Automated customized cosmetic dispenser

A method for dispensing a custom formulation comprising the steps of:

• providing a custom formulation dispensing apparatus, including a plurality of ingredients containers located on at least one carrier and a plurality of porous articles for dispensing thereon;
• recommending of ingredients to be dispensed from the dispensing apparatus based upon stored information in one or more information retrieval devices, wherein the stored information optionally is related to a user;
• dispensing at least one of a plurality of user selected custom formulations onto at least one porous article with the dispensing apparatus;
• and
• wherein the apparatus includes a computer, an automated dispensing apparatus for dispensing ingredients from the ingredients containers using an at least two-axis robot arm, and a housing that contains at least two components of the computer, the automated dispensing apparatus, and the ingredients containers.