1. What we measure
Every SoftMaxx scan returns a numeric breakdown across 11 evaluation pillars. Each pillar is scored from 0 to 10, and the overall score is a weighted aggregate.
Pro and Elite scans add a side-profile cephalometric analysis that evaluates additional measurements not visible from the front:
Each pillar comes with a short prose comment explaining the rating, plus a ranked list of which pillars have the most room for improvement.
2. Research basis
Our scoring rubrics are calibrated against frameworks drawn from the orthodontic, maxillofacial, and facial-attractiveness research literature, and against published anthropometric norm tables broken down by sex, age, and population.
We do not publish which measurements we take, how they are weighted, or how they combine into a score. The calibration is the product, and a published spec is one anyone can copy without doing the validation behind it. The science page covers the research streams that inform the work and, just as importantly, what that research does not support.
What these frameworks are not is absolute law. Different cultures, sexes, and eras weight facial features differently, and the academic literature itself does not converge on a single canon of beauty. Our scoring is calibrated so that population average sits near 5.0/10, and validated against a held-out test set scored by human raters.
Important caveat: AI vision models calibrated against research literature do not replace clinical evaluation. SoftMaxx is an analytical tool, not a diagnostic one.
3. How the AI does it
A scan combines two things: objective measurement of your facial geometry, and an AI vision read of the surface qualities that geometry cannot capture — skin, hair, grooming. Those are scored against our calibrated rubric, then turned into your breakdown and a ranked protocol. The specifics of the measurement set and the scoring math are not published.
One part of that is worth stating precisely, because it is a privacy guarantee and not a method detail: your facial geometry is computed in your browser, on your device. The raw geometry never leaves it — only derived numbers are sent to our servers, and your photo is destroyed within seconds of analysis. See the privacy policy for the full data flow.
Analysis depth by tier
| Tier | What the vision pass does |
|---|---|
| Free | A single fast vision pass. Quicker results, coarser separation between adjacent scores. |
| Pro | A higher-capability vision pass with finer rating granularity and fuller protocol commentary. |
| Elite | Everything in Pro, plus dedicated additional passes for PSL market position and golden-ratio breakdown. |
We select vision models on measured accuracy against our internal test set, and we update that selection as models improve. Tier differences reflect analysis depth — every tier is scored against the same calibrated rubric.
Confidence reporting
Every scan reports an AI confidence level — HIGH, MEDIUM, or LOW — that reflects how clearly the AI could read your photo. Confidence depends on lighting, angle, expression, and image resolution. A low-confidence scan is not wrong; it is uncertain. If you receive a LOW confidence rating, we recommend a rescan under better conditions.
4. What it cannot do
Not a medical diagnosis. SoftMaxx does not diagnose skin conditions, dental malocclusion, asymmetry pathology, or any other medical condition. For clinical evaluation, consult a board-certified plastic surgeon, dermatologist, or orthodontist.
- Not surgical advice. Score breakdowns are aesthetic observations, not procedure recommendations. Do not use SoftMaxx output to plan surgery.
- Beauty is subjective. Our scoring captures one analytical lens calibrated against published proportionality research. It is not absolute truth, and reasonable people weight features differently.
- Photo quality affects accuracy. Bad lighting, off-axis angles, exaggerated expressions, heavy filters, or low-resolution images reduce the AI's confidence and can shift scores. Use a neutral expression, even front lighting, and a phone-quality camera for best results.
- The AI can be wrong. Vision models occasionally misread features. If a rating feels obviously off, the confidence flag is a useful signal; consider a rescan.
5. How we handle your data
Your photo is processed transiently. Specifically:
- Photos are not retained on our servers after analysis completes — typically destroyed within seconds.
- The 478 landmark points are computed in your browser and sent to our backend as numeric ratios, not as a face template usable for identification.
- We are BIPA-compliant (and observe the Texas CUBI and Washington 19.375 biometric privacy frameworks) for Illinois, Texas, and Washington residents.
- Your scan history is stored in your browser's localStorage, not on our infrastructure.
For full details, see our privacy policy.
6. Why a subscription, not a one-time charge?
An honest answer: a one-time scan is a single data point. A subscription is a tracking system.
SoftMaxx is designed around the assumption that you'll rescan over time — after a month of consistent skincare, after a haircut, after dental work, after a glow-up protocol. Each rescan generates a delta against your prior scan, and the AI chat lets you ask follow-up questions about your protocol as you progress.
You get a one-time scan for free, with no signup required. The subscription unlocks the side-profile / cephalometric layer, the full protocol, the rescan history, and ongoing AI chat as your face changes.
Pro is $19.99/month. Elite is $39.99/month or $150/year. Both cancel anytime with a 14-day money-back guarantee on first purchase.
If a subscription model isn't right for you, the free tier remains useful as a snapshot — nothing about SoftMaxx is paywalled to the point of unusable. See our refund policy for details.