Remember how Napster came in and revolutionised the music industry forever? Well, the same is about to happen for the $55 million beauty industry in a big way. Recently Harvard Business School Grad and a self proclaimed “serial inventor” Grace Choi introduced Mink, a 3D make-up printer at TechCrunch to a rapt audience.
I have included a video of Grace’s presentation to this post (worth having a look, she is funny and very knowledgeable and it will give you a first look at the Mink prototype) but in a nutshell, the way the printer works is like this: You need a computer and the Mink 3D printer (which Grace is planning on retailing for $300.00.) Then you choose an image of the make up colour you would like to copy, click on the colour, then click print and hey presto… it’ll print you that exact shade of make up, let’s say eye shadow, for example. A finished product ready to use.
There are protesters of course, who will say that you will never be able to completely duplicate some aspects of many cosmetics. That may be true, but still, technology is putting us in the driving seat. Quite exciting, no? Besides, this way nothing will have to be discontinued ever again. That favourite lipstick of yours from back in the 80s? Do you have a photograph of you wearing it? With this 3D make up printer, you’ll never run out of it again.
Let me know what you think!
Image source: Google
