WO2008135907A1

WO2008135907A1 - A method of evaluating lip type and an evaluation system for implementing such a method

Info

Publication number: WO2008135907A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/051654
Authority: WO
Inventors: Laurence Caisey
Original assignee: LOreal SA
Current assignee: LOreal SA
Priority date: 2007-05-03
Filing date: 2008-04-29
Publication date: 2008-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2009-11-03
Also published as: FR2915820B1; FR2915820A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of evaluating lip type, the method comprising the steps consisting in: • supplying at least two reference representations enabling an observer to evaluate lip outline sharpness by comparing the representations against the lips being evaluated; • acquiring corresponding first data; • supplying at least two reference representations enabling the observer to evaluate the fleshiness of at least one lip; • acquiring corresponding second data; and • determining lip type from at least the first and second data.

Description

A METHOD OF EVALUATING LIP TYPE AND AN EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING SUCH A METHOD

The present invention relates to a method of evaluating lip type and to an evaluation system.

Lips come in a wide variety of appearances, not only between different ethnic groups, e.g. Caucasian, Japanese, or Afro-American, but also between individuals within a single ethnic group.

On the market, there exist numerous applicators and care product and/or makeup compositions for the lips.

However, without advice, choosing the applicator or composition best adapted to a particular subject and to the desired result is relatively difficult.

The invention seeks to make it easier to evaluate lip type, in particular with a view to selecting an applicator and/or a composition that is adapted to a particular type.

In one of its aspects, the invention thus relates to a method of evaluating lip type, the method comprising:

^• supplying at least two reference representations enabling an observer to evaluate lip outline sharpness by comparing the representations against the lips being evaluated;

• acquiring corresponding first data;

^• supplying at least two reference representations enabling the observer to evaluate the fleshiness of at least one lip;

• acquiring corresponding second data; and

^• determining lip type from at least the first and second data.

The reference representations may correspond to extreme values for the parameter being evaluated.

The reference representations may be supplied by being displayed on a screen, for example. The representations may be photographs of lips, computer- synthesized images, or 3D reproductions.

In particular, because of the choice of the criteria on which the evaluation is based, and because of the way in which the comparison is performed, the invention makes it possible for a relatively easy and accurate evaluation to be obtained by the subject alone, or in a variant, by an adviser at a point of sale.

In a variant implementation, the evaluation may also be performed in automated or semi-automated manner, by analyzing at least one image of the lips.

Evaluating lip type can make it easier to select a suitable product.

In an implementation, the method further comprises the steps consisting in:

^• supplying two reference representations, e.g. by displaying them, the representations enabling the wrinkling of the lips to be evaluated; and

• acquiring corresponding data, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from the above- mentioned first and second data.

In an implementation, the method also comprises the:

• acquiring data relating to the color of the lips, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data.

The acquisition of the data relating to the color of the lips may be preceded by supplying two reference representations, e.g. by displaying them, the representations enabling the color of the lips to be evaluated.

In an implementation, the method of the invention comprises supplying at least two reference representations, e.g. by displaying them, the representations enabling the thinness of at least one lip, in particular of the top lip, to be evaluated, and enabling corresponding data to be acquired, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data.

In an implementation, the method of the invention comprises supplying at least two reference representations, e.g. by displaying them, the representations enabling the straightness of at least one lip, in particular of the bottom lip, to be evaluated, and enabling corresponding data to be acquired, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data.

In an implementation, the method of the invention comprises supplying at least two reference representations, e.g. by displaying them, the representations enabling the length of the mouth, in particular of the top lip, to be evaluated, and enabling corresponding data to be acquired, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data.

In an implementation, the method comprises supplying at least two reference representations, e.g. by displaying them, the representations enabling the upturning of the lips at the corners of the mouth to be evaluated, and enabling corresponding data to be acquired, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data.

In an implementation, the method comprises supplying at least two reference representations, e.g. by displaying them, the representations enabling the equality of size of the lips to be evaluated, and enabling corresponding data to be acquired, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data.

The method may include automatically selecting makeup and/or a care product at least as a function of the lip type as determined in this way.

The evaluation of the lip type may include indicating a typological group to which the subject being evaluated belongs.

Membership of a typological group may be determined as a function of the maximum component of the vector (yi, ..., y_w) , for example, each component y₃ being a membership function for a typological group j, where:

in which n_ω is a score that is representative of the evaluation performed for a criterion ω, for example.

