Moate students develop plant-based UV protection for nail treatments

Three students from Moate Community School, Aoibh Larkin, Kayla Moran, and Leah Pillion, have developed an innovative solution to protect nail beds from UV exposure during gel nail treatments.

Their BT Young Scientist project, “Botanical Barriers: Harnessing Plant Compounds for UV Protection,” explores plant-based alternatives to safeguard against the risks of UV light, including skin cancer.

Aoibh, Leah, and Kayla, were second in the intermediate group section of the Health and Wellbeing category.

The team focused on creating a nail base coat using natural plant extracts. “We found kale to be the most effective at absorbing UV light,” Kayla explained.

The students combined kale extract with sodium alginate as a thickener, nitrocellulose as a film-former, and ethanol as a solvent.

After rigorous testing, they confirmed that the kale-based formula absorbed UV light effectively, with minimal penetration of harmful rays.

Their experiments also revealed that increasing the layers of their base coat significantly enhanced UV protection, with five layers absorbing nearly 250 units of UV light. The students collaborated with Dr. John O’Donoghue from Trinity College Dublin to analyse their results and ensure accuracy.

Looking ahead, the team aims to refine the formula’s drying time and test its durability under real-world conditions.

Their groundbreaking project highlights a sustainable and health-conscious approach to improving cosmetic nail treatments.