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LOreal Withings Kerastase Hair Coach Smart Connected Hair Brush hairbrush Bluetooth
Cosmetics, Fashion

L’Oreal Debuts Smart Hairbrush To Rate The Health Of Your Hair

January 6, 2017

LOreal Withings Kerastase Hair Coach Smart Connected Hair Brush hairbrush Bluetooth

At CES this week, L’Oreal showed off a new concept in hair care. The Kérastase Hair Coach is an “under $200” connected hairbrush designed to monitor the health of your hair. A bevy of sensors are used to alert you to problematic brushing habits and you are presented with a daily hair quality score. Based on your score and the expected temperature, humidity, and wind for the day, you are then presented with personalized styling and treatment tips as well as product recommendations (we are guessing they will be Kérastase products). But how does it work and do you really need this International CES Innovation Award winning gadget?  

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by Doug Parker
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Organovo L'Oreal 3D Printer Skin Samples
Cosmetics

L’Oreal Plans to Use 3D Printed Skin To Test Cosmetics

May 20, 2015

Organovo L'Oreal 3D Printer Skin SamplesL’Oreal is partnering with bioprinting company Organovo to print skin samples for cosmetic testing. Organovo has developed a technology that utilizes two print heads, one for human cells, the other for a hydrogel support matrix, to produce small skin samples at a commercial scale. Currently the French beauty company grows their own .5cm square skin samples for testing, breaking down a skin sample to individuals cells and then regrowing them. L’Oreal has been doing this since the 1980s and on a yearly basis creates approximately the amount of skin that is on a cow. After ceasing testing on animals in 2013, they have a growing need to more efficiently create skin samples. Organovo’s 3D printed bio-tissue will be able to generate significantly more skin samples for L’Oreal and with less labor. If all goes according to plan with the technology, the French beauty company will have exclusive access to the tech for non-perscription skin care use. If you haven’t heard of Organovo, it is worth checking them out; the bioprinting work they are doing is impressive.

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by Doug Parker
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Cosmetics

Personalized Makeup Tutorials With Google Glass

December 12, 2014

YSL Google Glass Makeup TutorialWatch out Michelle Phan, if YSL has their way, the next time you need a makeup tutorial you might be heading to the beauty counter instead of YouTube. With over 40% of women seeking makeup advice online and 50% of millennial beauty shoppers viewing beauty related YouTube videos (Michelle Phan has over 3.5B views), cosmetic companies are looking for new ways to drive personal engagement. YSL thinks they have found an answer with personalized makeup tutorials. Currently being tested at the company’s Bloomingdales, NYC and Selfridges, London counters, the makeup artist wears a pair of Google Glass and records the entire process of applying your makeup from their point-of-view. If all goes according to plan, YSL plans to roll out the service to more locations in the US and UK in 2015. Cosmopolitan UK tried it out and posted their tutorial video online, head past the break to see it. 

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by Doug Parker
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Cosmetics

Nail Polish Capable Of Detecting Date Rape Drugs Being Developed

August 26, 2014

Undercover Colors

A group of students at NC State have developed a nail polish capable of detecting the presence of date rape drugs. Recently presented as part of the K50 Startup Showcase, the students are calling the new product Undercover Colors. While still very early in the development process, the idea behind the product is both simple and compelling. By discreetly stirring a drink with her finger, the color of the nail polish will change, alerting the wearer that something is wrong with the beverage. So far they have won the 2014 N.C. State Entrepreneurship Initiative and have raised $100,000 from a single investor at K50. Undercover Colors is currently in limited testing but the students behind the project promise that they will have more to share in the “not-too-distant future.”

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by Doug Parker
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Cosmetics

Easily Change Your Hair Color With Nano Patterns

August 20, 2014

Color Your Hair With Nano Patterns

Researchers at The University Of New Mexico believe they have developed a way to etch your hair so that it reflects light to show almost any color you wish. While still being developed (the above image is a mockup from the project), they have been able to use an ion beam to etch stands of hair with nano patterns. These patterns then reflect light in such a way that hair appears to be colored. The etching process is permanent (until your hair grows out), but the researchers hope to develop a polymer based conditioner that would allow the color effect to be easily washed out. This process is definitely not even close to hitting the streets, but it is interesting none the less. To find out more, the process is detailed in The Journal Of Cosmetics Dermatological Sciences And Applications.

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by Doug Parker
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Omote Digital Makeup
Cosmetics

Omote Displays Digital Makeup On Your Face

August 20, 2014

Omote Digital MakeupResearcher in Japan have unveiled a video of a new system called Omote. It scans a face and then applies projection mapping in real time. Omote is even able to track facial movements such as opening or closing your eyes.  While the video goes to extremes, showing gears inside the woman’s face and real-time reflection effects, it also highlights the system’s potential commercial importance by applying different styles of makeup. While not intended to be a day-to-day use device, the impact of it at your local department store’s cosmetic section is obvious. Sit in the chair and instantly you can try on a digital version of a new color of lipstick, eyeliner, or blush. Head past the break to see Omote in action.

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by Doug Parker
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Mink 3D Printer
Cosmetics

Meet Mink: The 3D Printer For Cosmetics

May 7, 2014

Mink 3D Printer

While makeup and cosmetics aren’t a usual topic for us, they are an important part of fashion.  With that in mind, we would be remiss not to cover a very interesting announcement out of Disrupt NY from Harvard Business grad Grace Choi.  Attempting to push 3D printers in a new, more useful direction, Choi announced a 3D printer for makeup called Mink.  The concept behind the printer is that most cosmetics are chemically identical, differing mainly in color.  According to Choi, the color is what more often than not defines the price point.  Mink uses these basic formulas to create cosmetics of any color under the rainbow. 

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by Doug Parker
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