Usually, when we think of makeup and other beauty products, we only think of the effects it’ll have on the exterior of our skin and not how the elements are absorbed inside the skin. But, L’Oréal is pushing consumers to think outside that box, specifically in terms of the effects of sun exposure. UV radiation can often have a negative impact on both the inside and outside of the skin and this new product is helping customers determine just how much sun and UV exposure they are experiencing throughout the day.
According to Refinery29, the new product, My UV Patch, is a slim patch that stretches across any part of the skin, containing photosynthesis dyes that change colors to tell how much sun exposure the patch (and therefore, the wearer) is receiving that day. The color changes are depicted in a heart shape on the patch and are analyzed by a phone app to find out much UV radiation the patch has received. “The key point is to really understand the amounts of exposure you have, even day-to-day, just going to work, walking outside,” says Guive Balooch, the global VP of L’Oréal’s technology incubator that developed My UV Patch. “Having an application won’t tell you that. You need to measure it.”
The app will also describe when you are most or least exposed to the sun and UV rays, which could result in lifestyle changes in an effort to better protect the skin. The patch, which hasn’t been released yet, is disposable and is predicted to not be of any cost to the customer, according to Balooch.
As technology continues to increase and help us manage our skincare routines, we can now only hope for an app that will basically do our makeup for us.