The coefficients a_ω and c_k may be determined statistically by principal components analysis (PCA) from an evaluation performed on a reference population.

The method may include displaying an image of the lips being evaluated, thereby making comparison against the reference representations easier.

The image of the lips may be acquired by a camera, e.g. at a point of sale, at an advice desk, or at home.

The magnification and/or the pointing direction of the camera may possibly be controllable by the user, so as to enable the user to frame the image on the lips.

A plurality of images may be acquired, e.g. a front view and a side view.

In the absence of a camera for example, the method may also include positioning the subject being evaluated in front of a mirror, enabling the subject to observe his or her own lips.

The method may include automatically selecting an applicator and/or a composition as a function of the type as determined in this way. For example, one or more applicators and/or corresponding compositions may be proposed to the subject being evaluated depending on the typological group as determined above.

The method may include supplying the subject being evaluated with a product selected as a function of the evaluation, and, where appropriate, as a function of a desire expressed by said subject relating to a makeup effect to be obtained, or a desired treatment.

In another of its aspects, the invention also provides a cosmetic having a package that includes information relating to the lip type for which the cosmetic is intended.

The evaluation method may be implemented not only in the context of advising a consumer, but also in the context of studying the effects of a composition and/or an applicator for making up or for caring for the lips, and/or the effects of promoting a product for application to the lips and/or the effects of training professionals such a makeup artists or beauticians.

The evaluation method may be implemented at a point of sale, in a beauty parlor, at home, or in a research center, inter alia.

The invention also provides a method of helping to choose a cosmetic, the method comprising the steps consisting in the subject being advised evaluating the lips, or having them evaluated, by implementing the above-defined evaluation method, then in recommending at least one product for application to the lips on the basis of the result of said evaluation.

The invention also provides a method of treating the lips, the method comprising:

^• associating with a subject, a typological group applicable to the subject's lips;

^• as a function of this typological group, selecting at least one product for application to the lips from a group of products that are listed by the typological groups to which they are adapted; and

^• treating the subject with the selected product (s). The treatment may be a makeup and/or a care treatment for the lips.

The invention also provides a method of promoting the sale of a product for making up and/or for caring for the lips, in which method mention is made of a typological group to which the product is adapted.

The promotion can be carried out using any communications channel. In particular, it could be carried out by a salesperson, directly at a point of sale, via radio, television, or telephone, in particular in the context of advertising slots or short messages. It could also be carried out via the written press or by means of any other document, in particular for advertising purposes. It could also be carried out via the Internet, via any suitable computer network, or via a mobile telephone network. It could also be carried out directly on the product, in particular on its package, or on any instructions associated therewith.

The invention also provides a method of revealing the effectiveness of a lip treatment, said method comprising evaluating the lips before the treatment, then after the treatment, and deducing information relating to the effectiveness of the treatment on the basis of a comparison of the evaluations before and after the treatment. The treatment may comprise applying a makeup and/or a care product to the lips.

Independently or in combination with the above, the invention also provides a method of evaluating the lips, the method comprising:

^• acquiring at least one image of the lips being evaluated; and

^• evaluating, by image analysis, at least:

^• the sharpness of the outline of the lips; and

^• the fleshiness of the lips.

The image analysis also preferably includes the evaluation of at least one of the following:

^• the color of the lips;

^• the wrinkling of the lips;

^• the thinness of the top lip;

^• the straightness of the bottom lip;

• the length of the mouth, in particular of the top lip;

^• the upturning of the lips at the corners of the mouth; and

^• the equality of size of the lips. Independently or in combination with the above, the invention also provides a system for evaluating lip type, the system comprising:

• a data processor; ^• a user interface; and

• a screen; the processor being arranged to make it possible to acquire, or to determine by image analysis:

^• at least first data that is representative of the sharpness of the outline of the lips; and

^• at least second data that is representative of the fleshiness of the lips; and being arranged to deliver information that is representative of lip type as a function of at least the first and second data.

The processor may be arranged to acquire, or to determine by image analysis:

^• data relating to the color of the lips, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data; and/or

^• data relating to the wrinkling of the lips, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data; and/or

^• data relating to the thinness of the lips, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data; and/or

^• data relating to the straightness of the top lip, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data; and/or

^• data relating to the length of the mouth, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data; and/or

^• data relating to the upturning of the lips at the corners of the mouth, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data; and/or

^• data relating to the equality of size of the lips, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data.

