British designer Beth Morgan Lundie has developed a refillable skincare dispenser that lets users combine different ingredients to create a bespoke formula at home and “bypass the need for toxic additives”.
The Meld system was Morgan Lundie‘s graduation project from London design school Central Saint Martins and earned her the PriestmanGoode Rising Star Award at this year’s New Designers showcase.
It consists of a digital platform that enables users to create their own skincare formulas, together with a physical dispenser that combines the ingredients at the point of use.
The system aims to facilitate the co-development of products and improve ingredient transparency, as well as eliminate the need for additives that are commonly used in the skincare industry to increase shelf life.
Studies suggest that more than 60 per cent of cosmetics currently contain preservatives such as parabens, which have been shown to interfere with the body’s natural hormones.
As awareness of this issue grows, many consumers are seeking natural alternatives and greater clarity about the ingredients they are putting on their bodies.
“I was fascinated by the disconnect between rituals of personal care and the harsh reality that they could be slowly deteriorating our physical health,” the designer told Dezeen.
“I wanted to develop a solution that tackled skincare consumption end-to-end,” she added. “Not only was it necessary to rethink the packaging materiality, but to completely bypass the need for toxic additives.”
Her Meld concept invites users to create a profile and recommends personalised products based on a series of questions about their current routines, concerns and skin type.
Its digital interface outlines the properties of each formula, along with the natural ingredients it contains and the outcomes users can expect.
The platform includes an option to update the formula to improve its texture, scent, hydration, weight or intensity in response to changes in the user’s skin over time.
“By championing ingredient literacy and continuous adaptation to personal needs, the service enables people to better connect with their products and skin health,” Morgan Lundie explained.
Formulas are ordered as a collection of individual ingredients delivered in biodegradable cartridges that can be composted after use.
The cartridges are loaded into a dispenser that was designed for prolonged reuse. It pumps ingredients out in carefully dosed quantities onto a removable mixing lid, which allows users to combine them manually before applying the finished formula.
The device features simple, intuitive shapes and robust materials, including ceramic, stainless steel and natural rubber, to ensure it will last a long time.
“Meld reframes skincare as a participatory ritual built for longevity of use,” Morgan Lundie explained
“Creating a feeling of soft tactility was important to the overall experience of the dispenser,” she added. “The lid is curved to swipe the contents out with your finger, and the ceramic casing is chamfered for subtle grip.”
“Because longevity was also integral to the design language, the resulting form is intentionally simple for efficient cleaning. so that each component can be sterilised in the dishwasher for safe continued use.”
Morgan Lundie said she hopes Meld can act as a blueprint for positive changes in the cosmetics industry by promoting a more transparent approach while fostering a sense of personal connection and ritual engagement to the skincare experience.
Other innovations featured at New Designers this year included Safaa Fojdar’s portable device for removing creases from clothing on the go.
Another Central Saint Martins graduate, Audrey Levy, recently designed a fuzzy fridge grown from bacteria.
The images are courtesy of Beth Morgan Lundie.
The post Meld skincare dispenser allows users to mix their own preservative-free formulas appeared first on Dezeen.
Leave a comment