L’Oréal Tool Helps People With Mobility Issues Apply Makeup

L’Oréal unveiled a handheld computerized makeup applicator at CES today, which is intended to help people with limited hand and arm mobility to steadily apply lipstick.

The make-up applicator, dubbed HAPTA, incorporates utensil stabilizing technology originally created by Verily (Alphabet Inc’s bio-science research organization) that was used to assist people with restricted fine motor skills to eat independently. 

HAPTA uses built-in smart motion controls and a magnetic attachment that enables the device to rotate 360 degrees and offer 180 degrees of flexion, while a clicking feature permits the user to set a position where it remains during use. The battery-powered tool takes three hours to fully charge and can then last for one hour of continuous use.

(Credit: L’Oreal)

The device will initially be piloted with L’Oréal’s cosmetic house Lancôme this year via a lipstick applicator before being rolled out for other makeup applications down the line.

Nicolas Hieronimus, L’Oreal’s CEO, said: “For L’Oréal, the future of beauty is inclusive. And this future will be made more accessible by technology.”

At CES, the company also announced the L’Oréal Brow Magic. The handheld electronic brow makeup applicator scans a user’s face before recommending microblading, micro-shading, or filler effects. 

Brow Magic
(Credit: L’Oréal)

The device is developed in partnership with tech company Prinker and uses 2,400 tiny nozzles and printing technology to provide users with a brow shape that is based on their facial features.

Barbara Lavernos, the company’s Deputy CEO said: “Inclusivity is at the heart of our innovation and beauty tech strategy. We are dedicated and passionate to bring new technologies powering beauty services that augment and reach every individual’s ultimate desires, expectations, and unmet needs.