U.S. patent application number 15/326758 was filed with the patent office on 2017-07-27 for method of selecting the colour of cosmetic products.
The applicant listed for this patent is THE BOOTS COMPANY PLC. Invention is credited to Joanne Watson.
Application Number | 20170208922 15/326758 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51494999 |
Filed Date | 2017-07-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170208922 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Watson; Joanne |
July 27, 2017 |
METHOD OF SELECTING THE COLOUR OF COSMETIC PRODUCTS
Abstract
According to the present invention there is provided a method
for selecting colour cosmetics which are most flattering for a
given complexion shade.
Inventors: |
Watson; Joanne; (Nottingham,
GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
THE BOOTS COMPANY PLC |
Nottingham |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
51494999 |
Appl. No.: |
15/326758 |
Filed: |
July 17, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
July 17, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2015/025051 |
371 Date: |
January 17, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2044/007 20130101;
A45D 44/005 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 44/00 20060101
A45D044/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 23, 2014 |
GB |
1413047.0 |
Claims
1. A method of selecting a suitable/coordinating lip product shade
in which 1) An assessment is made of the complete complexion shade
of the user 2) A range of lip product colour cosmetics is selected
according to one of the four complexion groups wherein, if a) the
user has a complexion lightness L* of 41-52 units, C* of 18-24
units and a hue angle h.degree. of 54-60.degree., then the user is
matched with a lip product colour cosmetic with hue angle h.degree.
5-30.degree., lightness L* of 40-45 units and chroma C* of 30-50;
b) the user has a complexion lightness L* of 58-70 units, C* of
20-25 units and a hue angle h.degree. of greater than 63.degree.,
then the user is matched with a lip product colour cosmetic with
hue angle h.degree. 10-30.degree., lightness L* of 40-47 units and
chroma C* 30-50; c) the user has a complexion lightness L* of 62-68
units, C* of 18-25 units and hue angle h.degree. of less than
50.degree., then then the user is matched with a lip product colour
cosmetic with hue angle h.degree. 5-20.degree., lightness L* 40-49
units and chroma C* 30-50; d) the user has a complexion lightness
L* of greater than 52 units, C* of 20-25 units and hue angle
h.degree. of 56-63, then the user is matched with a lip product
colour cosmetic with hue angle h.degree. 5-25.degree., lightness
L*40-4 units and chroma C* 30-50.
2. A kit of colour cosmetics comprising selecting a foundation
shade selected from group consisting: a) a complexion lightness L*
of 41-52 units, C* of 18-24 units and a hue angle h.degree. of
54-60.degree.; b) a complexion lightness L* of 58-70 units, C* of
20-25 units and a hue angle h.degree. of greater than 63.degree.;
c) a complexion lightness L* of 62-68 units, C* of 18-25 units and
hue angle h.degree. of less than 50; and d) a complexion lightness
L* of greater than 52 units, C* of 20-25 units and hue angle
h.degree. of 56-63, and combining it with the appropriate lip
product colour cosmetic according to claim 1
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a method of selection of
colour cosmetics that provides an objective assessment of colours
that suit a given user.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The use of colour cosmetics is not a new concept or habit.
Today, a user will make their own choice of colour cosmetics from
the array of products that are presented in a shop.
[0003] In the former scenario, the user is required to subjectively
decide which colour cosmetics may suit their complexion. The
lighting in a shop will play an important role in the perception of
colour, and in particular, whether a colour cosmetic will suit the
user or not. Moreover, the light output can be different from
different light sources, for example daylight light is slightly
bluish in colour compared to an incandescent light bulb, leading to
a slightly different perceived colour. Users are often seen to
`test` a product on their hand, however the skin tone and texture
of skin on a hand is not equivalent to complexion of the face,
resulting in the user buying a product which may well have suited
the skin tone of their hand, but not their face. Furthermore, even
if the user correctly selects a suitable colour cosmetic, if
foundation is applied to the skin, the foundation may change the
tone of the skin to the extent that the colour cosmetic is no
longer suitable.
