How Apps Can Help You Tweak Your Custom Makeup Colors

A system that uses smartphone camera calibration and color-mapping software to let users adjust the formula of their custom cosmetic products.

What it covers

The patent describes a method for creating and then modifying custom makeup products, such as foundation. It starts by using a smartphone app to calibrate the camera and scan the user's skin, creating a 'known search key' that maps the user's skin tone to a specific point on a complex color chart (the complexion color map). Once the user has an initial product, the app provides an interface where they can manually select a different location on that map to adjust the product's color or properties. The system then uses this new selection to generate updated manufacturing instructions for a modified version of the cosmetic.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover cosmetic products that are not based on a digital complexion color map.
• —Does not cover manual, non-digital methods of mixing or adjusting cosmetic formulas.
• —Does not cover general image processing that lacks the specific step of creating a 'modified search key' for manufacturing instructions.
• —Does not cover skin analysis that is not linked to a specific, pre-defined search key for product manufacturing.

The clever bit

The system treats a physical cosmetic product as a data-driven 'search key' that can be manipulated in a digital space, effectively turning a makeup bottle into a software variable that the user can tune.

Why it matters

As the beauty industry moves toward hyper-personalization, companies like Shiseido are looking for ways to bridge the gap between digital skin analysis and physical product fulfillment. This patent provides a framework for 'iterative' personalization, allowing a customer to refine their product after an initial purchase rather than starting the process from scratch.

Real-world examples

• 1.Personalized foundation matching apps
• 2.Smart beauty kiosks in retail stores
• 3.Direct-to-consumer custom makeup subscription services