L’Oréal and Verily kickstart “largest” investigation into diverse factors impacting skin and hair

12 Jul 2023 --- L’Oréal and Verily, an Alphabet precision health tech company, have jointly launched 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.

The partnership’s work will go beyond skin and will span research around longevity.

“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,” remarks Barbara Lavernos, deputy CEO in charge of research, innovation and technology at L’Oréal.

The new study is touted as having 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,” Lavernos envisions.

The My Skin & Hair Journey longitudinal registry for skin and hair health is now enrolling participants in the US, with the intention to expand internationally. 

The study will investigate women aged 18-70 from various ethnicities and social backgrounds, with diverse skin and hair attributes. Diverse ethnicities included
The My Skin & Hair Journey registry will enroll thousands of self-identifying women from the US to develop an “unprecedented” body of knowledge about perceptions and experiences of skin and hair health, including the role of lifestyle, environment, wellness and personal beauty routines. 

The women aged 18-70 from various ethnicities and social backgrounds with diverse skin and hair attributes are invited to take part by privately sharing their unique skin and hair health journeys through self-reported data and surveys. 

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. 

L'Oréal will leverage insights generated from the registry to develop innovative, precision beauty offerings to support the skin and hair goals of its consumers.

“This program combines L’Oréal’s deep scientific knowledge of beauty with Verily’s comprehensive technology and clinical science capabilities,” says Stephen Gillett, CEO at Verily. 

“Through this multifaceted partnership, we aim to bring meaningful innovation to consumers and leverage data to deliver improved precision skin and hair health outcomes.”

Crucial role of skin health cohorts
L’Oréal’s expertise has grown to include advanced research and innovation for precision “beauty for each” – leveraging synthetic biology, green sciences and beauty tech to develop more personalized products and services for the diverse profiles, needs and aspirations of global consumers.

“Skin health cohorts play a crucial role in unraveling the intricate connection between a wide range of biomarkers and skin health outcomes,” says Guive Balooch, L’Oréal’s global managing director of augmented beauty and open innovation.

“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.”

The collaborative investigation will go beyond skin and span research into longevity.Innovation pipeline
In 2022, L’Oréal and Verily announced a strategic, multi-year partnership and research collaboration to advance precision skin health. Earlier this year, L’Oréal released HAPTA, a computerized makeup applicator for people with limited hand and arm mobility, powered by Verily technology.

Among other recent research advancements, L’Oréal partnered with the University of California Berkeley’s Bakar Labs, a biotechnology incubator, to pioneer the next generation of beauty products. The new products will be backed by L’Oréal’s extensive microbiome science, Bakar Labs’ biotechnology expertise and other advanced scientific research.

Last month, the beauty giant led in synthetic biology company Debut’s US$34 million Series B funding round. As the exclusive beauty investor in the company, L’Oréal’s investment will scale the biotech’s manufacturing platform to meet the growing demand for “breakthrough ingredients” to be used in cosmetics, skin care and packaging.

In March, L’Oréal linked up with Unilever and Kao, undertaking a new venture to craft new sustainable beauty ingredients derived from living organisms.

This was also the year L’Oréal issued its first venture capital investment in the metaverse and Web3 space, signaling industry’s readiness to adapt to an evolving digital landscape. In January, it made a minority investment in US-based startup, Digital Village, a metaverse-as-a-service platform and NFT marketplace for brands, creators and communities.

By Benjamin Ferrer