L’Oréal’s Hapta is an assistive grip that keeps lipstick level while it’s being applied

In years gone by, L’Oréal CES was a showcase for gadgets that provide personalized beauty products to customers. You can find the Perso custom skincare dispenser To the YSL at-home lipstick makerTech lab from the company has presented interesting gadgets at CES that offer tangential inclusive benefits. It will introduce an accessibility-minded device at CES 2023 that allows people with limited arm or hand mobility to apply lipstick. Based on a demo I did here in Vegas, Hapta is quite refined.

It is worth noting that this system requires assembly. Hapta consists of three main parts: the lipstick inside a custom case; the grip on a mount; and the gimbal attached to a mounting. You will need all three components to set up Hapta. The lipstick is placed in a custom holder with a spring-loaded release. This allows someone to take the lipstick out of the case with just one hand. This is theoretically possible. The truth is that, at least for the version I saw during CES, the lipstick flew out of its case almost to the floor.

For now, if L’Oréal doesn’t refine the system, you’ll have to find a way to place a finger or obstruction behind the lipstick before pressing the button. It was easy to remove the lipstick and place it in the ring on the gimbal. Next, grab the grip and line up a symbol along its edge with the button on the gimbal mount. Then slide the handle in. In a matter of seconds, the device will vibrate to let you know that the attachment is secure. Once it does, you can grab the whole thing in one hand and lift it up to your lips.

First, though! You’ll still need two hands to twist the lipstick, as shown in the demo. L’Oréal told me after watching me struggle to make this happen with one hand that it would consider looking into ways to simplify this process.

Once you have the lipstick ready, you can hold it in your mouth for a moment to calibrate Hapta. It will automatically recognize the upright position and adjust to any movement while you move your grip.

It is important to be clear that I did not apply lipstick to my mouth. The gimbal was strong enough to withstand pressure and responsive to my movements with my wrist and elbow, so I used it to hover my lips while moving my wrist and elbow. I found the Hapta to be responsive to my motions and maintained the lipstick level. This is crucial if you are trying to draw a precise line at your cupids bow. Hapta is useful for people who don’t have the strength or dexterity needed to hold a small lipstick tube.

The Hapta will be available for between $149 and $199 starting in December, and L’Oréal said it will also be making a version that’s designed for people with tremors in their hands. Despite the few quirks that I witnessed at the demo I was impressed with the progress the company has made. This is not a prototype. Everything felt polished, which makes sense as L’Oréal worked with utensil maker Verily that made utensils that level themselves for people with limited hand and arm movements.

Also, L’Oréal said in a press release that Hapta will launch with Lancôme lipsticks in 2023, but that it will be “followed by additional makeup applications in the future.” It’s not only nice to see people with disabilities being included in beauty tech, but it’s also encouraging that a brand as big as L’Oréal is actively working on tools to enable independence in makeup application for everyone.