Podcast Summary: "What Will We Look Like In 20 Years?"
Podcast Information:
- Title: The Run-Through with Vogue
- Host/Author: Vogue
- Episode: What Will We Look Like In 20 Years?
- Release Date: April 24, 2025
Introduction
In the April 24, 2025 episode of The Run-Through with Vogue, hosts Chioma Nnadi and Chloe Malle delve into a thought-provoking discussion inspired by Vogue Business America's editorial package titled "The Future of Appearance." This episode explores the anticipated changes in human appearance over the next two decades, examining advancements in beauty treatments, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in personalizing beauty routines, and the societal implications of these transformations.
Main Discussion Points
-
The Future of Appearance
a. Advancements in Beauty Treatments
Natisha Scott and Hilary Milnes join Nicole Phelps to discuss the evolving landscape of beauty and wellness. The conversation highlights how beauty routines are shifting from surface-level enhancements to deep, regenerative treatments.
- Regenerative Medicine: Nicole Phelps emphasizes the integration of regenerative medicine into beauty, stating, "We're seeing regenerative medicine, exosomes, polynucleotides. This essence of understanding how we look internally will essentially eradicate on the outside as well" (15:12).
- Skin Health and Texture: Hilary Milnes notes the increasing focus on skin texture and health, influenced by the rise of remote work and constant virtual exposure. She observes, "The Zoom face phenomenon is responsible for so much of where this is all headed" (21:08).
b. AI and Personalized Beauty
AI's role in beauty is a significant theme, with discussions on how it will revolutionize personalized skincare and cosmetic procedures.
- AI-Guided Treatments: Nicole Phelps explains, "For surgery, there'll be AI-guided injectables where AI will detect exactly where filler is needed so it doesn't over-volumize skin" (31:49).
- Personalized Products: The future of beauty products involves hyper-personalization based on AI data analysis. Phelps adds, "We're seeing hyper personalized products based on AI guiding data within our wellness, health, and routines" (31:49).
c. Teeth and Dental Treatments
The conversation shifts to dental aesthetics, highlighting the cultural shift towards natural teeth over veneers.
- Veneer Trends: Hilary Milnes observes, "Veneers are going to become more natural, more unique to you. But having great teeth will still be a status symbol" (28:53).
- Scarless Innovations: Nicole Phelps discusses advancements in stem cell therapy for scar reduction, envisioning a future where "lunchtime treatments" can effectively eliminate scars without visible evidence (30:24).
d. Body Changes and Fitness Advancements
The impact of weight loss drugs like Ozempic on body standards is scrutinized, alongside future fitness innovations.
- Metabolic Reprogramming: Phelps explains, "We'll see metabolic reprogramming where consumers build a healthy lifestyle around biohacking their metabolism" (23:11).
- Muscle Retention: She also highlights techniques to inject fat into muscles, fostering a more defined physique: "Inject fat into the muscle, and as long as consumers work out and eat healthy, that fat can turn into muscle" (25:53).
-
Fashion Week Updates
Chloe Mel and Cheminati share their experiences from New York Fashion Week, focusing on the Ralph Lauren show.
- Ralph Lauren Show Highlights: Cheminati describes the collection as "tender and tough," blending romantic Victorian blouses with tough leather jackets (04:01).
- Upcoming Resort Shows: The hosts preview upcoming resort shows in Italy, including Chanel’s cruise collection in Lake Como and Dior's showcase in Rome, anticipating a busy fashion summer (05:20).
-
The Impact of Weight Loss Drugs
The societal implications of widespread weight loss drug use are examined, questioning the future of body diversity.
- Accessibility and Social Implications: Hilary Milnes raises concerns about the accessibility of these treatments, pondering, "Does it swing back in the other direction?" (24:49).
- Body Diversity: There is a balance between the trend towards a thinner silhouette and the growing appreciation for body diversity, with Phelps noting, "There will be more than one story or more than one body type to tell" (25:14).
-
AI in Beauty: Opportunities and Challenges
The hosts discuss both the potential and the pitfalls of AI in the beauty industry.
- Potential: AI can revolutionize personalized beauty, offering tailored skincare and cosmetic procedures that cater to individual needs (30:43).
- Challenges: Concerns about AI bias and data privacy are highlighted, with Hilary Milnes questioning, "Does it actually feel personalized? Does it add something you didn't know about yourself?" (32:34).
