Skin care company La Roche-Posay (owned by L'Oreal) recently released its first tech product, a UV sensor that's designed to tell you how much sun exposure you're getting on any given day.

The My Skin Track UV Sensor, available from Apple, is meant to help you make sure you have adequate sun protection for long days spent in the sun. It's tiny, solar powered, and transfers data over NFC, so there's no battery and no need for charging.

uvsensordesign
The Skin Track UV Sensor sounds great in theory, but there are some design flaws and issues that I discovered over the course of several months of testing, which I've outlined below.

Design

The My Skin Track UV Sensor ships in two pieces. There's the blue and white plastic sensor portion, and a metal clip designed to fit on a sleeve, shirt collar, or cap where it can be exposed to the sun.

The sensor slides into the metal clip, which can be a little bit tricky. I'm not sure why it's shipped in two pieces because there isn't ever a need to take it out of the clip, but maybe La-Roche Posay is planning to release different enclosures in the future.

uvsensorsetup
Size wise, the Skin Track Sensor is tiny. It's about the same size as my thumb nail, and I have a small thumb. There's a little window on the sensor that houses the UV detecting equipment and an NFC chip, with the window designed to let in light for tracking purposes.

uvsensorback
As mentioned above, the clip is meant to be attached to an item of clothing that's regularly in the sun, but the clip is imperfect. You can put it on a shirt sleeve, collar, hat, or elsewhere, but there's no closure at the back so it's very easy for it to slip off.

For a while, I was wearing it on my Apple Watch band, but it kept sliding off. I tried it on my sleeve, but that was worse, and so was the collar of my shirt. There were times when I lost the sensor for a few hours in the house, and if I hadn't been super vigilant about keeping an eye on it when outdoors, I definitely would have lost it.

sensorapplewatchband
It's really prone to falling off, and I can't stress that enough. I'm not sure anyone is going to be able to keep this thing for any length of time because of that clip design, so if you get one of these, try to find some way to secure the end so it's not going to be gone forever if it slips off.

My ultimate solution was putting it on the thick handle of my backpack where it was such a tight fit that it couldn't slide off. When I'm out, I usually have my backpack with me, so this was an okay solution for me. That wouldn't work for running, visiting the beach, workouts, or any other similar activity, though.

uvsensorbackpack
I don't think there's anywhere else I could reasonably put it without losing it, and I think it's amazing that I've managed to keep it without losing it so far.

Functionality

I've been testing the My Skin Track sensor off and on since November, in the California Bay Area, Washington DC, and in Europe, all places where it's been rather cloudy and rainy.

The My Skin Track sensor says that it tracks both UVA and UVB rays and the FAQ says it doesn't need direct sunlight, but so far, I haven't really been able to get it to register UV exposure when it's not right in the sun.

I'm confused by this, because my dermatologist and everything I read online tells me to wear sunscreen even not in direct sun because you're still being exposed to UV light even on cloudy days and in indirect light, but when it comes to tracking this kind of UV exposure, the My Skin Track sensor doesn't seem to work well.

uvsensorside
I know that it's functional in general because it will accurately detect UV light exposure when in direct sunlight, but I have literally left it outside all day in indirect lighting (where it is outside but not in a direct beam of sunlight) and nothing. I've worn it on cloudy or partly cloudy days and gotten zero UV readings, even when the UV index was above 1.

When the sensor is in direct sunlight, it works well and is able to let me know that I'm in the sun, though I mean, I sort of already know that and I'm already aware I shouldn't be there long and should be wearing sunscreen.

uvsensorsleeve
If you're someone prone to forgetting about sunscreen and not paying attention to sun exposure when in direct sunlight, the sensor will let you know how much of your "max sun-stock" you get in a day, and at 75%, it's supposed to be a warning to get out of the sun or protect yourself.

uvsensormax
The max sun-stock is supposed to be the recommended maximum daily allowance of UV based on skin tone and the UV index, but dermatologists, doctors, and skin cancer experts recommend using sunscreen all of the time regardless of these factors so I'm never entirely sure what to do with the max sun-stock reading.

