unique makeup dispensers integrated into a mobile application

by James · March 15, 2023

In 2021, French cosmetics and personal beauty products company L’Oreal filed a patent for an innovative device that was published earlier this year. The unique patented design allows consumers to create and create blended cosmetics that are shade-matched to the user’s exact skin tone and color using the phone app.

Using proprietary cosmetic color cartridges, the design has since been used to create two consumer products: the Perso 3-in-1 personalized home beauty tool from L’Oreal and the Rogue Sur Mesure Custom Lip Color Creator from YSL. Detailed on L’Oreal’s website, the Perso is a six-and-a-half-inch beauty technology device that “offers personalized, on-site skin care and cosmetic formulas.”

By combining a consumer interface with artificial intelligence, Perso offers an unprecedented level of user customization to create and dispense personalized lip and skincare colors that perfectly match the user’s skin tone and coloring. The device works through the Perso mobile app, which analyzes users’ face and geographic environment, as well as information about personal preferences, targeting specific concerns such as dry skin and fine lines. The device then takes all these inputs into account to create and dispense a single dose of perfectly matched and composed product for consumer use.

Rogue Sur Mesure, on the other hand, uses the same technological advancements in a more compact model that exclusively offers users personalized lip color. As detailed on YSL’s website, the device allows users to “create thousands of unique shades with YSL’s color expertise and state-of-the-art PERSO technology.” Using the same basic functions as Perso, consumers select the desired color cartridge set, then use the YSL mobile app to match the shade to the most suitable lip color for their coloring, and can also use the app to analyze and dispense a lip color that matches their outfit with Shade Stylist.

To learn more about the development and deployment of the device technology, CosmeticsDesign spoke with the inventor of the patent, Guive Balooch, Global Head of L’Oréal’s Research and Innovation Technology Incubator. Balooch explained the background behind the device’s concept, the process by which the technology was developed, and how the technology was used to bring these innovative products to consumer use.

As the cosmetics and personal beauty industries continue to modernize and integrate AI technology into their product offerings, these tools are prime examples of how this process can be successfully applied to meet consumer demand for personalized beauty products.

CDU: What is the inspiration for the patent plan? )

GB: We worked with Branch Creative, an industrial designer from San Francisco who was inspired by various shapes and objects. Together we decided that a cylinder version is the best and most ergonomic for the consumer.

CDU: Has L’Oreal done any consumer market research on the demand for devices with these capabilities? )

GB: Absolutely! As more tech-savvy consumers enter the market and technology continues to evolve, some of the trends we lean toward are personalization, inclusivity, and sustainability. Personalization is only growing, and it’s not limited to luxury spaces – it’s just getting more precise.

We’ve found that more and more consumers want less shading and product waste, while also wanting to be more expressive through beauty. This tool encourages self-expression and inclusivity, which is always at the heart of our work.

CDU: How does the device work? )

The user first downloads the app, which can be installed on a phone or tablet, where they can explore and try on the look virtually. There are three different ways you can make lip color:

Shading wheel: to choose an everyday shade, then easily dialed in for an evening look.

Shade Match:matches a standout outfit or favorite accessory with a simple photo.

Shade stylist:A proprietary algorithm infused with Yves Saint Laurent Beaute’s color expertise, designed to suggest matching lip shades to any outfit.

The user then presses the dispensing button, which dispenses the selected shade in a perfectly dosed, single dose for easy and clean application. The user then applies the lipstick with the accompanying brush (which is magnetically attached to the device). The user can remove the compact to retouch the selected shade on the fly.

CDU: Is there a learning curve in using the tool, or is it relatively user-friendly?)

GB: The device is very user-friendly and designed to be easy to set up with step-by-step instructions within the app.

CDU: What types of cosmetic products can be dispensed from the device – just make-up or also topical agents?)

GB: The device can dispense lipstick, foundation and skin care. We are working on a variety of applications and will be adding more soon.

CDU: How are the cartridges sold? )

GB: Cassettes are sold separately. The user buys the device and separately buys the desired cartridge color, of which there are nine options: pink, red, nude, orange, two multi-colors, warning red, warm nude or cold nude.

CDU: How are the cartridges replaced and how long do they last with regular use? )

GB: It depends on individual use, but we’ve found that cartridges usually last at least a year. To change the cartridges, you can simply remove them and change them to other colors with the push of a button.

CDU: What does device maintenance look like for consumers? )

EN: There is no special maintenance system, but we recommend that you thoroughly clean the compact dispensing tray and applicator with a cotton pad or clean cloth to wipe off excess formula. In order to maintain optimal performance and hygiene, weekly hygienic maintenance by cleaning the compact scrubber is recommended.

CDU: Were there any challenges the development team had to overcome when designing the device? )

GB: There were several challenges during the development of the device. First, we had to create the perfect luxury formula, which was a challenge due to compatibility with dosing technology and materials. Second, the compact design was a challenge as it had to be airtight and hygienic. Finally, we worked very hard to perfect the dosage to ensure 100% accuracy.