High-tech skincare solutions set to shake up industry

Technology is changing our lives -- and our beauty routines. If the latest innovations from the cosmetics industry are anything to go by, skincare is in for a major, high-tech overhaul in 2018.

Here are some of the concepts that have made headlines this year.

Digital dermatology

Skincare giant Neutrogena is raising its digital game, with the introduction of its new ‘Neutrogena Skin360' app and an accompanying ‘SkinScanner'. Powered by FitSkin, the SkinScanner is a tool that attaches to the user's phone and analyzes the skin via 12 high-powered lights, a 30x magnification lens and highly-accurate sensors.

The tool then provides data on the skin's condition, covering everything from moisture levels to the depth of wrinkles, transmitting the information to the app, which gives the user different scores for various skin elements. As well as offering relevant skincare advice, the app also aims to educate users about how their skin changes over time, to allow them to adjust their beauty routines accordingly.

Wearable sun protection

L'Oréal is taking sun protection seriously this year, having just unveiled the first battery-free wearable electronic UV sensor. Dubbed ‘UV Sense', the sensor is designed to be worn on the thumbnail for up to two weeks, where it measures individual UV exposure and can store up to three months of data. It can be reapplied to the nail with additional adhesives, is powered by the user's mobile phone and comes with an accompanying mobile app that translates data covering the user's exposure levels and encouraging sun-safety habits when necessary.

L'Oréal has also launched a limited-edition of its pioneering ‘My UV Patch', the stretchable skin sensor it debuted in 2016. Both technologies will be available from its La Roche-Posay brand later this year.

Second skin

Earlier this month, Japanese beauty brand Shiseido announced the acquisition of an XPLTM ‘Second Skin' technology from US startup Olivo Laboratories, which creates a "breathable, flexible and nearly invisible artificial skin." According to the brand, the concept could potentially offer "a number of benefits previously unachievable through traditional cosmetics or even cosmetic surgery," opening up possibilities for significantly enhanced skincare and suncare solutions via "skin shape correction."

"Our transaction with Olivo is an exciting next step in our ongoing pursuit to create entirely new categories of beauty products at a global scale as a part of our VISION 2020, middle to long term strategy," said Masahiko Uotani, President and CEO of Shiseido. "Olivo's groundbreaking ‘Second Skin' technology will join Shiseido's already robust innovation portfolio, which includes the personalization technology startup MATCHCo, the artificial intelligence-empowered beauty company Giaran, and our own Shiseido-developed OPTUNE, a digital, personalized skincare platform."