Out of the Blue Light

Blog Post 7-5/18/2020

Out of the Blue (Light)

The impact of COVID has left all of us social distancing and staying home. The result being that we’re relying on our phones, computers and other devices way more than ever before. Screen time pre-COVID was one thing, but screen time now is a necessity—it’s truly the only way to connect with others. Not to mention how we work, communicate, socialize and consume entertainment. But while our eyes and upper bodies are dealing with this much extended screen time, it’s time to think about the effects of Blue Light or HEV (High Energy Visible). While there is still much research to be done, blue light can lead to premature skin aging, skin damage, disrupt sleep cycles and cause eye fatigue. What’s still up for debate is how involved and how damaging our devices are in exposing us to blue light. As more research becomes available, we should expect to see an increase in blue light related products and eventually, products that protect from both blue light and UV. 

Aside from blue light glasses and screen protectors, I wanted to take a look at some interesting blue light fighting beauty products.   

One Ocean BLUE LIGHT PROTECTION + HYDRATION MIST

This trend-forward product is a lightweight, hydrating mist that’s designed to help protect skin against blue light exposure, dehydration and urban pollution. I love the idea of a mist because it’s quick and easy to apply, and there is no mess or lingering scent. I could see this product being a desk-side staple, perfect for a mid-day hydration boost. The active ingredients in this mist include red algae and a high-performance heptapeptide. Something to note for this particular product is that it only protects against blue light, it does not protect against UV rays. 

Coola FULL SPECTRUM 360° SUN SILK DROPS ORGANIC FACE SUNSCREEN SPF 30

Coola is a brand dedicated to protecting and nourishing your skin, and they specialize in suncare. This brand has been on my radar for the past few years because I think they’re creating extremely trendy and innovative products. Their Full Spectrum collection does it all: it protects against UV rays, blue light, pollution and infrared— which honestly is the future of suncare. The Sun Silk Drops have been out for a while but it’s time this product gets more recognition, especially now that blue light is trending. The drops are lightweight and can be applied alone or mixed into skincare/makeup. 

inc.Redible Need a Wake Up Call Under Eye Roller

INC.redible Cosmetics by Nails Inc. is another brand that tends to have trend-forward products (Nailkale Superfood Base Coat, Juicy Pair Boob and Bum sheet mask, etc.). I came across the Need a Wake Up Call jade under eye roller which is designed to combat under eye fatigue, puffiness and brighten dark circles. It’s brilliant to combine blue light fighting ingredients to eye-specific products. The majority of our eye fatigue is probably due to the blue light anyway. This product can be chilled before use which offers a nice cooling effect when applied. This brand also has another interesting product called Good Day Jelly Spray that’s a unique jelly-to-mist formula designed to protect skin against pollution and blue light.  

Goodhabit Clean Scene Micellar Gel

Goodhabit is a relatively new D2C brand focused on protecting your skin and fighting blue light. They currently have a collection of four skincare products that contain their proprietary BLU5 Technology. The most interesting product to me is the Clean Scene Micellar Gel. I’m always intrigued by unique product textures and a micellar gel formula has piqued my curiosity. The product description reads, “One pump of our micellar gel whisks away long-wearing, waterproof face, eye, and lip makeup, while our proprietary BLU5 technology minimizes and helps prevent future signs of aging caused by artificial blue light.” Goodhabit also speaks to the Millennial and Gen Z audience by offering a membership model for $25 a year, (like an Amazon Prime membership) where the customer is offered perks like free shipping and 10% off orders.

Bausch + Lomb Ocuvite

Bausch + Lomb is a well known optical care company probably most familiar to contact lens wearers. B+L announced the release of Ocuvite in June 2018, a vitamin supplement intended to help protect the eyes from blue light.  The active ingredients are lutein and zeaxanthin which are antioxidants found in plants (in this case marigold flower) that are known to support eye health. Supplements are a rapidly emerging beauty category. As the beauty world becomes more holistic and integrated with wellness and diet, supplements are the perfect intersection of all three categories. I expect to see more supplements dedicated to fighting blue light and further into the future, I think supplements will eventually look to fight UV rays from within.