We worked with 100,000 women and used data science to answer one of the industry's most overlooked questions:

Why does Nude still exclude so many people?

To answer that question, we set up The Nude Project

Live over two years, in collaboration with 100,000 women and built using data science.

Step 1: Launch the website and set the ambition

In 2017, we launched The Nude Project website and set ourselves the challenge of capturing individual skin tones from women around the world.

Step 2: Digitally match skin tones to RGB

We invited women all over the world to share images of their skin tones. These images were then used to match against an RGB colour code that we could use digitally.

Step 3: Map the skin tone and identify trends

We mapped out the RGB codes and using data analysis, were able to identify 1,000 unique skin tones from all the submissions we received.

Step 4: Perform Euclidian Clustering

Then, from that map, our data scientists carried out Euclidian clustering. This enabled us to develop the most succinct number of shades to cover the 1,000 unique skin tones. Meaning, every one of the women who shared their skin tone could accurately find their match from seven representative shades.