Sanitary Apparatus and Method for Sampling Cosmetics

Abstract

A cosmetic patch for testing and evaluating a cosmetic product. The patch comprises a top surface colored and textured to match that of a user's features, preferably that of their lips. The reverse side of the patch comprises a weak adhesive surface to temporarily bond to the user's hand, forearm, or other object. When the user deposits a sample of the cosmetic product onto the textured surface of the patch, the user may then compare and evaluate the look of the cosmetic product on their particular features, for example their lips, without having to actually place the cosmetic product on their features and thus prevent the spread of contagious diseases and maintain costs at a minimum for the cosmetics vendor.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 243,936 filed on Sep. 18, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference and to which priority is claimed pursuant to 35 USC 119.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates to the field of cosmetics, specifically to an apparatus for testing cosmetics in a sanitary fashion[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]Currently, when a customer is at a cosmetics counter within a department store, shopping mall, or other venue where popular cosmetics are sold, there are very few options for the customer to try or sample a particular type or color of cosmetic product without having to buy the product. In the case of lipstick, most stores or cosmetic vendors will only have one sample for each shade of lipstick available for the entirety of the public to use. Needless to say, in an attempt to keep costs down as well as to stop the spread o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a cosmetic patch that can be used to test and evaluate different cosmetic products. The patch is made to match the user's features, like their lips, and it has a temporary adhesive surface to stick to the user's hand or other object. This allows the user to apply a small amount of the cosmetic product onto the patch and compare it with the look on their own features without spreading any contagious diseases. The technical effect of this invention is that it provides a cost-effective and safe way to test and evaluate new cosmetic products without risking contamination or wasting product."

Problems solved by technology

Currently, when a customer is at a cosmetics counter within a department store, shopping mall, or other venue where popular cosmetics are sold, there are very few options for the customer to try or sample a particular type or color of cosmetic product without having to buy the product.

Needless to say, in an attempt to keep costs down as well as to stop the spread of contagious diseases, it is impossible for the sample lipstick to actually be placed on a customer's lips.

While this may be ideal for a variety of skin creams, it is less than desirable when the customer wishes to test a cosmetic product such as lipstick because as is nearly the case in every person, the color of one's lips is not nearly the same color as one's hand or skin in general.

Testing a particular shade or texture of lipstick on the customer's hand therefore leads to a false comparison of how that product will actually look on the customer's lips because while a particular color may look good over the customer's skin on their hand, it may not look or feel as good as when on their lips.

Additionally, the concern of stopping the spread of contagious diseases is not really addressed here as the same lipstick tube could conceivably be used over and over on the back of each customer's hand, a portion of the body that is no more likely to be clean or sanitary as their lips or mouth.

However, this leads to an even larger discrepancy than that described above because the bleached white color of an index card or tissue is even further away from the true color of the customer's lips than that of their skin, thus giving the customer even less information to base their purchase on.

However, in addition to being expensive, very valuable counter space and storage is needed to display and house the sample units which make them unattractive for many cosmetic vendors, especially for those that are mobile or door-to-door.

This technique has not been proven to be 100% medically effective in eliminating all bacteria and viruses left on a tube of lipstick.

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