[0004] Alternatively, a user may seek advice from an in-store
colour cosmetic adviser. However, although more experienced in
colour choice than some consumers, the offer of an adviser may also
be subjective.
[0005] Attempts have been made in the past to group people of
similar complexion, such as the system used by `Colour Me
Beautiful`, whereby a user will be grouped into a warmer or cooler
shade or by `season`. The aim of such a system was then to offer
the user a pre-selected palette of colours that were defined to
suit. Whilst the theory behind such attempts may be good, the user
would often get the grouping wrong, because of some of the lighting
issues discussed above, or their own perception of their skin tone.
However the system was too simplistic and users often made an
incorrect initial choice of which warm/cooler shade or `season`
they fell into, as well as the pre-selected colour palette also
sometimes incorrectly leading the user to an incorrect palette
choice. In brief, it did not follow that if one found oneself to be
of `cool` skin tone, that one should wear `cool` colours. The
systems were subjective, and thus subject to human error.
[0006] The above inadequacies of the colour cosmetic selection
process results in a poor experience of the user, which the
Applicant has sought to address.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a
method of selecting a suitable/coordinating lip product colour
cosmetic in which [0008] 1) An assessment is made of the complete
complexion shade of the user [0009] 2) A lip product colour
cosmetic is selected according to one of the four complexion groups
wherein, if [0010] a) the user has a complexion lightness L* of
41-52 units, C* of 18-24 units and a hue angle h.degree. of
54-60.degree., then the user is matched with a lip product colour
cosmetic with hue angle h.degree. 5-30.degree., lightness L* of
40-45 units and chroma C* of 30-50; [0011] b) the user has a
complexion lightness L* of 58-70 units, C* of 20-25 units and a hue
angle h.degree. of greater than 63.degree., then the user is
matched with a lip product colour cosmetic with hue angle h.degree.
10-30.degree., lightness L* of 40-47 units and chroma C* 30-50;
[0012] c) the user has a complexion lightness L* of 62-68 units, C*
of 18-25 units and hue angle h.degree. of less than 50.degree.,
then then the user is matched with a lip product colour cosmetic
with hue angle h.degree. 5-20.degree., lightness L* 40-49 units and
chroma C* 30-50; [0013] d) the user has a complexion lightness L*
of greater than 52 units, C* of 20-25 units and hue angle h.degree.
of 56-63, then the user is matched with a lip product colour
cosmetic with hue angle h.degree. 5-25.degree., lightness L*40-49
units and chroma C* 30-50.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The Applicants of the present invention have been primarily
concerned with improving the objectivity of the colour cosmetic
selection process. The Applicants have found that not all colour
cosmetics, such as lip shades for example, will suit every skin
tone. For example, for users with a golden tone to their
complexion, lip shades that are tonally more blue, such as
magenta/fuchsia in colour, are less flattering to the complexion
than lipstick shades that are more yellow, such as ruby or auburn
toned shades.
[0015] A wide variety of lipstick shades will flatter skins that
are darker in tone, such as for example, magenta, rose, raspberry,
ruby, coral and auburn toned shades flatter these skin tones.
However for those users whose skin is very pink in tone will find
that yellow toned shades, such as auburn or coral lipstick shades,
are less flattering. Alternatively, bluer-toned lipstick shades,
for example rose, magenta, raspberry shades will be more
flattering.
[0016] For all other skin tones a wide range of lipstick shades are
flattering, but orange-toned shades, such as coral, orange, auburn
will be less flattering.
[0017] There is no accurate method for deciding whether a colour
flatters a user or not, but instead this is a instinctive decision
based on the perceived appearance of the user. When a shade of a
colour cosmetic suits a user, their skin appears healthier, more
radiant, lighter and energised. Contrarily, when a shade does not
suit the user, the skin appears grey, drained and unwell, and tends
to highlight negatively perceived areas, such as dark marks or bags
under the eye, the appearance of blemishes, or uneven skin
tone.
