Scientists have long been concerned about the effects of blue light on everything from our body’s circadian rhythms to our vision, but what about our skin? The shortest wavelength of the visible light spectrum, blue light is situated closely to ultraviolet light, which is known to adversely affect human health. It is emitted by sunlight as well as man-made sources like fluorescent and LED lighting, flat-screen TVs, and laptop and smartphone screens.
But how does blue light affect the skin? Studies show that exposure to blue light leads to oxidative stress and damage to the skin. This speeds up the breakdown of collagen, a key protein that provides structural support to the skin. As a result, you may start to notice more bags, wrinkles, and fine lines appearing on your visage. In addition, evidence also suggests that blue light may aggravate inflammatory hyper-pigmentation conditions of the skin like melasma.
To protect your eyes from blue light and your skin, look no further than blue light protection skincare. Similar to sunscreen, these products physically block out blue light. By stopping free radicals formed by blue light in their tracks, they prevent all sorts of damage from photo-aging to sagging and dark spots. Blue light protection products are fortified with antioxidants, and often also contain powerful ingredients like iron oxide, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, and vitamin C. A fast-developing market, blue light protection products include serums, creams, masks, and more. It’s a smart investment, and while you’re at it, dim your screens and switch your phone to night mode to give yourself even more protection.
Gear up and check out our selection of the latest in blue light protection.
5 Best Products for Blue Light Protection
1. Chantecaille Blue Light Protection Hyaluronic Serum
2. Oh K! Anti Blue Light Sheet Mask
3. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex Synchronized Recovery
4. Medik8 Advanced Day Total Protect
5. Uriage Age Protect Multi-Action Intensive Serum