L’Oréal and Verily, an Alphabet precision health tech company, announced the launch of My Skin & Hair Journey, a multi-year study that will help researchers better understand the biological, clinical and environmental factors that contribute to skin and hair health over time.
U.S. women aged 18-70 from various ethnicities, social backgrounds and with diverse skin and hair attributes are invited to take part by privately sharing their experiences of skin and hair health, including the role of lifestyle, environment, wellness and personal beauty routines.
A subgroup of participants will also be invited to further testing to uncover biomarkers—unique biological signatures—that can lead to early detection or prevention of skin disorders, before they take hold.
The My Skin & Hair Journey longitudinal registry for skin and hair health is now enrolling participants in the United States, with the intention to expand internationally.
In 2022, L’Oréal and Verily announced a strategic partnership to advance skin health. The partnership would drive two programs to elucidate and characterize skin and hair aging mechanisms, and to inform L’Oréal’s precision beauty tech strategy and product development.
Barbara Lavernos, deputy CEO in charge of research, innovation and technology at L'Oréal, said, "We are passionate about embarking on this journey with Verily, the worldwide leader in precision health tech. It is the first time a study of this magnitude has been designed for and launched in the beauty industry. Our work will go beyond skin and will cover our research around longevity. This study has the potential to unlock the mysteries of skin and hair health down to the individual level. In the future, it can serve as the cornerstone for developing precision beauty innovations for hair and skin, with a level of personalization never seen before.”
Stephen Gillett, CEO of Verily, said, "This program combines L’Oréal’s deep scientific knowledge of beauty with Verily’s comprehensive technology and clinical science capabilities. Through this multifaceted partnership, we aim to bring meaningful innovation to consumers and leverage data to deliver improved precision skin and hair health outcomes.”
Guive Balooch, L’Oréal’s global managing director of augmented beauty and open innovation, said, "Skin health cohorts play a crucial role in unraveling the intricate connection between a wide range of biomarkers and skin health outcomes. Engaging regularly over time with the study participants allows us to observe changes, pinpoint risk factors, and develop personalized skincare recommendations that enhance overall skin health and well-being. This comprehensive understanding contributes to the development of more precise and inclusive skincare approaches that cater to the diverse needs of individuals worldwide.”
