3D printer for makeup

Mink Makeup Printer fuses 3D printing and beauty

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3D Printing

Instant eyeshadow created from literally any image you can capture.

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3D printing is often associated with prototypes, car parts, and various other machinery. But the Mink Makeup Printer(Opens in a new tab) is using 3D printing tech in a much glitzier manner.

The device is a printer that transforms images into instant, customizable makeup. While most 3D printers use a material like plastic in a process called additive manufacturing — where the material is added layer by layer to create a finished product — the Mink Makeup Printer works a little differently. "Essentially, it’s similar to an InkJet printer where it takes a substrate, which is coated with a powder, and it takes the ink and it deposits it onto the powder," said Grace Choi, inventor of the Mink Makeup Printer. "The powder absorbs the ink, and now that ink and powder mixture is instantly wearable."

From an image of a flower to pink powdered makeup. Credit: Mink

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The Mink Makeup Printer creates cosmetics solely in powder form, so while beauty enthusiasts would be limited to the medium, they aren't limited in terms of application. Choi says that the printed powders are most often used as eyeshadows, but can also be used as blushes, face powders, and eyebrow powders depending on the color ink the user chooses to deposit. The powders and Mink makeup sheets are also completely recyclable, so anything not used after printing should cause minimal waste.

To actually create makeup using the printer, you'd upload an image — any image, whether it's a shot of your favorite celeb or a picture of a makeup palette you've been dying to get your hands on — into the Mink app. In the app, you then crop and center the image as you'd like, keeping in mind that anything included in the photo will become a pigmented makeup powder. From there, the app will send the information to the printer, which will pop out an exact replica of your image in makeup form.

While the printer greatly expands what's possible in the beauty realm, it isn't available to the average consumer yet. Choi hopes to see the printer become integrated into beauty retailers, where consumers could come use the Mink to try out artistic forms of makeup at little personal cost to them. She also sees it as a useful tool to create sustainable makeup for makeup artists, who often need tons of one-time use shades in their practice.

We here at Beauty, Hacked couldn't wait for the Mink to hit the market, so of course, we got our hands on it a bit early. Tune into this episode to see Choi demo the Mink in action with host Jennimai Nguyen as they turn images from their personal camera rolls, the Barbie movie set, and the Euphoria cast into instant makeup.

The Mink, World’s First 3D Makeup Printer, Available for Pre-Order

Courtesy of brand

tech talk

The revolutionary device is finally coming to market.

By Kaleigh Fasanella

June 18, 2019

Beauty and technology are currently colliding more than ever before — The Mink, the world's first-ever 3D portable makeup printer, is proof of that. Now, with just a press of a button, you can create your own cosmetics from images, right in the comfort of your own home, your car, a Starbucks. ..wherever you fancy.

The Mink (a portmanteau for "makeup" and "ink") printer isn't a completely new concept, though. CEO and co-founder Grace Choi and her team debuted the Mink printer concept in 2014 at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference, and since then, have worked meticulously to refine every detail and get it to their standards.

The idea itself initially stemmed from our generation's obsession with all things digital. "Beauty content continues to move to digital and away from traditional TV and print," says Choi in a press release sent to Allure. "Users are turning to these images for inspiration, creating an opportunity to leverage image color data and transform them into physical makeup — I am thrilled to finally be sharing the Mink experience with everyone."

Grace Choi, co-founder of the Mink 3D Printer

Courtesy of brand

The "experience" is truly just as easy as it sounds, too. You simply download the Mink app and import any image you want — whether it be from the Web, your camera roll, or Instagram — and then choose to print either the entire image or one single color. Once you've made your decision, you simply insert a Mink makeup sheet into the printer's tray and hit send to print. Bada bing, bada boom. After a cool 15 seconds, your makeup is officially ready to apply on a light and portable square sheet, making this a really convenient way to create a touch-up kit on the go or to pack some color cosmetics when traveling. Another notable detail worth writing home about: It has the ability to print an impressive 16.7 million colors, so you can more or less create any makeup shade imaginable — again, with just a push of a button.

Courtesy of brand

Is the Mink going to revolutionize how we see, use, and buy makeup? While our estimated guess is yes, we'll just have to wait and see. With eye shadow palettes getting more and more elaborate with packaging and price, a makeup printer that can create any color you imagine on a light-as-air piece of paper. You can even print a grid or quad of colors to maximize the space on each piece of paper (which comes in matte as well as multiple, shimmery finishes). Choi says that the shelf life of the printed pigments can last you about two weeks when kept covered in its original plastic film, which comes in handy so they don't smudge anywhere either. It's a similar concept to photos being printed on cakes but with makeup.

Panasonic 3D printed makeup and smart mirror

Panasonic 3D printed makeup

Panasonic, a world-famous company, decided to step away from its core business a bit and try its hand at beauty products. Of course, the organization's experience in the development of high-tech electronic devices is reflected in the new project, which resulted in something completely unique. At the beginning of this year, the Japanese already impressed the world with their vision of the makeup of the future, which will help shape 3D technology, and last week they showed an improved version of a fantastic product. The innovative development is called Panasonic smart-mirror and fully corresponds to its name. A smart mirror can scan the user's face and select the optimal 3D printing makeup.

The concept of a smart mirror is as follows: thanks to the 3D scanning technique, the device collects all the data about your face, including the slightest bumps, moles, age spots, etc. Based on the information received, the mirror determines the optimal type of makeup specifically for you, and then uses 3D printing to create the so-called "individual card" - a thin sheet of cosmetics applied to the face like a temporary tattoo. Just imagine - no more fussing with foundation, concealer, blush and powder of different shades to get an even skin tone. Just a couple of minutes at the smart mirror, and 3D printing makeup is ready to be applied.