The processor may automatically select a makeup and/or a care product at least as a function of the lip type as determined in this way.

The processor may include or may access a database in which products are listed as a function of the lip type to which they are adapted.

The processor may be arranged so as to cause the screen to display at least two reference representations relating to the criterion being evaluated, and so as to enable the user to enter a corresponding evaluation score .

The system may include a camera.

The processor may be arranged to display on the screen at least one image of the lips being evaluated, as acquired by the camera.

The user interface makes it possible to control the magnification of the camera.

Where appropriate, the user interface also makes it possible to modify the pointing direction of the camera.

The evaluation system may include a stand supporting the screen and the user interface, and housing the processor therein. The evaluation system may include a stand supporting a mirror.

The invention also provides a method of evaluating the lips of a subject belonging to the Caucasian ethnic group, the method comprising acquiring, or determining by image analysis, evaluation scores relating to:

^• the fleshiness of the top and/or bottom lip(s);

^• possibly, the straightness of the bottom lip;

^• possibly, the length of the top lip;

^• the thinness of the top lip;

^• the sharpness of the outline of the lips;

^• the color of the lips; and

• the wrinkling of the top and/or bottom lip(s); and membership of a typological group is determined as a function at least of said scores, in particular by calculating the maximum component of a vector Y

(yi, ..., y_m) , where y_∑ is the membership function for typological group i, expressed as a linear combination of said scores with weighting coefficients determined by statistical analysis, in particular by principal components analysis, in a reference population.

The invention also provides a method of evaluating the lips of a subject belonging to the Afro-American ethnic group, the method comprising acquiring, or determining by image analysis, evaluation scores relating to:

^• the thinness of the top lip;

^• the fleshiness of the top lip;

^• the color of the lips;

^• the sharpness of the outline of the lips; and

^• the upturning of the lips at the corners of the mouth; and membership of a typological group is determined as a function at least of said scores, in particular by calculating the maximum component of a vector Y (yi, ..., y_m) , where y_∑ is the membership function for typological group i_, expressed as a linear combination of said scores with weighting coefficients determined by statistical analysis, in particular by principal components analysis, in a reference population.

The invention also provides a method of evaluating the lips of a subject belonging to the Asiatic ethnic group, the method comprising acquiring, or determining by image analysis, evaluation scores relating to:

^• the fleshiness of the bottom lip;

^• the sharpness of the outline of the lips, in particular of the top lip;

^• the equality of size of the top and bottom lips;

^• the length of the mouth; and

The invention can be better understood on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments thereof, and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which:

^• Figures 1 to 4 show examples of evaluation systems for evaluating lip type;

^• Figure 5 shows various steps for implementing an example of an evaluation method of the invention;

^• Figures 6 to 10 show examples of screen pages that are suitable for being presented to a subject for evaluating lip type;

^• Figures 11 to 16 show examples of screen pages that are suitable for being presented to a subject for announcing the result of the evaluation and for proposing products; and

^• Figure 17 shows an example of a product including information relating to the lip type for which the product is intended.

As shown in Figure 1, the evaluation method of the invention can be implemented using an evaluation system 1 that can comprise a data processor 10 that receives data to be processed from a user interface 20, and possibly from image acquisition means 30, and that enables information to be displayed on a screen 40.

The evaluation system 1 can be in various forms, e.g. in the form of an interactive terminal disposed at a point of sale or at an advice desk, as shown in Figure 2, or in the form of a terminal constituted, for example, by a personal micro-computer situated at home or elsewhere, or by a mobile telephone, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

In particular for an interactive terminal, the evaluation system 1 can include for example a mirror 50 enabling the user to observe his or her own lips and to compare them more easily against reference representations displayed on the screen 40.

The mirror 50 might possibly be a magnifying mirror and can be associated with a lighting system 51.

By way of example, the processor 10 can comprise a micro-computer that is, for example, disposed inside a stand 52 for an interactive terminal.

The evaluation system 1 makes it possible to display on the screen 40 an image 70 of the lips being evaluated, so as to make it easier for the user to compare his or her own lips against reference representations 71 that are also displayed on the screen, as shown in Figure 6.

The image acquisition means 30 can comprise at least one camera so as to make it possible to display on the screen 40 an image of the lips of the subject being evaluated.

Where appropriate, the image acquisition can be 3D acquisition .

The acquisition means 30 can be arranged in such a manner as to be capable of zooming in on the lips being evaluated.

