Proven Skincare Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025

Many people struggle every day with skincare products that don’t work for them. They spend money on creams, serums, and lotions that promise perfect skin, but often, the results don’t match the hype. Some people deal with acne, dryness, redness, or dark spots that never seem to go away. Others buy products only to find they cause irritation or breakouts.

Every skin type is different, yet most products in stores offer only a few options: dry, oily, or combination. This is frustrating for people who feel left out or disappointed by products made for the masses. They just want something that works for them, something designed with their unique skin in mind.

That’s the exact problem that Proven Skincare set out to solve. Proven, founded by Ming Zhao, wanted to use technology and data to give everyone the skincare they deserve. Proven created a unique system that uses artificial intelligence to analyze a person’s skin needs. This analysis doesn’t just look at skin type, but also at lifestyle, stress, location, and even pollution levels where the person lives.

Ming’s idea was simple but powerful. If every person has different skin, why not create skincare products as unique as each person? 

Ming took her dream to Shark Tank during Season 11, hoping to find a shark who believed in her mission. She asked for $500,000 in exchange for 5% equity in Proven. Ming shared how Proven was different, how it used a massive database of skincare research called the Skin Genome Project, and how it could finally offer solutions tailored to each person.

But did the sharks see the potential? Or did they think this idea was too risky for the competitive skincare market? Let’s look at what happened during Ming’s pitch and how Proven has grown since then.

Proven Skincare Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025

Ming was looking for an investment of $500k in exchange for 5% equity in the company. At the time of the episode, she valued her company at $10 million. Ming did not secure a deal with any of the sharks. After the show was aired, Proven Skincare experienced a good boost in exposure. As per my rough estimate, the current net worth of Proven Skincare is around $60 million.

Shark(s) name	Offer & Demand	Counteroffer	Accepted?
Lori Greiner	Out	N/A	N/A
Kevin O’Leary	Out	N/A	N/A
Mark Cuban	Out	N/A	N/A
Daymond John	Out	N/A	N/A
Anne Wojcicki	Out	N/A	N/A

Ming Zhao Backstory + Their Initial Pitch

Ming Zhao created Proven because of her own painful experiences with skincare. She spent years trying product after product without results. Her skin would sometimes react badly, turning red or breaking out. Other times, the products simply did nothing at all. Ming realized this wasn’t just her struggle. Millions of people were facing the same thing. She believed there had to be a better way.

Her background was not originally in beauty, but when she teamed up with Dr. Amy Yuan, a computational physicist, they combined data and science to create a system that could predict what ingredients a person really needed. That’s how Proven was born.

In the early days, Ming and her team faced many challenges. Building the Skin Genome Project took time. They had to collect and analyze thousands of scientific studies, user reviews, and clinical trials. They also had to build the AI engine that could look at a person’s answers from a short quiz and match them to the right ingredients. Another big challenge was getting people to trust their technology.

Skincare is personal, and some customers worried about giving data online or felt unsure that an AI could understand their needs better than a dermatologist. Ming worked hard to educate people about the power of Proven’s technology.

During her pitch on Shark Tank, Ming confidently explained how Proven worked. She shared how customers start by visiting Proven’s website and taking a short three-minute quiz. This quiz asks questions about skin concerns, lifestyle, stress levels, climate, and pollution. The AI then uses the Skin Genome Project to design skincare products that match each person’s exact needs.

Ming told the sharks that Proven’s technology had already won MIT’s AI Technology Award, which she hoped would show the sharks this was a serious scientific innovation. She explained Proven had made $110,000 in sales during just a two-month beta test. She also mentioned they had a licensing deal worth $3.5 million for their technology and that Proven had already raised $6 million in funding. Ming was confident that Proven was not just a skincare brand but a technology company ready to disrupt the entire beauty industry.

Queries + Sharks’ Responses, and Final Deal

The first shark to respond was Daymond John. Daymond admitted he was not familiar with the skincare industry. He joked that his mother gave him great skin, so he never needed to worry about skincare himself. He also felt he couldn’t add value since he didn’t understand the business or the technology behind it. For these reasons, Daymond decided he was out.

Mark Cuban was curious about Proven’s AI system. He asked Ming many questions, trying to understand exactly how Proven’s technology worked and whether it was truly unique. Ming explained how the Skin Genome Project was the largest skincare database in the world and that the AI analyzed each person’s quiz responses to suggest the perfect skincare routine.

Mark listened carefully but ultimately said he didn’t see what made Proven stand out enough from the growing number of skincare startups using AI or customization. He felt it would be hard to compete in a crowded market where big brands could copy the idea. Because of this, Mark also went out.

Anne Wojcicki had experience in the science and health fields, so Ming hoped Anne would see Proven’s value. Anne listened to Ming’s explanation but said she wasn’t convinced the science behind Proven was strong enough. She pointed out that skincare results can be subjective and felt Proven needed more solid clinical evidence to prove their AI recommendations actually led to better skin.

