Can Sephora Compete with Flipkart’s AI Beauty Push?
Flipkart’s AI-led retail strategy could challenge Sephora’s legacy in India. Is beauty shopping about to change?
05 Jul'25
By Amanda
Can Sephora Compete with Flipkart’s AI Beauty Push?
Flipkart is no longer just a marketplace; it’s becoming an AI-powered discovery engine. From smart skin analysers to personalised offers, its beauty vertical is transitioning from logistics to luxury. Meanwhile, Sephora India, once the definitive beauty curator, lags in tech-led personalisation. Is the stage set for a retail upset?
Flipkart’s AI Push in Beauty
Powered by Walmart Labs India, Flipkart Beauty now integrates:
- Skin tone-based foundation match
- Ingredient-based product clustering
- Real-time reviews + influencer reel embeds
According to Inc42, Flipkart's AI personalization tools drove a 43% increase in conversion rates for beauty SKUs in 2024.
Sephora’s AI Gap
While Global Sephora offers Colour IQ, Skincare IQ, and Visual Artist AR, these tools are not localised in India.
“Sephora India still treats its website as a store window, not a smart mirror,” says Rajvi Bhandari, beauty tech consultant.
AI = Edge in Marketplaces
- Flipkart's AI engine adapts to regional preferences (kajal in Kolkata, vitamin C in Chennai)
- Suggests time-sensitive combos (humid day = matte primer + blotting sheets)
- Enables real-time product bundling
Brands like Admigos see this as a branding opportunity for challenger brands.
What Brands Should Do Next
For beauty brands selling on either platform, this new retail battle means rethinking digital presence:
On Flipkart
- Upload AI-readable metadata (shade, finish, ingredients)
- Include motion product cards and quick-demo clips
- Build combo kits for bundling AI triggers
On Sephora
- Push for interactive try-on tools
- Request editorial placements or homepage features to stand out
- Create video how-tos to enrich PDPs manually
Visual Innovation Needed
To stay relevant, Sephora India needs:
- Dynamic, animated PDPs (Product Detail Pages)
- AI-driven shade try-ons with Indian models
- Localized language filters for regional shoppers
Otherwise, Flipkart will continue to win clicks, even without the cool factor. AI is no longer optional; it’s the battleground for beauty retail. Flipkart is leveraging it to become a smarter Sephora. The question isn’t “will Flipkart catch up?” it’s “can Sephora keep up?”
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