In an embodiment of the invention, the image acquisition means 30 can comprise a camera that is suitable for being controlled in magnification and/or possibly in direction by means of the user interface 20, e.g. by means of a joystick, so as to enable the user to frame the lips and to zoom in on them.

In a variant embodiment of the invention, the user can acquire an image of the lips by using his or her own webcam, or the camera built into a mobile telephone.

It is possible to perform locally all of the computer processing of information entered via the user interface 20 and/or resulting from the analysis, if any, of images coming from the acquisition means 30, e.g. on the interactive terminal or the user terminal; but, in a variant, some or even all of the computer processing can be performed remotely, e.g. by means of the interactive terminal or the terminal being used communicating with a computer network that enables at least some of the data processing to be performed.

By way of example and as shown in Figure 4, the interactive terminal or the user terminal can thus communicate, by means of a computer network 2, e.g. the Internet and/or an Intranet, with a server 3 that can perform at least some of the data processing, the server 3 being capable, where appropriate, of communicating with a database 4 that enables information relating to the lip types of users to be saved.

Regardless of the form in which the evaluation system 1 is presented, the user interface 20 can include a keypad or any other device that makes it possible, for example, to move through a menu and to make selections, e.g. navigation keys as shown in Figure 2. The user interface 20 can also comprise any other type of interface, e.g. a voice-controlled interface or a touchscreen interface.

The method of evaluating type can comprise the various steps shown in Figure 5, and the method can be implemented by the subject alone, by an adviser, or in automated or semi-automated manner by image analysis.

In particular, the method can include a first step 101 of acquiring a score relating to the color of the lips, the score possibly being accompanied, where appropriate, by information relating to the color of the adjacent skin and/or relating to contrast with the adjacent skin.

In the embodiment under consideration, the color score is a grade lying in the range 0 to 10 as determined for example by the subject or the adviser on viewing a color atlas comprising at least two reference representations 71, as shown in Figure 6, that correspond respectively to extreme values for the parameter, here dark lips and pale lips.

The reference representations 71 can be displayed simultaneously. Where appropriate and as shown in Figure 6, the image 70 of the lips being evaluated can also be displayed on the screen.

The user has a box in which to select the applicable score .

In a variant implementation, the subject or the adviser performs an evaluation not only of the color of the lip mucus membrane, but also an evaluation of the color of the adjacent skin, or an evaluation of the contrast with the skin. For this purpose, a dual color chart of lip and skin colors can be used.

For an automated evaluation of this criterion, it is possible for example for the evaluation system to use colorimetric analysis to determine the lightness value L in the CIE Lab sense, and to reduce it to a value that lies in the range 0 to 10 using the formula:

lightness measured - minimum reference lightness maximum reference lightness - minimum reference lightness

For an automated evaluation, the color of the skin of the face around the lips can also be measured for the purpose of determining color contrast between the lip and the neighboring skin, for example.

The method can also include a step 102 of acquiring the wrinkling of the lips.

When women age, fine lines appear around the mouth. Wrinkling characterizes the presence of fine lines, in particular within the white lip that is constituted by the skin of the lips that extends around the red mucus membrane .

The score that is representative of the quantity of wrinkles can, for example, be determined by means of an atlas, as shown in Figure 7, comprising at least two reference representations that correspond respectively to wrinkled lips and to non-wrinkled lips.

By way of example, when the wrinkling is evaluated automatically by image analysis, the evaluation system 1 can determine the number of wrinkles, and calculate the score by means of the formula:

number of wrinkles measured

1Ox maximum number of wrinkles in a reference population

Returning to Figure 5, it can be seen that the method can also include a step 103 of acquiring a score that is representative of the thinness of the top lip. Thinness is measured in the vertical direction.

The score can be acquired after displaying images from a thin-lip atlas, e.g. comprising at least two reference images that correspond respectively to a thin lip and to a thick lip, as shown in Figure 8.

When the thinness is determined by image analysis, thickness can be calculated and compared against extreme values, the score possibly being determined, for example, by the formula:

thickness measured - minimum reference thickness

10x maximum reference thickness - minimum reference thickness

The method can also include a step 104 of acquiring a score relating to the fleshiness of the lips.

By way of example, the score can be acquired using an atlas comprising at least two reference representations in side view that correspond to a fleshy lip and to a lip that is less fleshy, as shown in Figure 9.

