Automated customized cosmetic dispenser

A method for dispensing a custom formulation at a retail point of sale, comprising the steps of:

• providing at a retail store a point-of-sale custom formulation dispensing apparatus, including a plurality of ingredients, contained in ingredient containers that are carried on a common carrier, and a plurality of packages for filling, wherein the carrier is fixedly attached to a housing;
• transferring the ingredients into alignment with the package, such that a robot arm moves to the carrier and withdraws ingredients or ingredient containers therefrom and dispenses the ingredients into the package;
• dispensing a plurality of customer selected custom formulations with the apparatus;
• robotically installing a cap onto the packages;
• periodically causing the ingredient containers and packages of the apparatus to be refilled;
• operating the robot arm in at least three axes including at least two rotational axes for retrieving ingredients from their position on the carrier;
• and
• wherein the apparatus includes a computer, an automated dispensing apparatus for dispensing ingredients from the ingredient containers using the robot arm, a user interface for enabling a customer to select a custom formulation;
• and the housing that contains at least two components of the computer, the automated dispensing apparatus, the ingredients containers, and the packages for filling.