Customized Beauty Is the New Luxury

Have you ever flipped because your favorite makeup shade was suddenly discontinued? We’ve all been there. Now, thanks to a slew of new brands focused on customization, we no longer have to turn to eBay to get our hands on products that are just right. Or maybe you don’t know what the right shade is for your complexion. Technology — and our phones’ high-quality cameras — are making it easier than ever to find out. A growing number of brands are scanning your skin to recommend the products that will best suit your complexion or custom-matching shades based on your selfies. It’s not all about function, however — it’s also about fashion. We can all get pretty much anything, anywhere, any time, but having items tailored to our preferences is a way to invest in items that feel special and unique and doing so in the beauty space is a heck of a lot more cost-effective than, say, haute couture. In other words, beauty customization is the new luxury. Here’s a look at the standout brands that offer customized beauty.

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Is the future of beauty in customization?

Function of Beauty

Function of Beauty lets you customize your shampoo and conditioner. You pick everything from the name to the properties (like anti-frizz) to the color and scent. The company claims to offer over 12 billion possible combinations!

Image: @functionofbeauty
Lancôme

If you go to the Lancôme counter at select Nordstrom stores, you can now try a custom-made foundation service called Le Teint Particulier, which uses patented technology to scan your complexion. The sales rep then helps you tailor the color to your needs (for example, if you want to go darker than your natural complexion). The shade is prepared in minutes and labeled with your name and complexion ID for easy refill.
Skin Inc

Take a quiz (about 20 questions) to find out exactly what serums best suit your needs via the brand's Custom-Blended Serum Set.
Amanda Steene

Amanda Steene lets you customize lip gloss, lipstick and foundation. You pick everything from the base to the finish.
Prose

Take a quiz that takes into account everything from your environment to your preferences (or work with one of the brand's partner salons) and Prose will deliver your custom shampoo, conditioner and mask in less than a week.
SheaMoisture

SheaMoisture's Beauty Hack line is the best option if you want to mix and match yourself. There are three steps: base, oil and fragrance. You mix and match based on your preferences (or recipes on its site) to come up with just the right product for you.
Prescriptives

An OG in the space, Prescriptives has been offering customization for years. Its Custom Blend foundation and powder are still arguably among the best and the brand recently took it a step further by offering users the ability to "chat" with a "master blender" before finalizing an order.
BareMinerals

Download the BareMinerals Made-2-Fit app on your phone, scan your face and MatchCo (a startup bought last year by Shiseido) LED technology will use an analytical algorithm to customize a Fresh Faced foundation shade for you that's delivered in as little as 24 hours.
Lipstick Queen

Some products, like Lipstick Queen's Frog Prince Collection, don't need any work on your part. The line features emerald green products that transform into rose shades that are unique to/dependent on individual coloring. It's available in a lip gloss, lipstick and cream blush.