The evaluation can also be performed automatically by image analysis, e.g. by calculating, from the profile image of the lip, the surface area defined by the curve of the mucous membrane of the lip in question and by the chord connecting the middle of the lips and the point of intersection between the skin and the mucous membrane of the lip in question, so as to compare that area value against reference values, using the formula:

area measured - minimum reference area

1Ox- maximum reference area - minimum reference area

The method can also include a step 105 that corresponds to acquiring a score relating to the sharpness of the outline of the lips.

The score can be acquired using an atlas comprising at least two reference images that correspond respectively to lips having a sharp outline, and to lips having a fuzzy outline, as shown in Figure 10.

For a mouth to be well defined, it is essential for contrast between the skin and the mucous membrane to be marked. An outline that clearly defines the boundary between the lip and the skin is a sharp outline. The opposite corresponds to a fuzzy outline in which it is difficult to see the end of the lip and the beginning of the skin.

By way of example, for an evaluation by image analysis, the evaluation system can calculate the mean transition distance between the skin and the mucous membrane by colorimetric analysis.

The sharpness score is, for example, defined by the formula :

[ (thickness measured - minimum reference thickness) |

Depending on ethnic group, the evaluation can involve other criteria, e.g. the straightness of the bottom lip, the length of the top lip, the upturning of the lips at the corner of the mouth, and the equality of size of the lips.

The straightness of the bottom lip characterizes the degree to which the lip resembles a rectangle. A straight lip can easily be inserted into a rectangle of length that is equal to the length of the lip and of height that is equal to the central height of the lip.

Straightness can be evaluated by image analysis by blocking out the lips, then by shape recognition using a morphology atlas associated with a scale of straightness scores .

The length of the lip is its horizontal dimension.

With image analysis, the corresponding score can be evaluated by the formula:

[ (length measured - minimum reference length) | lux — r

I (maximum reference length - minimum reference length) I

The upturning of the lips at the corners of the mouth characterize the expression of the lips at rest that hint at a smile since the corners are raised, such as the mouth of the Mona Lisa.

With image analysis, the score that corresponds to upturning can be determined by calculating the slope of the tangent to the curve of the junction between the top lip and the bottom lip at the right or left corner. If the slope of the tangent is negative, the corner is rising. If the slope is positive, the corner is falling.

With image analysis, the corresponding score can be evaluated by the formula:

[ (tangent measured - minimum reference tangent) |

The equality of size of the lips can be determined by image analysis by finding the ratio of the thickness of the top lip to the thickness of the bottom lip. With image analysis, the corresponding score can be evaluated by the following 2 formulae:

Case 1: ratio ≤ 1, i.e. the thickness of the top lip is less than or equal to the thickness of the bottom lip. The formula for case 1 is, for example, as follows: f(ratio measured - minimum reference ratio of case l)

Case 2: ratio > 1, i.e. the thickness of the top lip is greater than the thickness of the bottom lip. The formula for case 2 is, for example, as follows:

_1Oχf₁__. (ratio measured-l) ")

(maximum reference ratio of case 2-l) I

In the examples in Figures 6 to 10, the various score values can be input by the subject alone, or possibly with the help of an adviser, or they can even be input by the adviser.

As a function of the target ethnic group, the evaluation criteria need not all be the same.

For example, for American Caucasian women, evaluation could relate to:

^• the fleshiness of the top and/or bottom lip(s);

^• the thinness of the top lip;

^• the sharpness of the outline of the lips;

^• the color of the lips; and

• the wrinkling of the top and/or bottom lip(s) . For Afro-American women, evaluation could relate to:

^• the thinness of the top lip;

^• the fleshiness of the top lip;

^• the color of the lips;

^• the sharpness of the outline of the lips; and

^• the upturning of the lips at the corners of the mouth.

For Asiatic women, in particular Japanese women, evaluation could relate to:

^• the fleshiness of the bottom lip;

^• the sharpness of the outline of the lips, in particular of the top lip;

^• the equality of size of the top and bottom lips; ^• the length of the mouth; and

^• the upturning of the lips at the corners of the mouth.

Type can be evaluated as a function of the various scores input by the user for the criteria thus evaluated and/or determined by image analysis.

Evaluation can include assigning a typological group to the subject being evaluated, e.g. an identifier associated with said group.

Let Z₁ be the number of typological groups from which a selection is to be made.

By way of example, Z₁ lies in the range 2 to 10, e.g. being a function of ethnic group.

