MakeupLedger
Executive Summary
Vision Statement
Empower makeup lovers to capture, organize, and share their unique artistry without losing track of the products that make each look possible.
Problem Summary
Makeup enthusiasts frequently struggle to keep track of the products used in their looks, especially when labels wear off, items are discontinued, or product details are forgotten. This issue is highlighted in the Reddit post, where the creator cannot recall specific shades and notes using expired or discontinued items. The frustration is echoed in comments about recreating looks and recommending products, which becomes challenging without a reliable way to document and reference products.
Proposed Solution
A dedicated mobile app that allows users to catalog every makeup product they own, including custom notes for shades, expiry status, and personal usage tips. Users can link products directly to saved photo galleries of their makeup looks, enabling easy reference, recreation, and sharing. The app would also allow tagging discontinued or unlabeled products, crowdsourcing missing details, and sharing product lists with the beauty community.
Market Analysis
Target Audience
The ideal user is a makeup enthusiast, ranging from casual hobbyists to semi-professional artists, who regularly experiments with new looks and products. They are active on social media (Instagram, TikTok, Reddit), value creativity, and want to document their artistry. Many have large, evolving makeup collections and appreciate organization tools. Users may be frustrated by discontinued products, faded labels, or the challenge of recommending exact products to others.
Niche Validation
The Reddit post and its highly engaged comments (4,703 upvotes, 211 comments) demonstrate real frustration with tracking makeup products, especially those with worn-off labels or discontinued status. Multiple comments discuss confusion, difficulty recreating looks, and the desire to understand product details. This validates a genuine pain point for a substantial segment of the makeup community.
Google Trends Keywords
Market Size Estimation
The SAM consists of users in North America and Europe who engage with makeup communities and are likely to use digital tracking tools—estimated at 25 million users.
A realistic SOM for an initial launch is 0.5% of the SAM, or approximately 125,000 users, focusing on high-engagement subreddits and Instagram communities.
Globally, there are over 200 million active beauty and makeup enthusiasts on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit. The TAM includes anyone who actively purchases, uses, and shares makeup looks online.
Competitive Landscape
Existing solutions include general beauty organization apps like Sortly, beauty-specific apps such as 'Beauty Keeper' and 'MakeupAlley', and social platforms (Instagram, Reddit) where users manually document product lists. However, few apps allow seamless linking of products to specific looks or crowdsource information about discontinued/unlabeled items. MakeupAlley offers product reviews but lacks visual cataloging tied to user looks. Beauty Keeper tracks expiry dates but not look-based organization.
Product Requirements
User Stories
As a makeup enthusiast, I want to catalog my products with custom notes so I can remember shades and expiry details.
As a user, I want to link products to specific makeup looks for easy recreation and sharing.
As a community member, I want to crowdsource missing product information for discontinued or unlabeled items.
As a creator, I want to share my look-product lists with friends and followers.
MVP Feature Set
Product catalog with custom notes and expiry tracking.
Photo gallery for makeup looks, linked to product entries.
Ability to tag products as discontinued or missing info.
Basic sharing features for look-product lists.
Crowdsourced product info suggestions.
Non-Functional Requirements
Cloud-based sync for user data.
Mobile-first responsive design.
Secure authentication and privacy controls.
Fast image upload and retrieval.
Key Performance Indicators
Monthly Active Users (MAU)
Number of products cataloged per user
Number of looks created and linked
Conversion rate to paid tier
User retention after 3 months
Data Visualizations
Visual Analysis Summary
The Reddit post's engagement demonstrates strong interest in makeup look documentation and product tracking. A bar chart visualizing comment engagement by look (e.g., Slide 1 vs. Slide 3) would highlight which types of looks prompt the most community interaction.
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Go-to-Market Strategy
Core Marketing Message
Never lose track of your favorite makeup looks or the products that made them possible—MakeupLedger helps you catalog, organize, and share your artistry with ease.
Initial Launch Channels
- Targeted posts and collaborations in r/MakeupAddiction, r/BeautyGuruChatter, and TikTok beauty communities.
- Launch on Product Hunt to reach early adopters.
- Partner with micro-influencers and makeup artists for authentic reviews and walkthroughs.
Strategic Metrics
Problem Urgency
High
Solution Complexity
Medium
Defensibility Moat
Crowdsourced product data, user-generated look-product links, and a strong community component create high switching costs. Integrations with social media and unique visual cataloging features add defensibility.
Source Post Metrics
Business Strategy
Monetization Strategy
Freemium model: free core features (product cataloging, look linking, basic sharing), with a paid tier for unlimited product entries, advanced analytics, cloud backup, and community crowdsourcing features. Potential for affiliate partnerships with makeup retailers and brands.
Financial Projections
Assuming 125,000 users and a 5% conversion rate to paid ($4/month), potential MRR is $25,000. Additional revenue could come from affiliate links and sponsored brand partnerships.
Tech Stack
Node.js with Express for scalable REST APIs, handling user data, product catalogs, and look galleries.
MongoDB for flexible document storage, ideal for variable product attributes and user-generated notes.
React Native for cross-platform mobile development, ensuring smooth UX and access to device camera/photo gallery.
Cloudinary for image hosting, Stripe for payments, Google Vision API for product label recognition, Firebase for authentication and notifications.
Risk Assessment
Identified Risks
Low initial adoption due to habit inertia; users may stick to manual documentation (notes, Instagram captions). Data privacy concerns around sharing product collections and looks.
Mitigation Strategy
Leverage influencer partnerships for authentic onboarding walkthroughs and highlight privacy features. Provide easy import tools from Instagram and photo galleries to reduce friction.