincare, Sorted
No digging, no guessing. Spotless recommends products that work for your skin so you can build your routine. Add them straight to your AM or PM routine, follow easy step-by-step instructions, and check in daily to stay consistent without overthinking it.
Personalized Products
Guided Steps
Daily Check-ins
Track Progress
See how far your skin’s come with real data, side-by-side photos, and updates that explain what’s actually helping. Whether it’s your routine, new products, or just being consistent, now you’ll know.
Routine Insights
Visible Results
Compare History
Discover How Each Product Plays With Your Skin
If you search for or scan a product, you’ll get a personalized match rating based on your skin profile. Spotless breaks down the reason, key ingredients, flags anything harsh or irritating, and shows you how to use the product safely, and suggests better options if it’s not a great fit.
Points for Progress
Every time you check in, complete your routine, or hit a milestone, you’ll earn points. Redeem them for products you already love, or stock up on what’s running low. Your skin gets better, and you get rewarded for it.
Get Rewarded
Daily Glance
Light reminders and quick overviews to keep your routine, among other things, (and your skin) on track.
Understand the Why
Bite-sized, personalized reads that help uncover what could be triggering your skin, from lifestyle to ingredients.
Got Questions? Ask Spot.
Instant answers to anything skincare, ingredients, routines, breakouts, or whatever’s bugging you.
SELF REFLECTION
Measuring success
What I Learned
#1) Designing for trust is about restraint, not features
At first, I thought packing in every cool feature would show credibility. But I realized trust often comes from what you choose not to do, like overwhelming users with products or advice they didn’t ask for. Simplifying became more powerful than over-designing.
#2) Playfulness has purpose
Spot the penguin isn’t just cute. I felt adding personality helped make the experience feel more human and less intimidating. Playfulness made it easier for users to stay motivated and feel supported, especially when navigating something as personal as their skin.
#3) Not every stakeholder is your user
At one point, a peer suggested making the app more social, while I was also testing features around routine tracking. It was tempting to try everything, but I had to step back and ask: who is this really for? That helped me focus on building something useful for people who want clarity and guidance, not more noise.
Next Steps
I realized the app needs a way to gently flag when someone’s skin might need real medical help. A subtle heads up and smarter limits on suggestions can keep things safe without breaking trust.
#2) Emotional Insights
I noticed how much emotion is tied to skincare. While it’s not about being a therapist, the app could do more to acknowledge those feelings in better ways and support users along the way.