Skin Food

Product Design | UX | 2019

A smart DIY home mask kit for the Boots Ingredients line, using AI-driven guidance to help consumers create organic, customisable facial masks tailored to their skin needs.

[ Uni Project]

About

Graduation project

Team

Olivia Li

Client Brief

People have never been more aware and concerned about their well-being. Boots is looking to the next 3–5 years and sees a huge opportunity to lead this growing wellness market with innovative new products and services. I have been assigned to target Millennials as my user group, with the goal of uncovering their needs and behaviours.

The task is to identify new opportunities within the UK and create a product or service that captures the attention of customers looking to improve their well-being. And imagine the final concept will be launched at the Covent Garden Boots Flagship Store.

Why this project...

The Challenge

How might we use Boots' innovation centre and brand trust to grow the 'Boots Ingredients' line, attracting wellness-focused millennials who value appearance, and capitalise on the 'Green Skincare' trend.

My Role

This project was my individual graduation work at Central Saint Martins, created in collaboration with Bow&Arrow. I developed the project from start to finish and had regular stand-up meetings with the team at Bow&Arrow to share progress and gather feedback. Their support helped me shape and improve the project

My responsibilities included:

Product Design
Market Research
Brand Strategy
Video Production
3D Rendering

Project Outcome

Skin Food is a smart DIY home mask kit crafted for the Boots Ingredients product line, providing consumers with a personalised, organic, and customisable facial mask experience. Simply utilise ingredients found in your kitchen.

Feature 01

Mask Kit : Delivered to your door with a mask-making machine and your first set of ingredient powders.

Feature 02

App Integration: An app that analyses your skin needs, helps you order refills, and connects directly with the mask machine.

Discovery 01

Boots is less attractive to Millennial customers in the wellness market. How can Boots rebrand itself to match the new era of the wellness market?

Define “Wellbeing” for this project

As well-being becomes more personal and multidimensional, people are looking for products that reflect their individual needs—especially in skincare, where appearance and self-care often overlap. Millennials are spending more on products that help them feel good and look good, yet many still define well-being in their own way.  

This inspired the idea: what if Boots offered a customisable facial mask? Skincare needs are nuanced, and a personalised solution could support people’s unique definitions of well-being—combining self-expression, care, and functionality in one simple experience.

Discovery 02

Explore emerging opportunities in the UK wellness market to develop a new product or service that aligns with Boots’ brand strategy and responds to evolving consumer needs.

New Brand Strategy

To grow within the evolving wellness market, Boots can build on its strengths by focusing on beauty and personal care, connecting more deeply with younger consumers, and creating exclusive brand experiences. The following three-step strategy outlines a clear direction:

Boots already has a strong presence in the UK wellness space. With beauty and personal care being the second-largest area of consumer spending in wellness, Boots should place greater focus on this category—an area they already serve well.

Marketing

Focus on Beauty & Personal Care

Millennials are among Boots’ most important beauty shoppers. Instead of just selling products, Boots should build long-term relationships with this group by offering more meaningful experiences and value.

Customer

Connect with Younger Millennials

Boots should continue developing its own-brand products and make them available only in-store and online through Boots. To stand out from competitors, the brand can introduce a new product paired with a service, offering something customers can’t find anywhere else.

Product

Grow the Boots Brand with Exclusive Offers