Because there's no battery in the My Skin Track sensor, there's no way for it to send data automatically. To transfer collected data from the sensor to your phone, you need to use NFC. Using NFC requires an NFC-compatible iPhone, and you need to hold the sensor near the NFC chip in the device for a few seconds to transfer data.

uvskinsensorscaninterface
La-Roche Posay recommends transferring data once a day when you're not spending much time in the sun, and at least twice a day when you are. Having to manually transfer data is definitely not ideal because by the time you transfer it over and check your sunstock reading, you've likely already been out in the sun for more than the maximum recommended time.

I don't know about other people, but when I'm out having fun at the beach or wherever else I might be exposed to sunlight, I'm not checking in on my ‌iPhone‌ to NFC scan my sun tracking sensor very often. Because there's no automatic data retrieval, there are no warning notifications of any kind, which is of limited use.

App

The My Skin Track app offers a daily reading of your total UV exposure (also known as the max sun-stock), the current UV index for your location, the temperature and humidity, air quality level, and pollen index.

With the exception of the UV reading, all of the data is location based and gathered from reading your current location.

uvskintrackmonthlyview
A trends section lets you see UV exposure over the day, week, month, and year, along with average readings for air quality, temperature, humidity, and pollen index.

There are skin advice readings, which provide La-Roche Posay product recommendations based on your skin type, which you input. I have a lot of allergies, so mine recommends gentle cleansers, hydrating moisturizers, and products without alcohol and fragrance. It's basically an advertising section for La-Roche Posay skincare.

uvsensorsuggestionsactivities
You can log activities in the La-Roche Posay app to time them with the UV readings of how much time you're spending in the sun during a specific activity. This is useful, but all data needs to be entered manually. You need to open the app to start the activity, scan the sensor, and then end the activity when you're done and scan again.

This activity list is also a little bit odd. Bocce ball, gardening, and kayaking are listed as options, with other more obvious activities like biking left out.

Bottom Line

I'm a little bit obsessed with staying out of the sun, so I wanted to like the My Skin Track UV sensor, but using it was more of a hassle than it was worth. I was always paranoid about losing it because the design makes it prone to slipping off whatever it's attached to, and I was disappointed that it didn't seem to capture the full range of my UV exposure.

It worked well in the sunlight, but when it came to indirect or diffuse lighting (like on a partly cloudy day), nothing was picked up on most days, leaving me questioning the accuracy of the device. When I'm already in full direct sun, I generally know that I should have sunscreen on and limit sun exposure, and I think most people are in a similar situation.

It would be more useful as a direct sunlight monitor if it could send push notifications when a threshold had been reached, but it can't, because data needs to be transferred manually over NFC. Measuring sunlight exposure after the fact doesn't seem particularly useful, and interrupting an activity to scan an NFC chip seems like something people will forget to comply with.

I think for people who don't regularly wear sunscreen and who do a lot of out in the sun outdoor activities, this has the potential to be useful in its current incarnation for providing a picture of overall sun exposure over time, but anyone considering a purchase should be aware of its limitations.

Most people are probably going to benefit more from taking the $60 that would have been spent on this UV sensor, buying a bunch of sunscreen, and wearing it every day.

Where to Buy

You can buy the La Roche-Posay My Skin Track UV Sensor from the Apple online store or in Apple retail stores for $59.95.

Top Rated Comments

Unity451 Avatar
86 months ago
But what's going to monitor that additional NFC radiation?

