# 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. - **Patent:** US 12073418 - **Original title:** System and method for adjusting custom topical agents - **Owner:** Shiseido Co Ltd - **Granted:** 2024 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, software ## What it does 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 does NOT 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Personalized foundation matching apps 2. Smart beauty kiosks in retail stores 3. Direct-to-consumer custom makeup subscription services ## 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. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How Apps Can Help You Tweak Your Custom Makeup Colors cover? A system that uses smartphone camera calibration and color-mapping software to let users adjust the formula of their custom cosmetic products. ### Who owns patent US 12073418? Shiseido Co Ltd owns this patent, granted in 2024. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on August 27, 2044, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? 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. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover cosmetic products that are not based on a digital complexion color map. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12073418/starship-cargo-configuration **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12073418 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. 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