What is interesting about 3D printing makeup

Of course, there were opponents to this idea, but in today's article we will focus on the advantages of the technique and consider the prospects declared by the developers. The world saw a new version of the smart mirror at the CEATEC (Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies) global exhibition of advanced technologies in Japan. 3D printing function has been added to the improved version for direct reproduction of the make-up. In order not to miss a single detail in the user's appearance, the device is equipped with the most accurate sensors and high-resolution cameras that can recognize, scan and analyze a person's face, location of spots or any skin defects.

Naturally, such an advanced device cannot be imagined without the visualization option. Any choice of the user, be it the type of makeup, the shape of the eyebrows, a new hairstyle or even a beard, will be clearly demonstrated, allowing you to see yourself in a new image. The developers have provided a special training course that explains the basics of working with a mirror to the user and helps to master 3D printed makeup.
Yes, about makeup. It is the “cosmetic” 3D printer integrated into the device that is the main highlight of this project. As the creators explain, such "additive cosmetics" is a very thin film applied to the skin.

3D technologies in make-up

High-quality masking of defects, makeup at the same time preserves the natural look of the skin. Agree, a good decision. The company hopes that this technique will also be useful in the medical field for the visual removal of scars and other traces of trauma or surgery.
Today, the smart mirror is at the prototype stage and Panasonic does not intend to release the project outside the domestic market yet. The developers plan to solve several important problems and bring the device to perfection. Ironically, the main problem with the device is 3D-printed makeup - it takes a matter of minutes to reproduce it, but it takes quite a long time to adapt the cosmetics to the face.

3D printing makeup: video

Therefore, there is no information about the possible date for the smart mirror to go on sale.
In general, Panasonic is not the first to aim at the introduction of 3D printing in such an unusual industry. Several large organizations are already using additive techniques to create unique cosmetics and simplify the process of applying makeup. In particular, the Swedish company Foreo is developing a MODA cosmetic 3D printer, and the well-known company L’Oreal is interested in the possibilities of 3D bioprinting for creating artificial skin tissues.

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the beauty industry of the future, which has already arrived

Maximum personalization is in trend. Cosmetologists choose a care program only after consultation, tests and analyzes, and brands develop individual formulations based on your questionnaire. If it seems to you that 3D printed face masks are the distant future, then we hasten to inform you: it has already arrived. Many revolutionary developments already exist and are just waiting for the right time to present.

- Innovations should be introduced gradually so that we have time to get used to them, - explains Anna Dycheva, an international expert in the field of cosmetics and perfumery marketing, CEO of Reed Exhibitions. - For example, one company has a device for applying make-up on the face. At first, the idea looked like an April Fool's joke, but now it has become our reality. Now the creators of the idea are waiting for the production to become cheaper in order to proceed with its release.

Also now available are 3D printers and scanners that create personalized creams and serums, foundation applicators, makeup matching gadgets, and mini pills that turn into serum in the palm of your hand. Information about this is in the public domain of beauty companies. Let's talk about them in more detail. Neutrogena MaskiD

Sheet masks, which often do not fit in shape and composition, will be a thing of the past. Neutrogena offers to scan the face and print the mask on a 3D printer with cuts for lips, nose and mouth according to our individual features. Another bonus is the right texture that works in several directions: one mask, for example, can smooth wrinkles on the forehead, but clear the T-zone.

Optune, Shiseido

On the official website of Shiseido, you can find information on the development of a device for personal daily care. After all, each of our days is not like the other: today we need deep cleansing, and tomorrow we may need hydration and nutrition. Optune will determine what is needed, taking into account not only the condition of the skin, but also the hormonal and emotional background, even the weather. You will need to scan your face using a special application and camera, and then get the desired product on the printer.

Apparatus for applying tone Opte Precision Skincare

In recent years, mixing several shades of foundation is bad manners. And despite the fact that many brands produce more than 20, and sometimes 40 shades, Procter & Gamble is going to introduce a device that, after scanning the face, will select the desired tone. And not only pick up, but also with the help of a spray gun will apply the right amount to certain zones with the thinnest, barely noticeable layer. The result is red carpet star skin without much effort or skill.

L'Oreal Perso Makeup Machine

The makeup machine we wrote about above isn't out yet, but the L'Oreal Makeup Gadget is out there (to be released in 2021! ). The novelty is synchronized with a smartphone, analyzes the user's color type, clothes and weather in the region, and then gives the desired shades of lipsticks, pencils and shadows. You no longer have to buy a hundred funds in order to always have a choice.

Mini-tablets instead of packs

Whey tablet that dissolves in water, Wellage

Speaking of packs, in the future they will be reusable or not at all. Wellage has developed a capsule-tablet with hyaluronic acid that will fit even in a very small cosmetic bag. With the contact of water in the palm of your hand, the tablet turns into a serum that can be immediately applied to the face. Simple and convenient.

Professional devices for home use

Gouache, rollers and other devices that replace professional massage, or LED therapy lamps that allow you to take care of your skin at home are in trend today. Soon, a visit to a cosmetologist may not be needed at all, as there will be more and more professional cosmetology devices on the market that will replace salon procedures.

Adaptive cosmetics

More and more companies are betting on full equality and accessibility.

3D printer for makeup

Mink Makeup Printer fuses 3D printing and beauty

The Mink, World’s First 3D Makeup Printer, Available for Pre-Order

Panasonic 3D printed makeup and smart mirror

Panasonic 3D printed makeup

What is interesting about 3D printing makeup

3D technologies in make-up

3D printing makeup: video

the beauty industry of the future, which has already arrived

Learn more