The Hapta device has motion sensors that enable it to steady the user’s hand
(Picture: L’Oréal)L’Oréal has debuted a motorised, handheld device that allows people with limited hand and arm mobility to apply make-up steadily.
The slender new product uses motion sensors and magnetic attachments that enable make-up application in 360 degree rotations and 180 degree flexions, according to the company.
The move is part of the cosmetics industry’s push to develop products for people with disabilities – a generally untapped market that is believed to be worth $1.2 trillion (£990 billion). Thus far, these efforts have largely focused on creating ergonomic products, such as make-up brushes that can bend and are easier to grip, and easy to open moisturisers.
L’Oréal says the new Hapta device is aimed at the 50 million people around the globe that have limited fine motor skills, including those who have cerebral palsy or have suffered a stroke.
The product, unveiled at the CES tech show in Las Vegas, will be piloted with a lipstick applicator later this year from L’Oréal brand ââLancôme.
In developing Hapta, L’Oréal received a helping hand from Google sister company Verily, which specialises in life sciences. Verily has created all manner of futuristic tech including smart shoes that detect falls and contact lenses that check blood glucose levels for people with diabetes.
In the case of L’Oréal’s make-up applicator, the product uses Verily technology originally designed to stabilise and level utensils for people with disabilities. Google originally unveiled a smart spoon with those features all the way back in 2014. The so-called Liftware spoon relied on hundreds of algorithms to sense how a hand is shaking and make adjustments to keep balanced.
A consumer product, dubbed the Liftware range, was later released in 2016. It currently includes an assistive device for people with hand tremors or limited hand and arm mobility. The devices each cost $195, with additional fork and spoon attachments sold separately for $20.
L’Oréal and Verily began collaborating on skincare and digital dermatology tools in January.
“Beauty tech [is] revolutionising the way we develop beauty products and services and enabling greater personalisation,” said Françoise Lehmann, Lancôme’s global brand president. “With Hapta we are going one step further by making beauty more accessible to use, because everyone should have equal access to it.”
Also at CES, the cosmetics company announced a Brow Magic applicator that offers personalised eyebrow looks based on face scans from an accompanying app.
The product has 2,400 small nozzles and a printing resolution of up to 1,200 drops per inch. L’Oréal says it can apply a precise brow shape in seconds and can be removed using a standard makeup remover. Brow Magic looks at the user’s face shape and thickness to make recommendations for microblading, micro-shading or filler effects. The product is scheduled to arrive later this year.
