The Latest Innovation in Sun Protection Is the Size of Your Fingernail

As far as new tech products go, L’Oréal—Skincare.com’s parent company—has (quite literally) put their finger on something revolutionary. At the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2018), the cosmetics giant unveiled UV Sense, the first battery-free wearable electronic sensor to measure individual UV exposure, to follow the footsteps of award-winning My UV Patch first introduced at last year’s show. Both wearable technologies cement L’Oréal’s goal of educating consumers about the levels of UV exposure they are subjected to, and will be available from L’Oréal’s leading dermatological skin care brand, La Roche-Posay, this year.

UV Sense, which can store up to three months of data, is less than two millimeters thick, nine millimeters in diameter, and is meant for wear on the thumb nail for up to two weeks. The packaging is equipped with additional adhesives to make reapplication to the nail a cinch. As for how it works, UV Sense is powered by the user’s mobile phone and activated by UVA and UVB rays. The wearable’s mobile app—available on iOS and Android—translates and transfers data from the sensor using Near Field Communication (NFC)-enabled technology. Outlines of the user’s sun exposure levels, as well as information about sun-safety habits, is then delivered to the user via the app.

Knowing what we do about harmful UV rays, particularly how exposure can lead to sunburns, premature signs of aging and even some cancers like melanoma, it’s important to pay attention to individual UV exposure levels to help quell some of those negative side effects. The data provided by both UV Sense and My UV Patch can help encourage sun-safe behavior among users, whether that means applying sunscreen more often, wearing protective clothing when outdoors, or seeking out shaded areas. The place of differentiation between the two products is that UV Sense allows further monitoring of UV exposure to show trends of exposure over time as well as instant updates. What’s more, since UV Sense is worn on the thumb nail—an area that receives optimal sunlight—wear time increases from several days with My UV Patch to several weeks with UV Sense.

“Beauty trends show that adoption of wearable nail art accessories is on the rise, with a more than 65 percent increase in nail art trends over the last five years,” says Guive Balooch, Global Vice President of L’Oréal’s Technology Incubator. “Our innovation taps into this growing trend, while illustrating our deep commitment to sun safe behavior and protection.”

UV Sense will be available on a limited basis in the U.S. for the 2018 summer season with a global launch following in 2019. For more information and product availability, visit laroche-posay.us.