As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, two women are working to address what they saw as a gap in the skincare market by developing products specifically designed for the breast area.

At Innovia Research Labs in Commack, researchers conduct efficacy and performance testing to evaluate skincare products.

According to Innovia founder Rose Sparacio, the lab’s work focuses on determining whether products perform as intended.

“We're doing efficacy testing, performance testing, simple terms. We're seeing if the product really works,” Sparacio said.

One of Innovia’s clients is Carly Guerra, who spent years working in the beauty industry before receiving a breast cancer diagnosis in 2022.

“I was, you know, very shocked to get my diagnosis,” Guerra said.

Following her diagnosis, Guerra began searching for products specifically designed for breast care but was unable to find options that met her expectations.

“After my diagnosis, I said, you know, I really need to start using products that are scientifically backed, clinically formulated for the area. And I went online to find something and to my surprise, nothing had existed there,” Guerra said.

Guerra partnered with Sparacio to create clinically backed breast-focused skincare and makeup products for women. Sparacio said specialized formulations are important because the skin in the breast region differs from skin elsewhere on the body.

“The skin on the breast region is very, very different. All skin is not created equal. And that's the reason why you need this unique product to be used specifically in the breast region,” Sparacio said.

She said thicker products can be harmful for the thinner skin near the breasts. The pair began developing products made with natural ingredients that can also encourage consistent self-examinations. After years of testing, the products are now available on the market. Guerra said she wanted the products to help change the way women think about breast health.

“We're always thinking about them in a very, medical way or a maternal way. And I wanted to bring joy to that as well. And really kind of celebrate the area and celebrate what it means to be a woman,” Guerra said.

Guerra also said that $5 from every set purchased is donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.