Mink: The Personal 3D Makeup Printer

 

Michelle Phan “Robot Chic” YouTube Billboard, NYC

 

If you’ve been around New York City recently, watched networks like ABC Family, or opened a copy of Allure, you may have noticed the YouTube campaign featuring the biggest beauty gurus. It’s no wonder we continue to witness the rise of beauty bloggers and vloggers; The Internet is a huge force in revolutionizing the concept of beauty and how we consume beauty products.

We buy and sell cosmetics online, review beauty products online, and watch countless makeup tutorials online. Wouldn’t it make sense to eventually create our own makeup at home with the help of the Internet and 3D printing technology? Yes!

All you fellow tech geeks out there might be familiar with TechCrunch Disrupt and some of the hype surrounding 3D printing. But what does that have to do with the beauty industry? Imagine taking the color from any image on your phone or computer and printing custom makeup at home–essentially creating your own personal Sephora (okay, maybe that’s just me being really hopeful).

I was so excited to see this article and demo spotlighting Mink, a mini 3D makeup printer created by Grace Choi, a Harvard Business School grad.

Grace Choi, Mink at TechCrunch Disrupt

Mink, The Makeup Printer

You basically use any image software to identify a specific color, copy and paste the Hex Code and send the color to print. Choi’s prototype currently produces a powder eyeshadow pigment, but she explains the printer would also be able to create lipsticks, foundations and creams.

The evaluated price point is $300.00 for the printer (no set price yet for the ink/substrates). If you’re intrigued, you can request an invite to receive further updates regarding Mink.

I wonder about the quality of the “ink” and pigment ingredients. Even though Choi mentions the ink is FDA-compliant, I would like to know the composition in comparison to other trusted brands. Also, what else could the software and printer produce?

Will this technology really drive down the cost of cosmetics and help consumers save money in the long run? I hope so!

Regardless, the emerging 3D printing technology is pretty exciting and I like to think that an at-home makeup factory could be on the horizon!

Take a moment to watch this demo and let know what you think. What type of beauty product or invention would you create?

 

 

 

 

Oh, Audrey

As an Audrey fan and admirer, I had to post this screen test for ‘Roman Holiday’ (as shared via BuzzFeed)

Enjoy!

{Some Wisdom from Audrey, XO}

{Liz}

#Elizabethology

Putting Inspiration to Work

Life can be a battle and it is not always easy. Nevertheless, enjoy the precious moments; do not let them go by unnoticed. Live in the “now” and treasure your life, your loved ones as well as your gift to be there for others. Remember lovelies, we are here on borrowed time. ~ Cath B Akesson

{Photo Courtesy of BeautyHigh}

It shouldn’t take someone’s death to be one’s motivation to start living, but sometimes its the realization that time is borrowed that ends up being the call of action to stop wasting it and stop making excuses.

If you are a beauty addict like me, there’s a good chance you watch or subscribe to beauty gurus on YouTube. I’ve followed many of the “OG” gurus (such as the very prominent Kandee Johnson to the Ipsy girls and Elle and Blair Fowler, and I could go on, and on) from the early inception of the Internet beauty community phenomenon.

As a beauty guru fan, you can become attached to these amazingly talented ladies who hail from all over the world. You admire their originality and candidness. You find yourself owning that carefree girly girl spirit inside you, experimenting with new makeup techniques and coveting new ‘holy grail’ items to add to your beauty arsenal. Most of all you appreciate their honest life advice, from one woman to another. They are a ‘friend in your head.’

There is one such star who will remain a source of inspiration to me and many others. Her name is Talia Joy Castellano. The story of Talia is one of immense hope and strength. Talia was diagnosed with two forms of childhood cancer, beginning at the age of seven. She loved makeup and beauty and the ability to help others find beauty within themselves. To her, “makeup was her wig“–it’s all she needed to feel beautiful and confident. 

Talia’s vigor for life was showcased on July 9, 2013 when her bucket list was posted to her ‘Angels For Talia‘ Facebook page, which mentioned all the beautiful things she wanted to accomplish in her life. Realizing that her list was so ambitious, her fans joined in #taliasbucketlist to help her reach her goals. This initiative inspired so many to get up and get things done. 
Among the people Talia touched in her pursuit of life were Ellen DeGeneres and the team at CoverGirl. Talia’s spirit would continue to soar and inspire many more.

Talia passed away on July 16th, 2013 after battling Cancer for more than six years. A deep sadness was shared by all who cared for her and who admired her strength. Her bucket list is not yet complete but it was also not nearly forgotten.
Talia’s supporters, known as ‘Angels’ are uniting to make sure all items are crossed of this bucket list and to carry on Talia’s hope to find a cure for cancer. Looking at my own life and all the things I’ve been avoiding, scared to try and then fail, I realize how wasteful I have been; how I’ve been given time and opportunity to try and try again.

I read an article on BeautyHigh regarding a petition started by Talia’s angels which is championing for one very special bucket list request — #62 to be exact — to create Talia’s  very own makeup line with MAC Cosmetics. The call is also to ensure partial proceeds will donated to cancer research and of course spread Talia’s love for beauty–a legacy that she will always have.

I urge you to check out this article and learn more about Talia and her dreams. If you don’t have a bucket list or specific goals of your own, I bet you will soon after you get to know this Angel.

Please also take the time to read this post from one of Talia’s closest friends and fellow YouTube Beauty Guru, the fabulous Kandee Johnson.

This post is dedicated to Talia Joy Castellano and her family. Thank you, Talia, for giving us hope, joy and peace.

#62 on #taliasbucketlist:

Xoxo,

{Liz}