Women looking to prevent sun damage without sacrificing style now have a powerful new weapon, JUNE. Wearable as a bracelet or brooch, the device employs UV sensors to gauge how much sun exposure its wearer receives throughout the day. The sensor, set in the middle of the product, looks similar to a jewel, making for a flawless match with most outfits.
JUNE comes with a free iOS app, which offers a comprehensive picture of the day’s sun outlook, including a forecast of the UV index and the estimated risk of UV radiation from the sun on a scale from 0 to 15 (with 15 being the highest risk). It also gives recommendations about what level of sunscreen SPF to apply and whether a user should wear protective accessories. Before donning the device for the first time, the user fills out a questionnaire detailing eye color, skin tone and the specific effect of unprotected sun exposure on her skin. This way, JUNE’s app can generate personalized daily reports on individual sun exposure.
Photo source: June
A potential competitor to JUNE is Violet, currently in production. Developed by Ultra, its aim is to help users receive a healthy amount of sun without the negative side effects. As with JUNE, it monitors real-time UV exposure, alerting the wearer if he or she is about to enter the skin-damage danger zone, while also calculating daily natural vitamin D production—essential to human health. Small, lightweight and waterproof, it can be worn as a wristband or a clip, for a discreet look. Ultra plans to ship the first Violet units in August.
Other sun-tracking wearables on the market include UVSunSense, a disposable wristband that changes color to indicate when the user has applied an adequate amount of sunscreen, or not enough; and Sunburn Alert, which works in a similar manner. Both products feature photo-chromic dyes in the band that change colors when exposed to UV radiation.
Numerous smartphone apps also help measure dangerous levels of sun exposure, including the National Cancer Institute’s sunZapp, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Sunwise UV Index and the Block and Nevus apps. According to a study published in January in JAMA Dermatology, however, reception to these apps has been lukewarm. Perhaps attractive wearables, such as JUNE, may be a better bet when it comes to embracing sun-tracking technologies.
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