Vending machine trend: beauty follows suit

Following fashion's stylish 'concept vending machines,' Sephora has set up automated outlets across the US, selling its most popular products.

The vending machines - which have popped up at JC Penney stores too small to carry full Sephora counters - include make-up and other beauty products from what the retailer calls "cult make-up lines" (Bare Escentuals, Korres and Smashbox) and "innovative skincare lines" (Philosophy, Peter Thomas Roth, Strivectin and Murad) as well as fragrances (Juicy Couture, Dior, Aquolina and Aqua Di Gio) and Sephora's own product range.

"The Sephora ZoomShop is a mini beauty paradise that makes it easier for local Sephora fanatics to find their favorite products and brands close to home," read a statement sent to Relaxnews, "and it will introduce Sephora to customers who are not familiar with all it has to offer."

As an extra gimmick, there are small video screens attached to the machines that show customers how to best use the products. The new strategy is currently being tested in 20 locations, with potentially more following in January.

The move follows a curated vending machine, introduced during Art Basel Miami Beach by art and celebrity culture publication Interview Magazine to celebrate its 40th anniversary. That automat is stocked with different products representing 40 years of pop culture, including limited editions, cult classics, and new releases of clothes, music, film, and art.

Using a similar concept for its New York launch earlier this year, The Standard hotel chain introduced a poolside vending machine selling Bermuda shorts by surf brand Quiksilver, inspired by The Standard's four different US locations.

And the trend doesn't stop there: Coca-Cola just recently inaugurated vending machines that dispense customizable soft drinks, while new companies such as Italian Wonder Pizza or Kosher Vending Industries offer ready-made fast food from automats.