Let’s Glow Together! Empowering Digital Communities for Natural Skincare Routines

This study examines the underlying issues that prevent users from regularly practising the natural facial masks into their routines. Through design thinking approach consumer experience including their pain points are identified. The steps involved empathy, define, ideate and prototype. Although design thinking is a mature approach in offering creative and user-centred solutions especially in computing, this methodology are still scarce in marketing and consumer behaviour. Thus, this research hopes to fill this gap. The findings revealed three critical challenge accessibility of premium-quality ingredients, the time and effort required for preparation and storage, and a gap in knowledge about how to tailor facial masks to individual needs. By recognizing the importance of overcoming these obstacles, the study proposes an innovative solution to bridge these gaps and encourage user engagement. Based on the findings from empathy, define and ideate stage, a proposed solutions was prototyped. WhatsApp Online Community Then, platform was established, designed to provide users with an engaging and supportive environment where they can access resources, share experiences, and gain expert insights. The group includes features such as daily skincare tips and reminders, a repository of user-generated facial mask recipes, live Q&A sessions with skincare experts, and collaborative challenges aimed at fostering motivation and community spirit. These elements are carefully crafted to enhance user engagement and create a sense of accountability and belonging. The prototype underwent rigorous testing through various methodologies, including user surveys, focus group discussions, feature testing. The results demonstrated a notable improvement in user consistency and satisfaction with natural skincare routines. Participants reported greater accessibility to high-quality ingredients and reliable information, increased motivation to adhere to their skincare goals, and a stronger sense of community. Pre- and post-test analyses further validated the effectiveness of the prototype, highlighting significant progress in users’ understanding and application of natural skincare solutions. Nevertheless, the study acknowledges several limitations and areas for future development. The low-fidelity prototype employed in the testing phase offered a simplified version of the envisioned platform, which limited the exploration of more complex functionalities such as advanced personalization and AI-driven recommendations. Additionally, while the group successfully addressed key user pain points, its overlap with existing online skincare solutions posed challenges in differentiating the platform. Future studies will explore the integration of advanced features, including personalized product recommendations, e-commerce functionalities, and collaborations with dermatology experts to further enhance credibility and usability. Efforts will also be made to ensure greater inclusivity and affordability, thereby extending the platform’s reach to diverse user demographics. This research highlights the untapped potential of community-based platforms in transforming skincare routines. By addressing the practical challenges of ingredient accessibility, preparation, and knowledge gaps, the WhatsApp Skincare Community Group exemplifies an innovative and user-centered solution. This approach not only caters to the increasing demand for natural and sustainable skincare alternatives but also reinforces the importance of fostering connections between users, their heritage, and the environment. In conjunction the study underscores the need for continuous innovation and collaboration to empower individuals in achieving their skincare aspirations while aligning with modern values of sustainability and wellbeing.