Track UV sun exposure with sensor that looks like nail art

L’Oréal has revealed a battery-free wearable electronic UV sensor, which could easily pass as nail art, in a bid to promote sun safety.

The sensor, called ‘UV Sense’, measures an individual’s UV exposure while offering long wear and real-time data through the use of an app, available on both iOS and Android.

Using Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled technology, the app delivers consumer-friendly information detailing when the wearer should be mindful of UV exposure. Sun-safety habits, such as spending time in the shade or reapplying sunscreen, are also encouraged with facts about sun exposure and additional tips for protection, quite literally, on hand. It can also store up to three months of data, as well as display trends of exposure over time with instant updates.

Less than two millimetres thick and nine millimetres in diameter, the sensor is designed to be worn on the thumbnail, as this is the place on the body that receives optimal sunlight according to the brand.

Looking no more out of place than nail art, the UV Sense can be reapplied to the nail with additional adhesives, which come in the packaging.

“The technology within UV Sense is groundbreaking and has so much potential to impact the future of technology and wearables,” says Guive Balooch, Global Vice President of L’Oréal’s Research and Innovation Technology Incubator in a recent press release.

For the design of UV Sense, L’Oréal collaborated with Yves Behar, designer entrepreneur and founder of fuseproject. “Design and technology are inextricably linked, and as products are more personalised to individuals, both elements are integral to providing people with seamless experiences,” says Yves. “By working with L’Oréal, we are able to pair deep expertise in beauty tech with an effective design that enhances consumers’ wellbeing without distracting from their everyday lives.”

UV Sense will be available on a limited basis in the U.S. for summer this year and will launch globally in 2019.