L'Oreal turns to Big Data to win customers

San Francisco

THE beauty industry has long relied on creating a sense of mystery, magic even, around its creams, powders and potions. Now it has something else up its sleeve: high technology.

French cosmetics giant L'Oreal has opened a "tech incubator" employing two dozen people in San Francisco and elsewhere seeking ways to use Big Data and algorithms to win the hearts and minds of customers.