For each of the Z₁ typological groups, where f_± (ni, n₂, ..., n_m) are the membership functions for typological group _i, where i = 1, ..., z and n_D being the score corresponding to an evaluation criterion j_, obtained during data acquisition, e.g. either through user input or through image analysis.

Y=MX+C, where :

and

In the example of Afro-American women, ni is the evaluation score for thinness of the top lip, n₂ the score relating to the fleshiness of the top lip, n₃ the score relating to the color of the lips, n₄ the score relating to the sharpness of the outline of the lips, and n₅ the score relating to the upturning of the corners of the lips . In this example:

0.08 1.97 1.21 2 .99 1.00

1.21 1.43 1.40 2 .64 1.55

M = 0.35 0.57 1.02 2 .64 0.43

0.44 0.47 0.47 0 .78 0.49

0.80 1.42 0.87 1 .51 0.96

and

The various coefficients have been determined by statistical analysis of the principal components analysis type on a reference population.

The typological group is determined by the component γ_± which is the greatest.

Depending on ethnic group, the typological groups can be different, as can the vocabulary used for the evaluation, when said evaluation is performed by the subject being evaluated.

For Afro-American women:

If j=l, then the woman belongs to the group "full lips that are well defined"; if j=2, the woman belongs to the group "thin lips that are well defined"; if j=3, the woman belongs to the group "intermediate lips, but thick and well-defined"; if j=4, the woman belongs to the group "thin lips that are poorly defined"; and if j=5, the woman belongs to the group "intermediate lips that are poorly defined".

The typological group as determined in this way, or corresponding information, can be displayed on the screen, as shown in Figures 11, 13, or 15.

A product, made up of a composition and/or of an applicator, can thus be recommended as a function of the previously-evaluated typological group, and as a function of possible desires of the user relating to treatment and to makeup, as shown in Figures 12, 14 and 16, with available products suitable for being proposed being listed accordingly.

By way of example, a product can be recommended by accessing a database that lists products as a function of the different typological groups.

For example, when the lip type corresponds to fleshy lips, the purpose of the proposed product can be to show the lips at their best by coloring them and by making them glossy.

When the type corresponds to lips that are thin and fuzzy, the product can seek to give volume by making them glossy and by using tricks of the light, possibly widening the outline and the surface of the lips by a treatment that corrects the outline and/or eliminates fine lines.

When the type corresponds to lips that are thin, the purpose of the product can be to make the lips visible by imparting volume, by widening the outline, by working on glossiness, and by coloring the lips.

In implementations of the invention, a product can also be recommended as a function of the color of the skin around the lips, so as to enhance both the lips and the skin, for example.

To help the user in choosing a product that is adapted to the user's type, the package or the instructions of a product can, as shown in Figure 17, include information 200 informing the user about the lip type for which the product is preferred, the information 200 including an expression, a color, a letter, a number, a pictogram, and/or a representation of the lips that is representative of the type, for example.

Where appropriate, the Internet address of the site that can evaluate type is written on the package or on the instructions of the product.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In particular, the scores entered by the user or determined by image analysis could vary between limits other than 0 and 10, the coefficients for calculating the membership functions of the typological groups being determined accordingly.

Reference representations could be presented other than by being displayed on a screen, e.g. by means of images or photographs on a paper medium, or by means of 3D reproductions of lips.

Other formulae could be used to calculate the scores by image analysis.

The expression "comprising a" should be understood as being synonymous with "comprising at least one" unless specified to the contrary.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating lip type, the method comprising :

• acquiring corresponding first data;

• acquiring corresponding second data; and

^• determining lip type from at least the first and second data.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

^• supplying two reference representations, in particular by displaying them, the representations enabling the wrinkling of the lips to be evaluated; and

• acquiring corresponding data, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from the first and second data.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising :

4. A method according to claim 3, data being acquired relating to the color of the skin around the lips.

5. A method according to claim 3 or claim 4, the acquisition of the data relating to the color of the lips being preceded by supplying two reference representations, in particular by displaying them, the representations enabling the color of the lips to be evaluated.

6. A method according to claim 4, the evaluation of the color of the lips and of the skin being performed by means of a dual color chart both of lip colors and of skin colors.

7. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising supplying at least two reference representations, in particular by displaying them, the representations enabling the thinness of the top lip to be evaluated, and enabling corresponding data to be acquired, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising supplying at least two reference representations, in particular by displaying them, the representations enabling the straightness of the bottom lip to be evaluated, and enabling corresponding data to be acquired, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data.

