We’ve all been there. You think you’re just going to be on your phone for a few minutes, and then an hour (or two or three) passes by.
Though you may lose track of time, your skin is not missing a minute. In fact, the blue light emitted from your phone may be aging you more quickly than other sources of light.
How? Well, we’ve all been told a million times that blue light can disrupt your circadian rhythms—that’s why you’re supposed to limit your smartphone usage just before bed. Lack of sleep has been linked to many ailments, including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Blue light can also damage your eyes. The eye’s cornea and lens are unable to block or reflect blue light, and chronic exposure can lead to the damage of your photoreceptor cells… and once they’re damaged, they’re gone for good. And while you probably won’t go blind from scrolling Instagram, you might end up with digital eye strain and dry eyes.
Wish I could tell you it ends there, but here’s the news: Blue light may be harmful to your skin, too. Yep, studies have shown that it can cause premature aging and wrinkles, and can even cause pigmentation changes, especially if you are already prone to them. Hey Siri, thanks a lot.
Though none of us want to deliberately age ourselves, I’m guessing giving up your phone is not an option. Thankfully, there are new skincare products designed specifically with blue light in mind. Many of them do double duty as sunscreen as well, killing two environmental skin hazards with one stone— er, serum.
Dr. Barbara Sturm is a spluge that I never regret. A skin science nerd turned celebrity esthetician, Sturm developed this product with plant extracts that strengthen the skin’s defense against atmospheric aging by effectively blocking urban pollutants and combat signs of digital aging caused by blue light, emitted from computers and mobiles phones.
Drunk Elephant’s mix of protective antioxidants boosts skin’s defenses against pollution and environmental stressors, like your smart phone. And bonus, it gives you a consequence-free bronzy glow at the same time. A bit more affordable than Sturm, and very effective.
This mineral-based product also has cacao extract to guard against blue light. It has other great ingredients like shea butter and has sugar molecules in it, which are supposed to help block pollution particles. With an SPF of 30, this all-in-one product protects against UV and blue light.
