The circuit-breaker is now extended, which means you’re spending more time at home than before – at least until the end of next month. Most of us are going to spend more time before our screens – whether it’s making longer video calls with our loved ones, watching more shows on streaming services, or catching up on the latest updates on social media.
But these new lifestyle habits are not going to bode well for our skin. Reason: your screens – from the mobile phone, laptop, and even TV – emit blue light, which studies have shown is causing oxidative stress in your skin.
Quick math: You wake up at 7am and your mobile phone is in front of your face till you ready to work, and then you switch to your work computer and spend the next eight hours before it. In between, because your colleagues are no longer with you for lunch, you scroll through your phone while you eat. After work, you spend the rest of your day watching Netflix shows before winding down looking through your social media feed till you fall asleep at 11pm. This would have made up 16 hours of continuous blue light exposure.
Blue light is bad news
During our mothers’ time, people were probably only going to care about the prevention of sun damage by avoiding UV rays and applying sunscreen religiously. But in this digital era, besides the sun, blue light is fast becoming one of the top reasons why our skin is ageing prematurely.
And while digital blue light has less radiation compared to UV rays, it can become a top aggressor to our skin because of how close digital devices are to our skin (think about how closely you hold your phone to your face) and the lengthy amount of time we spend in front of these devices.
More bad news: blue light also penetrates deeper into the skin compared to UV rays, so it causes more damage to our collagen and elastin – both responsible for keeping our skin looking firm and bouncy.
Blue light defense and protection skincare
First of all, spend less time in front of your screens if you could help it – spend more time cooking up a storm in the kitchen, working out, or meditate.
Next, invest in blue light skincare products that shield your skin from the effects of blue light. The good news is that many of our favourite beauty brands are launching products that protect our skin against blue light damage – and they include everything from blue light protection moisturisers to blue light protection face creams.
Uriage AGE Protect Multi-Action Eye Contour Cream
Everyone needs a great eye cream that helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, puffiness, and dark eye circles. This one from Uriage does these and more. It contains an exclusive Blue Light Barrier (a patented technology) to protect our delicate skin from pollution and harmful effects of blue light. The ophthalmologically tested product is also safe for the eye area.
This is also the winner of Best Blue Light Defence Product (Judges’ Choice) at the Daily Vanity Beauty Awards 2020. Judges love it because of how lightweight the cream feel and how it helps to hydrate the eye area instantly, reducing the look of fine lines.
Uriage AGE Protect Multi-Action Eye Contour Cream retails at SGD49.90 and is available at Lazada.
BMF Bella Marie France Hydra Defence Gel Cream
This anti-blue light gel cream as a soothing texture that calms any irritation and inflammation – two symptoms that are common to stressed skin.
Protecting your skin against environmental pollutants and UV damage too, this cream helps to improve your skin’s defences, thanks to Yuzu Ceramide in its formula. This ingredient is an antioxidant that’s five times stronger than orange.
BMFBella Marie France Hydra Defence Gel Cream retails for SGD100 and is available at their online store.
Sisleyouth Anti-Pollution Blue Light Shield by Sisley Paris
This blue light protection day cream helps energise skin and moisturise it while protecting it from environmental aggressors. The brand promises that the product can guard against all types of pollution, whether it is indoor, outdoor, or new tech (blue light) with its strong dose of antioxidants in the formula.
You’ll also love how it leaves the skin feeling velvety matte – so your skin feels good in Singapore’s humid weather, and the fresh scent of the product that comes from essential oils in the formula.
Sisleyouth Anti-Pollution Blue Light Shield by Sisley Paris retails at SGD245 and is available at Robinsons.
Est.lab Sunshield SPF 50+++
This well-loved sunscreen that doubles up as a tinted moisturiser has recently been enhanced with Anti-Blue Light Technology to protect your skin from photo-ageing.
Enriched with vitamins C and E to further deliver anti-ageing benefits, we also love how it offers a sheer coverage to minimise the appearance of pores and blemishes. This means that this is all we need to look flawless without trying too hard at our next web conference.
Est.lab Sunshield retails at SGD96 and is available at the Est.lab website.
Crystal Tomato Beyond Sun Protection
You may remember Crystal Tomato as the brand with a supplement that protects skin against UV damage and offers skin brightening benefit. Now the brand is using the same non-genetically modified crystal tomatoes to create Beyond Sun Protection, a sunscreen that offers protection against UV rays, blue light, and pollution.
It claims to offer more than 50% protection against blue light, which is one of the highest you can find in the market. On top of this, it also increases skin moisture, aids in skin lightening, and has a non-greasy texture that absorbs quickly.
Beyond Sun Protection retails at SGD78.80 and is available at Tangs Level 1 (till 31 August), authorised medical aesthetic clinics, and selected premium spas. Some of the authorised medical aesthetic clinics include: A.M Aesthetics, Aesthetics & Medical Clinic, Dermacare Aesthetics & Laser Clinic, Joyce Lim Skin and Laser Clinic, Prive Clinic, and Woffles Wu Aesthetic Surgery & Laser Centre.
Chantecaille Blue Light Protection Hyaluronic Serum
Besides delivering long-lasting hydration to skin, this serum also protects skin from the effects of blue light. Infused with a combination of botanical ingredients, this is a refreshing product that is gentle enough for all skin types.
Other than reducing the effects of blue light pollution on skin, it also helps to revitalise skin so it looks less tired and more radiant. Its intense hydration power also helps skin look firmer, smoother, and fight against wrinkles.
Chantecaille Blue Light Protection Hyaluronic Serum retails at SGD236.50 and is available at LookFantastic.
Soleil Toujours Perpetual Radiance Eye Glow + Illuminator SPF15
This eye serum is made with 100% mineral ingredients to help protect and illuminate the eye area. Like all products by Soleil Toujours, it is formulated with the Environmental Defense Technology that protects skin against free radical-causing pollutants, including blue light.
You’ll also be happy to know that all Soleil Toujours products are 100% coral reef safe – a commitment that means a lot for our environment!
Soleil Toujouirs Perpetual Radiance Eye Glow + Illuminator retails at SGD98 and is available at Sephora.
Supergoop! Superscreen Daily Moisturizer SPF40
Supergoop! is the ultimate expert in sunscreens and we aren’t surprised that they have one that protects our skin from UV rays, blue light, pollution, and dryness – essentially the ultimate skin-protector.
This blue light protection moisturiser has a whipped texture that feels super hydrating and leaves skin feeling naturally dewy and prepped for makeup. Its oil-free formula also promises not to clog pores, while delivering nourishing, clean ingredients to your skin.
Supergoop! Superscreen Daily Moisturizer retails at SGD55 and is available at Sephora.
IDS Skincare DermaShield Mask
This unique mask is made up of three different layers of silk cloth, including a layer that is coated with Plant Stem Cells Essence, fortified with Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, which can protect skin against blue light.
This sheet mask is also infused with the DermaShield Serum, formulated to protect skin from damages caused by blue light exposure. You can look forward to smoother, fresher, and more radiant skin with continued use.
IDS Skincare DermaShield Mask retails at SGD104 and is available at its website and authorised stores.
You may also like these articles:
- Your sunscreen doesn’t keep you entirely safe until you’re protected from the light from your phone and computer screens
- 31 best sunscreens for face that you need in Singapore’s weather
