If we’re being real here, there’s some danger on the horizon, more than ever before. Because tech is a part of your life, you may need to use your screen a lot. After all, it’s your work, and you need to keep it going. Your screen might also be your connection to the world and your entertainment, but it might be doing damage to your skin.
The Digital Glow You Didn’t Ask For
Here’s the deal: high-energy visible (HEV) light, or what we call blue light, isn’t just coming from the sun. While the sun is the primary source of this light, screens and LED lights add to the problem. That means more screens = more exposure, and that light is getting into your skin, deeper than the sun’s rays ever could. It may be responsible for accelerating aging, hyperpigmentation, and reducing your skin’s defenses.
It’s not just about the amount of time. A screen that is more than an arm’s length away has little impact. However, if you’re a phone-clutcher and your cheeks are bathed in blue for eight hours a day, that will have a great impact on your skin.
Tech Meets Beauty: How To Protect Your Skin
If you can’t quit using screens for long hours each day, you can take steps to protect against skin damage from blue light.
Slide into Night Mode: Most phones and laptops have filters and settings to reduce blue light. Use them, especially at night.
Choose Blue Light Skincare: Some antioxidants, like niacinamide, vitamin C, and lutein to combat oxidative stress, can counteract the effects. That’s why smart companies are creating blue light-blocking skincare.
Use SPF Inside: Just because you’re indoors doesn’t mean you can’t use sunscreen. If you wear it for invisible rays, you’re already covered.
Control Your Screen Time: If you want less blue light, reduce the number of hours you use screens when you don’t absolutely have to use them.
The Right Skincare for a Digital World
Blue light is the new normal, so your routine has to reflect that. Hydration has never been more important. The same is true of antioxidants. Load up on serums, moisturizers, and other products with lots of hydration. Throw in a blue light blocker that can combat HEV rays. Brands like Millies have done the work in this area, adding the best skincare treatments into collections that protect, repair, and refresh skin.
We’re not getting less techy, so let’s get savvier about our skincare and how we protect our skin. Get your face away from the screen because it deserves a little break.