According to L’Oréal, no sun filter can efficiently block UVA rays over 380nm. Rays that go beyond the 380nm mark are considered “ultra-long” UVA rays; these account for over 30% of all UV rays. Long UVA rays are known to penetrate the skin and are one of the leading causes of skin aging and, at times, contribute to the development of skin cancer in conjunction with other harmful UVA and UVB rays. UV rays have a greater or lesser impact on the skin depending on the time of day and season, altitude, and weather. Known to be committed to skin protection since the release of their sun protection oil in the 1930s, L'Oréal recently introduced UVMune 400, the first filtering technology to absorb ultra-long UVA rays effectively, after 10 years of research.
The development comes after the company's previous breakthroughs in sun protection across the last century. These include the Mexoryl SX filter, launched in 1982, which is effective against short UVA rays and, in 1989, Mexoryl XL, which debuted a soluble molecule capable of absorbing UVB and short UVA rays while increasing the effectiveness of other filters. UVMune 400’s new Mexoryl 400 filter is designed to present an improved environmental profile on top of protecting the skin.
Barbara Lavernos, Deputy CEO of Research, Innovation and Technology at L'Oréal, comments, "Our L'Oréal R&I teams have successfully risen to the real scientific challenge of inventing a sun filtering technology to cover the UVA zone that was so far less covered. This allows us to provide our broadest filtration and protect the skin from the damaging effects of the sun, even the most insidious. This discovery is fully in line with the Group's approach of providing answers to public health issues, such as the risks linked to skin exposure to UV radiation."
The first group brand to benefit from the new UVMune 400 technology is dermatologist-recommended skincare brand La Roche-Posay. The technology will be introduced into its products through its Anthelios franchise. Anthelios UVMune 400 has been proven to defend the skin against severe cell damage linked to premature aging. The technology also prevents DNA lesions, which can lead to skin cancer. After being tested on all skin types and prototypes, Anthelios UVMune 400 is now available in the form of an invisible fluid SPF50+ or a Hydrating Cream SPF50+.
"Sun protection is a key public health issue," says Laetitia Toupet, La Roche-Posay Global Brand President. "As a leading brand in suncare, we do our utmost to share derm knowledge and provide best-in-class protection in partnership with dermatologists. We are proud to raise the bar with Anthelios UVMune 400 to protect all skin types against even the most insidious UV rays."
