Recently a Harvard graduate, Grace Choi, invented a 3D make-up printer called ‘Mink’. ‘Mink’ is made to produce anything from eyeshadows, lipsticks, creams, and foundations. It pretty much acts as a inkjet printer where “you just need substrates and ink”. The product is priced at ~$300 and its target audience is for girls at the ages of 13-21.
I find this to be a good and creative idea, but I honestly don’t see potential in this product. As convenient and accessible as it sounds, I think people will waste more money trying to test out different colors, textures, etc. when they can just go to a local drugstore or Sephora and pick up items that others have previously gave raving reviews on. In addition, I feel like $300 is quite pricey for the age range, but at the same time, the only age when girls aren’t shy about trying out new make-up is in that age range.
I may be wrong. This product may actually do really well. Sometimes I just think to myself, this world is progressing way too quickly. As much as I like the new technology and how fast-paced this world is, I sometimes just wished it slowed-down a bit!
If anyone’s interested, here’s the article!
I saw this as well but in a different article and I thought it was really interesting because she said a video that this is the new way for printing. I think that is kind of true because printing has always been paper but now there is 3-D printing and now makeup! It seems that technology has really evolved. Also her invention of Mink is highly depended on social media because in the video she showed the example of watching a YouTube video and through the video she found a color to print. You need internet and social media to see or choose the color you want and print it. In the article I saw it said that she is going to destroy the makeup industry? I don’t think so because yes it can print but there is no guarantee that it will be long lasting. And I think that is what most makeup brands are trying to achieve, long lasting makeup. Also some people might have sensitive skin and Mink might not be able to accommodate for that.
Honestly I think this is a product that may actually have a chance in the market of make up. Make-up has really evolved within the past couple of years and I think a lot of that transformation has to do with the large make up fan base on youtube. Youtube has been an outlet for “amateur” make up artists to showcase their talents, provide tutorials and product reviews. I believe some of the biggest “make up Gurus” just may have the potential to market this product correctly.
A makeup printer? I’m not sure what else to wait for in the coming days. The product may not bring any use for people like me but I’m pretty sure there’s gonna be people willing to waste their time and money on this. Creative effort though!