NFC Radiation is the biggest modern day threat since they started discovering dihydrogen monoxide in our food.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SBlue1 Avatar
86 months ago
Apple Watch should get such a feature in the future. But one that works, unlike this thing.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Feature

iOS 26.1 to iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Wednesday October 1, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
iOS 26 was released last month, but the software train never stops, and iOS 26.1 beta testing is already underway. So far, iOS 26.1 makes both Apple Intelligence and Live Translation on compatible AirPods available in additional languages, and it includes some other minor changes across Apple Music, Calendar, Photos, and Safari. More features and changes will follow in future versions,...
iPhone 17 vs Air and Pros Feature

New iPhones See 'Stronger Than Expected' Demand With One Exception

Thursday October 2, 2025 7:26 am PDT by
Nearly two weeks after the iPhone 17 series launched, analysts at investment banking firm Morgan Stanley said demand for the devices has been "modestly stronger than we originally expected," based on a combination of extended shipping estimates on Apple's online store and information it gathered from Apple's supply chain. There has been strong early demand for the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro,...
space black mbp

Here's Every New Apple Product That Leaked Yesterday

Wednesday October 1, 2025 8:27 am PDT by
A handful of upcoming Apple products leaked yesterday, through a combination of YouTube videos out of Russia and U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) documents that were released, despite Apple's confidentiality requests. The leaked products include an iPad Pro with an M5 chip, as well as updated MacBook Pro and Apple Vision Pro models. All of these devices had already been rumored...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro teal 1

Apple's iPhone Driver's License Feature Now Available in 11 U.S. States

Tuesday September 30, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Apple recently revealed that the feature would soon be available in North Dakota, and starting today, the feature has officially gone...
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple Event in October? Here's What to Expect

Monday September 29, 2025 9:31 am PDT by
Apple's annual iPhone event is in the rearview mirror, but rumors suggest the company plans to release a handful of additional products before the year ends. Will there be another Apple event this October? We discuss the possibility below. Apple in October Apple's most recent October events were in 2021 and 2023. In 2022 and 2024, Apple did not host an October event. Instead, it...
fcc vision pro leak

FCC Accidentally Leaks Apple's Next Vision Pro

Tuesday September 30, 2025 3:48 pm PDT by
The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has seemingly confirmed Apple's work on an updated version of the Vision Pro headset. One of several documents the FCC shared today references an Apple-designed "Head Mounted Device" with a model number of A3416. An included image confirms the device is a Vision Pro. The FCC's uploads are transmission tests, SAR test reports, and...
macbook pro prime day 2025

FCC Leaks Upcoming MacBook Pro and More

Tuesday September 30, 2025 1:58 pm PDT by
The United States Federal Communications Commission has confirmed Apple's work on a new version of the MacBook Pro and several other products, leaking details on the devices ahead of launch. The FCC published documents that reference model numbers that do not correspond with existing devices. A3434, for example, references an unreleased MacBook Pro, while other numbers are likely for...
Apple 2025 Thumb 1

Apple's 2025 Product Roadmap: What's Still Coming

Wednesday October 1, 2025 3:56 pm PDT by
Apple's two big yearly events, WWDC and the iPhone launch, are done and over with, but there are still some new products that we're expecting to see before the end of the year. Apple TV The Apple TV hasn't been updated since 2022, so it's due for a refresh. It doesn't look like Apple is going to change the design of its set-top box, but we can expect a faster chip Apple code suggests...
maxresdefault

New iPad Pro With M5 Chip Leaked in Unboxing Video

Tuesday September 30, 2025 8:39 am PDT by
An apparent unboxing video for an unannounced iPad Pro with the M5 chip was uploaded to YouTube today by Russian channel Wylsacom. The same YouTube account leaked the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip before it was announced by Apple last year, so this is likely a legitimate leak. Based on the box shown in the video, this appears to be a 13-inch iPad Pro with an M5 chip, 256GB of...
iOS 26 Everything New Feature

26 Hidden iOS 26 Tricks to Change How You Use Your iPhone

Wednesday October 1, 2025 9:16 am PDT by
Apple released iOS 26 in mid-September, bringing a range of new features and changes to iPhones across the globe. But not all of the included improvements have been showcased with Apple's typical fanfare, and many are likely to have been overlooked. Below, we've highlighted 26 lesser known additions and enhancements that could potentially change how you use your iPhone on a daily basis. Got...