Most of are familiar at this stage with the damaging effects UVA and UVB rays have on our skin.
However, the effects of HEV – (High Energy Visible) rays – or blue light rays – are much lesser-known. These are the rays that are emitted from our electronic screen devices from phones, laptops, tablets, TVs, as well as fluorescent and LED lighting, and that can also, just like the sun, cause damage to the skin including accelerating the signs of ageing from fine lines and wrinkles to pigmentation and dullness as a result of oxidative stress from these rays.
Feel like your skin is looking a little lacklustre these days? Well, all those hours spent in front of your laptop between work and Netflix might just be the answer to why this is.
Ever since the lockdown started, we are all spending an increased amount of time on screens connecting with friends and family, surfing the internet and working remotely, and that's why the HEV rays have the capacity to penetrate deep layers of the skin causing damage.
“We are now seeing increasing data on the potential long-term harms of visible light, and in particular blue light, on our skin,” dermatologist Dr Stefanie Williams recently told
Harper's Bazaar.
“Blue light has the ability to penetrate deeper into the skin compared with both UVA and UVB light." In fact, she notes, “blue light can penetrate all the way to our dermis, where our collagen and elastin live”.
Luckily, there is something you can do to protect your skin – especially since this is set to be the new normal now for quite some time.
By using a mineral-based, physical sunscreen you can protect your skin – whether you are sitting at your laptop or popping outside into your garden to enjoy the sunshine.
I have been a fan of French skincare brand Avène’s for years, and I love how this iconic brand is really simplifying what skincare should be all about. And ever since testing their
Tinted Mineral Fluid SPF50+ I have been hooked.
This physical mineral sunscreen offers full protection by reflecting against both UV and HEV rays, and also, on top of that, I love how it is tinted, meaning it is giving my skin a healthy glow – all without having to put on foundation or bronzer. I don't know about you, but I have taken a very minimal approach to makeup these lockdown days!
The cream is also designed to not irritate even the most sensitive of skin, and it doesn't clog my pores, which so many other sun creams I put on my face tend to do.
All in all, a seriously good buy, and if you are spending more time than usual glued to a screen these days, you might be wise to start protecting your skin too.
