Available in pharmacies since March 2022 in several markets, including Europe, South America, South-East Asia and South Africa, La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios UVMune 400 is L’Oréal ‘s first range of products to benefit from this technology based on Mexoryl 400 [1], a new generation of UV filters.

According to L’Oréal, it is the first that is able to block efficiently ultra-long UVA rays from 380 nm, which alone accounts for 30% of UV sun rays [2]. “These long UVA rays penetrate the epidermis the most and are among the main causes of skin aging. They also contribute to the development of skin cancer, along with other UVA and UVB rays,” said the French group in a statement.

"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," explains Barbara Lavernos, Deputy CEO in charge of Research, Innovation and Technology at L’Oréal.

Decades of research in sun protection

This launch follows on from several decades of innovation by the L’Oréal group’s R&I in terms of protection against UV radiation.

The group obtained its first patent for a sun protection oil in the 1930s. In 1982, L’Oréal launched Mexoryl SX, a filter that was effective against short UVA rays and was photostable and hydrophilic. In 1985, it obtained the first photostabilization patent of the Parsol 1789, which made it possible to filter UVA rays up to 360 nm. In 1989, L’Oréal debuted Mexoryl XL, a soluble lipophilic molecule capable of absorbing UVB and short UVA rays and increasing the effectiveness of other filters.

With UVMune 400, the solar filtration range is increased by 20 nm. According to L’Oréal, it took 10 years of research to design the new technology, which also benefits from an improved environmental profile.

Tested on all skin types and phototypes, La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 is available as either Invisible Fluid SPF50+ or Hydrating Cream SPF50+.