Anne also said the small sales during the beta run weren’t enough to show Proven could succeed long-term. Because of these doubts, Anne decided to go out as well.

Lori Greiner was next. Lori said she thought Proven’s idea was interesting, but she worried the company was too early in its journey. She felt that Proven needed more time in the market to show real sales growth and gather customer reviews. Lori also mentioned that Proven’s $6 million in existing investments made it hard for her to see a quick return on her money if she invested now. Lori decided to go out because she felt the timing wasn’t right.

Kevin O’Leary was the final shark to speak. Kevin looked at Proven’s valuation of $10 million, based on Ming’s $500,000 for 5% equity ask, and said he thought it was unrealistic. He felt Proven’s early sales didn’t justify such a high value. He also said he didn’t like how much money the company had already raised without being further along in sales. Because of these concerns, Kevin went out too. In the end, Ming left Shark Tank without a deal.

What Went Wrong With Proven Skincare On Shark Tank?

Several factors led to Proven not securing a deal on Shark Tank. First, the sharks felt that the skincare market was already extremely competitive. Many large brands were starting to offer personalized or AI-driven products, and it was hard to see how Proven could stand out. Second, Proven was still in its early stages, and its sales numbers were small compared to what the sharks typically look for.

Even though Ming had a $3.5 million licensing deal, the sharks wanted to see steady, proven revenue from customers buying the skincare products directly.

Another issue was Proven’s valuation. Asking for a $10 million valuation based on limited sales during a beta test was too ambitious for the sharks. Kevin O’Leary was especially vocal about thinking the valuation was unreasonable. Some sharks were also uneasy about how much money Proven had already raised. They worried that with $6 million in existing investments, it would take too long for them to see a return on their money.

Finally, the sharks questioned whether Proven’s AI truly had enough data to deliver better skincare results than traditional methods. Anne Wojcicki said she wanted more scientific proof. Without that, she felt Proven’s technology was not yet strong enough to back up its big claims. These combined concerns made all five sharks decide to pass on investing.

Product Availability

Proven’s skincare products are designed to be completely unique for each customer. When someone visits Proven’s website, they take a quiz that only takes about three minutes to complete. The quiz asks many detailed questions, such as how often they get sun exposure, how much stress they have in their lives, whether they have oily or dry areas on their face, what their diet looks like, and even what kind of air pollution exists in their city.

Based on all this information, Proven’s AI engine selects ingredients scientifically proven to help with each person’s needs. It then creates a set of skincare products that include cleansers, day creams, night creams, and other items.

All Proven products are cruelty-free and made without harmful chemicals like parabens, sulfates, or phthalates. Customers receive their products in sleek, minimalistic packaging that feels luxurious. Proven’s website is the main place to order these custom products. Customers can purchase individual products or subscribe to get their personalized skincare delivered regularly.

Proven’s pricing starts around $130 for a complete skincare routine, which can include up to three different products designed to work together.

The company also offers educational resources on its website, including video tutorials and articles about skincare science. These resources help customers understand what ingredients are in their personalized products and why they were chosen. Proven is not currently available in physical retail stores, but its online presence has grown rapidly thanks to word of mouth and features in major publications.

Ming’s company has also started offering investment opportunities to customers, allowing people who love the products to become part owners of Proven.

What Happened To Proven Skincare After Shark Tank?

Although Proven didn’t get a deal on Shark Tank, the company has grown at an impressive pace. Right after the episode aired, Proven’s website saw a huge increase in traffic. Thousands of people were curious to try Proven’s personalized approach. Ming Zhao worked hard to fulfill orders and keep customers happy. In 2020, Proven reached $10 million in annual revenue, and by 2021, sales doubled to $20 million.

In 2023, Proven announced that annual revenue had reached $24 million, with over 100,000 regular subscribers.

Proven’s success has attracted attention from major media outlets. The brand has been featured on the Today Show, The New York Times, Vogue, Allure, People, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Refinery29. These features have helped Proven build credibility and spread its message about personalized skincare. Proven also expanded its product line beyond basic cleansers and moisturizers to include complete routines that address issues like acne, redness, aging, and sensitive skin.

In 2023, Proven opened investment opportunities to its loyal customers. This allowed everyday people who loved the products to buy shares in the company. Ming says this move has helped Proven grow even faster, creating a community of customers who feel invested in the brand’s success. Proven continues to use data from its growing number of users to improve the Skin Genome Project, making its AI smarter and more accurate.

Conclusion

Proven’s journey on Shark Tank showed how a great idea doesn’t always get the support it deserves right away. Ming Zhao shared her vision for data-driven, personalized skincare with the sharks, but concerns about valuation, competition, and early sales kept them from investing. Despite not securing a deal, Proven has flourished since its appearance on the show.

The company has gone from small beta sales to earning over $24 million annually and serving more than 100,000 subscribers. Proven has expanded its skincare line, gained recognition from major publications, and given customers the chance to invest in its mission. Ming’s determination shows that believing in your product and understanding your customers can lead to success, even if the sharks say no.