UHUE™ is a first-of-its-kind, at-home custom cosmetic creation device. Putting the power of a dedicated cosmetic factory at your fingertips and on your countertop. Studies have shown that nearly 80% of women struggle to find cosmetics that match their skin tone. This is even more challenging for those who have less common complexions or who are not represented in the traditional cosmetic industry. With UHUE we provide total control for all skin types. Including customizable options in base shades, accent colors, hue, saturation, undertones, coverage, finish, and shimmer. Users can create their entire routine including foundation, concealer, bronzer, lip color, and eyeshadow. They can save, recall, update, and even share their formulas with their friends and community. With UHUE the possibilities are endless.

Design Innovation

With the traditional cosmetic industry colors and formulas need to be produced and sold in very large quantities to be economical. This means they can only make products for the most common skin types and many individuals will be underserved or not represented at all. It has long been understood that the only way to create a perfect match is to tailor-make cosmetics onsite. Until now that has not been available or affordable to most. With UHUE we have developed a proprietary technology and system capable of metering microdoses of viscous fluids making it possible to produce custom cosmetics from the comfort of your home. UHUE makes creating custom cosmetics fun and easy. Color and formula libraries can be downloaded and modified. All selections are made through the dedicated touch display or mobile app. Ingredients are dispensed in seconds with no mess or fuss and with a quick stir ready to wear. The entire system is airless to preserve formulas and where consumers only have to replenish the ingredients they use. The device and accessories are made to last and reusable to cut back on waste. For those disposable components, parts are produced from biodegradable plastic to further reduce environmental impact. With UHUE users have full control of their beauty with no limit to their creative potential.

Cultural Impact

UHUE provides full control over one’s beauty. No more will consumers need to purchase endless products to find a close enough match. No more will consumers need to rely on used and dirty store test samples in crowded, uncomfortable, and badly lit environments. With UHUE users can create their perfect makeup right at home. Our system provides three ways of finding the perfect match so users can learn how formulas can be fine-tuned for their unique skin tones. By only purchasing the ingredients needed users can further reduce their cosmetic expenses. By connecting through the platform or social media they can find their community, share their formulas, tricks, and tips, grow, learn, and create together. At UHUE we understand the importance of personal care and beauty and how empowering it can be. We believe everyone should have access to skincare and cosmetics tailored to their unique needs. Because when we feel beautiful and seen in society we can feel optimistic and valued. While everyone has a unique skin profile there are always others who have similar complexions, styles, and needs. This is why it’s important that we not only put the control of cosmetics in the hands of the user but also give them the ability to find and connect to their people. By working together, collaborating, creating, and sharing we can encourage and promote a healthier idea of beauty in society.

Business Impact

Through our research, we found several key solutions that would dramatically benefit the client and brand. First, by focusing on color cosmetics as opposed to skincare, which would come later, there would be a larger market and position the brand more in line with creativity, exploration, and other makeup trends. Second, by purchasing individual ingredients we would avoid the need for large industrial mixing which would dramatically reduce costs. Next, by dispensing individual ingredients, and letting the user mix their formulas, we could avoid cross-contamination or residues that could shorten the product lifecycle. By developing a proprietary and low-cost pumping mechanism we could greatly reduce production costs, and avoid infringement or licensing. And by creating an embedded system that connects to a mobile app we could also improve reliability, avoid signal disruptions, ensure a longer lifecycle compared to solely app-enabled devices, and improve the overall user experience.

Aesthetics and Functionality

The design of UHUE undeniably speaks to the future of cosmetics. Where we can all be bold, beautiful, elegant, and sleek, at the same time. We understood our design had to fit into the home environment, particularly the bathroom, where countertop real estate is highly valued and common devices get stored away. UHUE needed an aesthetic more fitting as home decor or even better as an art piece. So one may be proud to let it live on the counter or even become a conversion piece. Its form was intended to relate to objects of beauty and luxury, but most importantly to jewelry. Upon opening the lid cartridges would be arrayed like little gems waiting to pop up and show their colors. Inside the vanity mirror would reveal itself angled perfectly to see one’s reflection. Outside the polished metal hinge would be a tasteful accent and symbol of quality and durability. Subtle details such as the illuminated container bay and touch display hidden under tinted tempered glass, awaken and reveal themselves when turned on and quietly disappear when put to sleep. The smooth dispensing bay walls create a soft interior space easy to clean while the small center recess guides containers to their position ready to be filled. We couldn't even ignore the hard-working power adapter that was given a little home underneath to conceal, reduce clutter, and provide a lower center of gravity for stability. Every detail of UHUE was considered because to us "design is in the details".