Emma Jones had tried moisturizer. In fact, Emma Jones had tried multiple moisturizers—and lotions and serums and soaps. But the 35-year-old real estate agent, with freckled, fair skin that itched and flaked, couldn’t find a skincare product that relieved her chronic dry spells. So when she came across a blog that mentioned genetic skin testing, Jones decided to give it a try. She ordered a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) kit from GeneHabit, a genetic testing platform that promises skincare insights that “can help you understand your skin’s genetic risk of developing skin conditions such as premature aging, sun damage, skin elasticity, skin allergies” and determine if you are “predisposed to certain skin conditions, like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and wrinkles.” And it doesn’t just reveal the future of your face, but what’s dimming your glow now; deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that show up as skin problems.
For $99 and a quick spit in a tube, Jones would get a personalized skincare report, created by scientific experts, along with a recommended beauty routine. “I had never considered that my genes could have such a significant impact on my skin,” she says. “I had previously focused on external factors, like the weather and the creams I used.”
