After graduating from Harvard, Grace Choi decided that she wanted to target the makeup industry with a low-cost device that would actually let consumers simply print their own. And while she’s working on perfecting (and raising the needed funding) to put her Mink printer into production, she’s created a tutorial on how to hack a run-of-the-mill inkjet to actually print makeup.
Choi’s Mink printer will eventually be targeted at a younger audience who hasn’t developed a loyalty to a particular brand of makeup yet. But also those who don’t like the limited selection of colours available at their local drug store, and don’t want to pay the high prices of makeup stores such as Sephora. So it’s somewhat fitting that this hack relies on an inkjet printer, another product notorious for ripping off consumers with exorbitant markups.
The video shows how the DIY machine works, but if you really want to try it for yourself you’ll need to head over to Business Insider who’s worked with Choi to create a detailed step-by-step tutorial and parts list. A $US70 HP 6100 is recommended to start, but you’ll also need to source some vegetable-based inks so the homebrew makeup is safe to use on your skin, and a few other ingredients.
As far as hacks go, this one actually seems pretty manageable, and the fact that it can be used to create makeup in bright custom colours at a fraction of the cost of buying it might make it worth trying instead of waiting for the actual Mink to hit the market. [Mink via Business Insider via Ali Symons]