L’oréal has launched the world’s first battery-free wearable UV sensor ‒ The La Roche-Posay My Skin Track UV.
Now available on apple.com, the 12mm x 6mm waterproof sensor comes with a wire clip so that it can be attached to clothing or accessories.
Guive Balooch, the global vice president and head of L’Oréal’s Technology Incubator, said the company’s research “has long indicated the need for better consumer understanding of personal UV exposure”.
“We created this battery-free sensor to seamlessly integrate into the lives, and daily routines, of those using it.
“We hope it makes it easier for people to make smart, sun-safe choices.”
My Skin Track UV is activated by the sun and powered by the user’s smartphone using near-field communication.
The sensor measures both UVA and UVB rays and provides instant status updates to its accompanying app when users tap it against their smartphone.
In addition to extensive UV data, the app also provides insights into humidity, pollen, and pollution levels.
The launch of My Skin Track UV follows La Roche-Posay’s 2016 launch of the first stretchable skin sensor to monitor UV exposure, My UV Patch.
According to La Roche-Posay, ensuing consumer studies showed a resulting increase in sun-safe behaviours, with 34 percent of participants applying sunscreen more often and 37 percent seeking shade more frequently.
La Roche-Posay global general manager Laetitia Toupet says that the company believes that better looking skin starts with healthy habits.
“That’s why we are committed to bringing scientific progress directly to consumers, so that they can make well-informed decisions that will help them take exceptional care of their skin,” she said.
“The research that went into the development of this technology indicated that wearables have the power to inspire true behavioural change by helping people measure and understand their exposure to various environmental aggressors and take action.”