9. A method according to any preceding claim, in which the evaluation of at least one criterion is performed by image analysis.

10. A method according to any preceding claim, membership of a typological group being determined as a function of the maximum component of the vector (yi, ..., y_w) , each component y₃ being a membership function for a typological group j, where:

Λ=∑ «ω_t n_ω+c_k, in which n_ω is a score that is representative of the evaluation performed for a criterion ω, and a_ω and c_k are constants determined by statistical analysis on a reference population.

11. A method according to any preceding claim, including displaying an image (70) of the lips being evaluated.

12. A method according to any preceding claim, including positioning the person being evaluated in front of a mirror (50) to enable said person to observe the lips being evaluated.

13. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, including selecting a product as a function of the type as determined in this way.

14. A method according to claim 1 of evaluating the lips of a subject belonging to the Caucasian ethnic group, the method comprising acquiring, or determining by image analysis, evaluation scores relating to:

^• the fleshiness of the top and/or bottom lip(s);

^• possibly, the straightness of the bottom lip;

^• possibly, the length of the top lip;

^• the thinness of the top lip;

^• the sharpness of the outline of the lips;

^• the color of the lips; and

(yi, ..., y_m) , where y_∑ is the membership function for typological group _i, expressed as a linear combination of said scores with weighting coefficients determined by statistical analysis, in particular by principal components analysis, in a reference population.

15. A method according to claim 1 of evaluating the lips of a subject belonging to the Afro-American ethnic group, the method comprising acquiring, or determining by image analysis, evaluation scores relating to: ^• the thinness of the top lip;

^• the fleshiness of the top lip;

^• the color of the lips;

^• the sharpness of the outline of the lips; and

16. A method according to claim 1 of evaluating the lips of a subject belonging to the Asiatic ethnic group, the method comprising acquiring, or determining by image analysis, evaluation scores relating to:

^• the fleshiness of the bottom lip;

^• the sharpness of the outline of the lips, in particular of the top lip;

^• the equality of size of the top and bottom lips;

^• the length of the mouth; and

17. A method according to any preceding claim, said at least two reference representations corresponding to extreme values for the parameter being evaluated.

18. A cosmetic having a package that includes information (200) relating to a lip type for which the cosmetic is intended.

19. A system for evaluating lip type, the system comprising:

^• a data processor (10);

^• a user interface (20); and

^• a screen (40) ; the processor being arranged to make it possible to acquire, or to determine by image analysis:

20. A system according to claim 19, the processor being arranged to acquire, or to determine by image analysis:

^• data relating to the color of the lips, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data.

21. A system according to claim 12 or claim 20, the processor being arranged to acquire, or to determine by image analysis:

^• data relating to the wrinkling of the lips, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data.

22. A system according to any one of claims 19 to 21, the processor being arranged to acquire, or to determine by image analysis: ^• data relating to the thinness of the lips, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data.

23. A system according to any one of claims 19 to 22, the processor being arranged to acquire, or to determine by image analysis:

^• data relating to the straightness of the top lip, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data.

24. A system according to any one of claims 19 to 23, the processor being arranged to acquire, or to determine by image analysis:

^• data relating to the length of the mouth, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data.

25. A system according to any one of claims 19 to 24, the processor being arranged to acquire, or to determine by image analysis:

^• data relating to the upturning of the lips at the corners of the mouth, the lip type being determined at least from this data and from said first and second data.

26. A system according to any one of claims 19 to 25, the processor being arranged to acquire, or to determine by image analysis:

27. A system according to any one of claims 19 to 26, including a camera.

28. A system according to claim 27, the processor being arranged to display on the screen at least one image of the lips being evaluated, as acquired by the camera.

29. A system according to any one of claims 20 to 28, the user interface making it possible to control the magnification of the camera.

30. A system according to any one of claims 20 to 28, the user interface making it possible to modify the pointing direction of the camera.

31. A system according to any one of claims 20 to 30, including a stand (52) supporting the screen (40) and the user interface (20), and housing the processor therein.

32. A system according to claim 31, the stand supporting a mirror.

33. A method of revealing the effectiveness of a lip treatment, said method comprising evaluating the lips before the treatment, then after the treatment, implementing the method as defined in any one of claims 1 to 17, and deducing information relating to the effectiveness of the treatment on the basis of a comparison of the evaluations before and after the treatment .