Most people are already familiar with the harmful effects of sun exposure, but many may not be aware that the blue light emitted from the screens of digital devices can also negatively affect your skin as well.
Similar to UVA and UVB rays from the sun, blue light, also known as high-energy visible (HEV) light can also damage your skin and lead to premature aging. This is important to know given that so many of us spend an alarming amount of time in front of screens, whether it’s working on the computer, watching television, or texting, snapping selfies, and scrolling through social media on our phones.
The good news is that there are easy things you can do to protect your skin and keep it looking its best. Keep reading to learn four HEV-protecting tactics to implement into your skincare and lifestyle routines asap.
4 Ways to protect your skin from screens
1. Cleanse your skin
Although you may be tempted to skip cleansing your skin (especially after a long day or night), this is a step you definitely don’t want to overlook. Beverly Hills-based dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Herrmann recommends being diligent about cleansing your skin with a gentle cleanser morning and night. “It’s especially important at night to remove pollutants and make up which can increase free radical production,” she says.
2. Use products with antioxidants
“The best ways to protect against excess screen time light is to use products that contain antioxidants like vitamin C and E,” Dr. Herrmann says. The reason antioxidants are so essential is because they help halt the formation of the free radical molecules that damage the skin.
Our Vitamin C Sheet Mask, for example, is infused with a skin-brightening serum that contains vitamin C as well as other beneficial ingredients such as pomegranate, fig, and mulberry extracts. Together they’ll help even out your skin’s tone and brighten and restore its natural radiance. Dr. Herrmann recommends giving your skin it’s daily dose of antioxidants first thing in the morning to protect it throughout the day.
3. Wear SPF
After you’ve cleansed your skin and applied your vitamin C in the morning, Dr. Herrmann also recommends applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. This will help protect your skin from the sun and the blue light rays.
4. Put blue light screen shields on your devices
To protect your skin from the HEV rays, ideally you’d want to limit your screen time as much as you can. However, for people who need to use a computer for work every day, that’s not always possible. If that’s the case, you can also put blue light screen shields on your devices to limit the exposure. Or, at the very least, switch your phone to night mode which will activate its yellow light mode.