Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Amato.
Suzanne, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My passion has always been health and beauty. Ever since I can remember I’ve been researching new products, beauty procedures, recipes, workouts, etc., always trying to find healthier ways of living and ways to stay young looking. I’ve lived in Boston for most of my life and have worked in the tech industry for years – but my true passion has always been everything beauty. And with that, I’ve enjoyed helping people stay healthy and young with a specialty in anti-aging. As an avid researcher, I’ve positioned myself as a “local expert” and resource in Boston to help people find the best plastic surgeons, estheticians, or advice on the latest skin products that will keep them young looking. No matter the industry or position I’ve held, I’ve always been go-to for my coworkers for their beauty and skin care products! So, it was only natural that I decided to start my own company.
I can remember going to the dermatologist when I was around 30 years of age because I had brown spots or sunspots, on my cheeks and was curious why this was the case since I was wearing hats and applying sunscreen religiously for years. My dermatologist told me that those spots were most likely from sun exposure I received years ago when I was a teenager or even younger. I was shocked and started doing research and investing in products and peels to turn back the hands of time!
Around the same time, I started getting gel manicures and knew that the UV rays from tanning beds damaged skin and wondered if the lights used to cure gel polish did the same damage. After talking with dermatologists and plastic surgeons, I discovered that they did! We spend thousands of dollars on products and treatments for our faces to prevent aging – but do you know that the most accurate way to tell a person’s age is from their décolletage and their hands? We need to treat those areas with the same care as our faces. When you get gel manicures, you are exposing your hands to UV rays emitted by UV and LED lights that can age hands by giving you brown spots, wrinkling and can also potentially cause skin cancer.
I started using sunscreen on my hands and found it to be messy and couldn’t help but think that my wet sunscreen soaked hands were picking up bacteria that was already in the UV lamp…yuck! So, I then bought a pair of cotton gloves online and wore them a few times before realizing that they shrank when I washed them, or I’d forget to wash them or put them in my handbag and end up in the salon without them. Again, annoying! I wanted an answer, a hygienic way to protect my hands during every gel manicure, so NoUV was born!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has been a longer road than I anticipated from concept to the product that exists today. It took approximately a year and a half from my initial vision to proof of concept in sample form and then the final product with sleek packaging. In addition, the education process for nail salons has been challenging. Many salons switched from UV lights to LED lamps years ago in an effort to protect their clients from UV exposure to their hands. However, studies have shown that LED lamps also emit UV rays and are also damaging to hands and can cause skin cancer. Hand protection needs to be worn whether you are drying your nails with UV or LED lamps. Many times I will reach out to a salon and they tell me their lamps are not damaging, normally they are referring to LED lamps. When I meet with them, I show them dermatologist studies and videos explaining the damage that LED lights cause. It can be devastating for salons to hear this as many have spent thousands of dollars on LED lamps to replace UV lamps thinking this solved the UV exposure problem.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with UVLove – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am the CEO and Founder of UVLove, which is committed to creating and providing products that protect consumers from the risks of exposure to UltraViolet radiation. UVLove’s products promote healthy skin and bodies contributing to anti-aging to keep you looking beautiful, healthy and ageless. Our first product NoUV (pronounced No-UV) is the only disposable, fingertipless UV protectant glove on the market that protects hands from over 99% of UV rays during gel manicures. If you’ve ever been getting a gel or shellac manicure at your favorite spa and wondered if the UV/LED lights used to dry your nail polish are harmful? Yes, they are!! NoUV is new way for you to safely enjoy your gel and shellac manicures.
NoUV is different than other gloves that your spa or salon might offer such as cotton gloves or gloves made of a woven and or non woven material. These alternative options do not provide the same level of protection as NoUV. I’m proud to say that NoUV has been tested by an independent firm showing the material of NoUV has an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) greater than 55+. This UPF rating qualifies for the “UPF Excellent” rating and is the only disposable glove on the market that provides over 99% of UV protection during every gel manicure.
Hygiene can also be a problem for salons and spas. Tools should be sterilized after each use. Gloves used for UV protection in salons and spas need to be washed after every use and in most cases you have no real way of knowing whether this has happened. Even if washed, those gloves have to pass through many hands before getting to you. NoUV is disposable. Each set of gloves comes in its own packaging, just for you, to make for a hygienic experience. Simply use NoUV before getting your nails polished and throw away when done. NoUV is also recyclable.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
It has been an exciting journey and I’m happy to say that NoUV is now selling in some nail salons in Boston and New York. I am in the process of preparing to pitch to retailers and ideally would love to see NoUV selling in places such as Sephora, Ulta and Target. I’m also busy creating new supplemental products for those who care about skin care can use on a regular basis – even if they don’t get gel manicures. Make sure to stay tuned to see the exciting things on tap!!
Pricing:
- NoUV is available for $13.00 for the NoUV 5-Pack on our website www.uv-love.com
- NoUV also sells on Amazon for $13.oo for the NoUV 5-Pack
Contact Info:
- Website: www.uv-love.com
- Phone: 617-285-4642
- Email: suzanne@uv-love.com
- Instagram: @nouvfornails
- Facebook: @uvlove
- Twitter: @beautypulse1
Image Credit:
Sonya Highfield, Bryan Barth, Yofred Moik
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