World’s largest and most diverse skin and hair health study launched by L’Oréal and Verily

The ‘My Skin & Hair Journey’ registry now open for enrollment, seeking self-identifying women participants for U.S. cohort

L’Oréal, the world leader in beauty, and Verily, an Alphabet precision health tech company, today 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.

The My Skin & Hair Journey registry will enroll thousands of self-identifying U.S. women 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. Self-identifying 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 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 all consumers.

“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,” said Barbara Lavernos, Deputy CEO in charge of Research, Innovation and Technology at L'Oréal. “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.”

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

L’Oréal has over a century of experience in research and development, and a strong commitment to open innovation with partners to accelerate knowledge that promotes global skin and hair health. 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,” said 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.”

In 2022, L’Oréal and Verily announced a strategic, multi-year partnership and research collaboration to advance precision skin health. As part of this work earlier this year, L’Oréal announced HAPTA, a computerized makeup applicator for people with limited hand and arm mobility, powered by Verily technology.  

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. For those interested in joining, more information can be found here.