[0018] Colour of the complexion, foundation and colour cosmetic are
measured within the CIELAB(L*a*b*) method. CIELAB (L*a*b*) is a
three-dimensional colour space that can be used to describe all
colours visible to the human eye. A particular colour can be
specified in CIELAB using three different parameters: L* denotes
the lightness of the colour and runs from 0, representing black,
and 100, representing white; a* denotes the red/green value of the
colour; and b* denotes the yellow/blue value of the colour. CIELAB
uses Cartesian co-ordinates to describe a colour. Polar
co-ordinates can also be used. This method is called CIELCH
(L*C*h.degree.) and is derived from CIELAB. Here, L* denotes
lightness, C* denotes chroma and h.degree. denotes hue angle.
[0019] The objective of the present work was to identify which
shades of colour cosmetic was flattering to a given complexion
shade. The Applicant is able to measure shade of complexion using
their marketed colour-measuring instrument, the `Match Made`
device, and will then be able to offer a client a pre-chosen range
of colour cosmetics, for example lip shade, that will flatter
either their complexion, or their complexion with foundation
applied thereto. It has been possible to group complexion shades
into 4 different areas of the colour space.
[0020] The first group are defined by a complexion lightness L* of
41-52 units, C* of 18-24 units and a hue angle h.degree. of
54-60.degree.. These complexions are darker in colour, an example
of which may be an Afro-Caribbean origin and the like?. When a user
has a complexion tone in this range, then the user is matched with
a lip shade colour cosmetic with hue angle h.degree. 5-30.degree.,
lightness L* of 40-45 units and chroma C* of 30-50.
[0021] The second group are defined by a complexion lightness L* of
58-70 units, C* of 20-25 units and a hue angle h.degree. of greater
than 63.degree.. These complexions have golden tones and examples
of which may be people of Asian-origin When a user has complexion
tone in this range, then the user is matched with a lip shade
colour cosmetic with hue angle h.degree. 10-30.degree., lightness
L* of 40-47 units and chroma C* 30-50.
[0022] The third group have a complexion lightness L* of 62-68
units, C* of 18-25 units and hue angle h.degree. of less than
50.degree.. These people have a complexion with a pinker undertone
and examples of which are people of Caucasian origin with a ruddy
complexion. When a user has a complexion tone in this range, the
user is matched with a lip shade colour cosmetic with hue angle
h.degree. 5-20.degree., lightness L* 40-49 units and chroma C*
30-50.
[0023] The fourth group have a complexion lightness L* of greater
than 52 units, C* of 20-25 units and hue angle of 56-63. These
people have a range of complexions and examples of which are people
of darker toned Caucasian or Hispanic origin. When a user has a
complexion tone in this range, then the user is matched with a lip
shade colour cosmetic with hue angle h.degree. 5-25.degree.,
lightness L*40-49 units and chroma C* 30-50.
[0024] Suitable lip colour products include lipsticks, lip pencils,
lip gloss, lip liners and mixtures thereof. Historically Lip colour
shades were developed by random choice based on a preference of the
formulator. The present colour understanding has permitted the
Applicant to be able to develop an organised, logical range of lip
colour shades which permit a selection of shades which are suitable
for each of the four complexion groups. The Applicant has produced
a range of lip shades along fixed increments of L* C* h.degree.
within the area of CIELAB colour space where lipstick shades sit.
By developing lip shades in this way the Applicant is able to
ensure improved suitability of a lipshade for a given user,
reducing the level of subjectivity in the lipshade choice.
[0025] Suitable lipstick products may be creamy and matt or glossy
and shiny. Preferably lipstick products are creamy and matt, as the
Applicants have found that creamy shades enhance lipstick
suitability.
[0026] In a preferred embodiment a kit may be provided including a
colour cosmetic foundation and one or more suiting lip
products.
[0027] Whilst the present invention is designed toward selecting
lip colour cosmetics, the invention can be manipulated to
understand and provide a similar objective method of selecting
other colour cosmetics, such as blushers, bronzers, eye shadows,
pencils and mascaras.
* * * * *