- AI Bias: Nicole Phelps addresses the risk of AI perpetuating a single beauty ideal, stating, "Without diverse and authentic data, AI tools risk promoting a single ideal or hyper perfection" (35:02).
-
Consumer Attitudes and Trends
The evolving perceptions of beauty and aging are explored, emphasizing a shift towards wellness and longevity.
- From Anti-Aging to Longevity: Hilary Milnes comments, "We don't say anti-aging anymore. We say living longer," highlighting a more holistic approach to beauty (17:54).
- Natural Features: There is a growing trend to embrace natural features, moving away from the homogenized beauty standards perpetuated by veneers and filters (41:11).
-
Regulation and Safety in Beauty Treatments
The lack of universal standards in beauty treatments, referred to as "tweakments," raises safety concerns.
- Unregulated Treatments: Nicole Phelps warns about the dangers of unregulated treatments, urging for stricter guidelines to prevent botched procedures (36:06).
- Finding Safe Practitioners: Recommendations include word-of-mouth referrals and verified platforms like RealSelf to ensure the credibility of practitioners (37:39).
-
The Future Image Creation
Vogue Business utilized AI to create realistic images predicting future appearances, sparking mixed reactions.
- AI-Generated Imagery: Nicole Phelps explains the creative process: "We worked with our senior designer to build faces and bodies with ChatGPT, ensuring they remained realistic" (42:48).
- Public Reactions: Hilary Milnes notes that the images were divisive, with some appreciating the futuristic vision and others questioning the purpose (44:33).
-
Final Takeaways
The episode concludes with reflections on the discussions, highlighting both optimism and caution regarding the future of beauty.
- Hyper-Personalization: Nicole Phelps underscores the trend towards hyper-personalized beauty routines, moving beyond generic products to tailored solutions (45:30).
- Concerns About Perfection: Hilary Milnes expresses apprehension about the relentless pursuit of perfection, hoping for a future that embraces natural features (46:05).
Notable Quotes
-
"We're seeing regenerative medicine, exosomes, polynucleotides. This essence of understanding how we look internally will essentially eradicate on the outside as well." – Nicole Phelps (15:12)
-
"The Zoom face phenomenon is responsible for so much of where this is all headed." – Hilary Milnes (21:08)
-
"For surgery, there'll be AI-guided injectables where AI will detect exactly where filler is needed so it doesn't over-volumize skin." – Nicole Phelps (31:49)
-
"Veneers are going to become more natural, more unique to you. But having great teeth will still be a status symbol." – Hilary Milnes (28:53)
-
"There will be more than one story or more than one body type to tell." – Nicole Phelps (25:14)
-
"We don't say anti-aging anymore. We say living longer." – Hilary Milnes (17:54)
-
"Without diverse and authentic data, AI tools risk promoting a single ideal or hyper perfection." – Nicole Phelps (35:02)
Conclusion
The April 24, 2025 episode of The Run-Through with Vogue offers a comprehensive exploration of the future of human appearance, intertwining advancements in beauty treatments, AI personalization, and societal shifts towards wellness and longevity. While the promise of hyper-personalized and regenerative beauty solutions presents exciting possibilities, the discussions also highlight significant concerns regarding accessibility, regulation, and the potential homogenization of beauty standards. As Vogue navigates these complex terrains, the conversation sets the stage for ongoing dialogue about balancing technological advancements with authentic self-expression and inclusivity.
Timestamps
- 00:01 – Advertisement by Arden Fanning Andrews
- 00:30 – Introduction by Chloe Mel and Cheminati
- 01:26 – Chloe Mel introduces the episode theme
- 02:03 – Hosts discuss Easter celebrations
- 02:44 – Cheminati discusses New York Fashion Week experiences
- 04:01 – Fashion takeaways from Ralph Lauren show
- 05:48 – Preview of upcoming resort shows
- 08:00 – Discussion on Pope's vestments and related stories
- 09:07 – Hosts discuss Met Gala looks and upcoming events
- 15:12 – Nicole Phelps on regenerative medicine in beauty
- 21:08 – Hilary Milnes on the Zoom face phenomenon
- 31:49 – Nicole Phelps on AI in beauty treatments
- 35:02 – Discussion on AI bias in beauty
- 42:48 – AI-generated images of future appearances
- 45:30 – Final takeaways from Nicole Phelps
- 46:05 – Hilary Milnes on the obsession with youth
Note: Timestamps are illustrative and correspond to the transcript segments provided.