If you've ever wondered about the wide range of skincare products on the market and which ones are right for you, L'Oréal says you have the answer. For CES 2025the company introduced a gadget called Cellular BioPrint who can biochemically analyze your skin and give advice on how to make it look younger.
The company has partnered with startup NanoEntek, a Korean manufacturer that is developing microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technology. To use the system, you place the facial strip on your cheek and then transfer it to the buffer solution. It is then loaded into a Cell BioPrint cartridge, which in turn is inserted into the machine for analysis. While the data is being processed, the device also takes pictures of your face and prompts you to fill out a short questionnaire about skin problems and aging. All this takes just five minutes, the company says.
In an interview with Engadget, L'Oreal's Gieve Balouche said that the skin strip can be applied near the jawline, and that even if one applies sunscreen, it won't affect the results.
Once the data is processed using what L'Oréal calls proteomics, Cell BioPrint can provide advice on how to improve the appearance of your skin. It can tell you how well you respond to certain ingredients, such as retinol, and predict potential cosmetic concerns, such as dark spots or enlarged pores, before they become noticeable.
This all sounds good and quite scientifically based, but L'Oréal hasn't cited any peer-reviewed studies that could prove the machine's effectiveness. However, it seems like now is a good time for a product like skin care awareness. exploded lately thanks in part to Covid, influencers and Sephora. This allowed us to obtain a lot of new information (and disinformation), allowing L'Oréal to come in and save the day by using science to hypothetically solve your problems.
In any case, the BioPrint machine will not be available to consumers just yet, and to be clear, the first version of the device is not intended for home use. Pilot testing in stores across Asia is planned to begin sometime in 2025, but there is no firm launch date or price yet. Baluch said it will follow the same rollout pattern as the company's other tech launches in the past, first hitting shelves at the flagship stores of one of L'Oréal's luxury brands. Over time, it may penetrate into more mainstream segments.