Method For Camouflaging Tonal Imperfections

Abstract

A method of camouflaging a tonal imperfection comprising the steps of: identifying a skin tone of a user comprising a tonal imperfection; instructing the user to select a pigmented cosmetic composition adapted to camouflage the tonal imperfection based on the user's skin tone; selecting the pigmented cosmetic composition; and selectively targeting and depositing the pigmented cosmetic composition substantially only onto the tonal imperfection; wherein the pigmented cosmetic composition comprises an average composition L* value of about 10 to about 40 units greater than an average skin L* value of the user. The pigmented cosmetic composition can comprise a particular set of L*C*h* values such that when deposited onto tonal imperfections, it can result in natural, flawless looking skin, while still remaining substantially undetectable to the naked eye.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of camouflaging a tonal imperfection comprising the steps of
 a. identifying a skin tone of a user having a tonal imperfection using the Skin Tone Identification Method;   b. instructing the user to select a pigmented cosmetic composition adapted to camouflage the tonal imperfection based on the user's skin tone;   c. selecting the pigmented cosmetic composition; and   d. selectively targeting and depositing the selected pigmented cosmetic composition substantially only onto the tonal imperfection;
 wherein the pigmented cosmetic composition comprises an average composition L* value of about 10 to about 40 units greater than an average skin L* value of the user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pigmented cosmetic composition comprises an average composition L* value of about 15 to about 35 units greater than an average skin L* value of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected pigmented cosmetic composition comprises an average composition C* value of greater or equal to an average skin C* value of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein when the average skin L* value of the user is greater than about 55, the average delta C* value between the pigmented cosmetic composition and the user's skin is about 0 to about 13. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein when the average skin L* value of the user is less than or equal to about 55, the average delta C* between the pigmented cosmetic composition and the user's skin is about 14 to about 22. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pigmented cosmetic composition comprises an opacity of at least 0.2. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pigmented cosmetic composition is deposited onto less than about 10% of the surface area of the user's skin. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein pigmented cosmetic composition is deposited via inkjet deposition, direct contact, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pigmented cosmetic composition is deposited onto the tonal imperfection in a discontinuous deposition pattern of discrete droplets between about 0.1 μm to about 60 μm in size. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pigmented cosmetic composition comprises a metal oxide, wherein the metal oxide comprises an average particle size of greater than 100 nm. 
     
     
         11 . A deposition device for camouflaging tonal imperfections according to the method of  claim 1  comprising:
 a. one or more nozzles; 
 b. a cartridge comprising the pigmented cosmetic composition; 
 c. a sensor; and 
 d. a processor; 
 wherein the sensor is operatively associated with the processor, and the processor is operatively associated with the cartridge and the one or more nozzles; 
 wherein the sensor takes an image of at least 10 μm 2  of skin; the processor analyzes the image to calculate a background lightness (L) value and a local L value of individual pixels or group of pixels; the processor then compares the local L value to the background L value to identify the tonal imperfections. 
 
     
     
         12 . The deposition device of  claim 11  wherein the device is a handheld thermal inkjet printer. 
     
     
         13 . A method of camouflaging a tonal imperfection comprising the steps of
 a. providing a pigmented cosmetic composition based on an identified skin tone; and   b. selectively targeting and depositing the pigmented cosmetic composition substantially only onto the tonal imperfection;
 wherein the pigmented cosmetic composition comprises an average composition L* value of about 10 to about 40 units greater than an average skin L* value of the skin tone. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the pigmented cosmetic composition comprises an average composition h* value of about 70 to about 80. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the pigmented cosmetic composition comprises an average composition C* value, wherein when the identified skin tone comprises an average L* value of greater than 55, the average delta C* between the pigmented cosmetic composition and the identified skin tone is about 0 to about 13. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the pigmented cosmetic composition comprises an average composition C* value, wherein when the identified skin tone comprises an average L* value of greater than 55, the average delta C* between the pigmented cosmetic composition and the identified skin tone is about 0 to about 10. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the pigmented cosmetic composition comprises an average composition C* value, wherein when the user's skin has an average skin L* value of less than or equal to about 55, the average delta C* between the pigmented cosmetic composition and identified skin tone is about 14 to about 22. 
     
     
         18 . A method for camouflaging a tonal imperfection comprising the steps of
 a. providing a guide to a user that allows the user to select a pigmented cosmetic composition adapted to camouflage a tonal imperfection, wherein the pigmented cosmetic composition is available in different shades and the guide recommends a specific shade comprising:
 i. an average L* value of about 10 to about 40 units greater than an average skin L* value of the user; and 
 ii. an average composition C* value of greater than or equal to an average skin C* value of the user; 
   b. selecting the pigmented cosmetic composition; and   c. selectively targeting and depositing the selected pigmented cosmetic composition onto the tonal imperfection with a deposition device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein when the user's skin comprises an average L* value of greater than 55, the average delta C* between the pigmented cosmetic composition and the user's skin is about 0 to about 13. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein when the user's skin has an average skin L* value of less than or equal to about 55, the average delta C* between the pigmented cosmetic composition and the user's skin is about 14 to about 22.