We’re in lockdown mode here on our little red dot, and the first month of circuit breaker measures have recently been extended to two, as we and most of the world battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether you’re an introvert who rejoiced at the news that you are now mandated to stay at home, or an extrovert who is almost dying inside, one thing we all have in common is having way more screen time with our electronic devices. We’re online almost all day long, on our mobile phones, televisions, tablets, laptops or desktops to stay connected with work, friends, family and life while we’re at home. Sometimes we’re even multitasking on multiple devices at once.
Bad news for your skin though. All that blue light exposure, coupled with all the UV exposure when you get anywhere near a window spells trouble in the form of skin damage. Dermatologists and skincare professionals believe that frequent exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and visible light (VL) produced by electronic devices can lead to skin damage and accelerated ageing (promoting wrinkles, sagging, spots and other signs of ageing).
Here’s where blue light protection comes in. These high-tech skincare defenders shield skin from the VL and EMFs that radiate from electronic devices. The best part is that you can get blue light protection from different types of products. Find one that suits you in the form of serums, sunscreens or moisturising creams, to eye creams and makeup primers. Read on.
01 | Decree Protect Elixir
A multitasking miracle, this serum not only protects skin from pollution, UV rays and stress, it also boasts an antioxidant-rich Vitamin E formula that slows down skin ageing. And that’s not all. It also has hyaluronic acid to rev up skin’s hydration, plumping its texture and softening the appearance of fine lines. A bonus neat feature is the bottle’s ‘auto-loading dropper’, which picks up the right amount of the serum for you to massage on both the face and neck.
Available at Net-A-Porter
02 | Omorovicza Mineral UV Shield SPF30, Net-A–Porter
If you want a weightless, invisible mineral sunscreen, this lightweight cream is it. With zinc and titanium dioxide as the main sunscreen ingredients, it provides full SPF30 UVA/UVB protection without clogging pores or irritating sensitive skin. What’s more, there’s also vitamin C to fight the effects of sun damage and help skin to maintain collagen and elastin levels, plus light-reflective minerals to make your complexion look smoother and more even toned.
Available at Net-A-Porter
03 | Chantecaille Blue Light Hyaluronic Serum
This brand makes botanical luxe and this protective serum is no exception. It is infused with plant-based ingredients that take care of skin in multiple ways — it wards off skin damage from blue light pollution thanks to a fermented botanical extract that activates skin’s natural photo sensors for protection and Nasturtium flower extract to revitalise skin and help it to recover after blue light exposure. A plus point: The silky serum also enhances the skin’s own hyaluronic acid production for long-lasting hydration.
04 | Fresh Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence
A watery, fast-absorbing essence that has been proven to provide skin with triple pollution defense — protecting against the damaging effects of indoor, outdoor, and digital light pollution and preventing dullness, dryness, and premature fine lines. The star ingredient, kombucha, was tested to protect skin against heavy metals and hydrocarbons and digital light by deactivating damaging pollutants, neutralizing free radicals, and decreasing oxidative stress.
Available at sephora.sg
05 | Huxley Oil Essence
With this skincare essence, nourishing and feeding skin with the right ingredients is the key to strengthen skin’s natural immunity against blue light damage as well ask signs of ageing. It is packed with antioxidant-rich ingredients including the brand’s signature ingredient, Prickly Pear Seed Oil, to neutralise free radicals and reduce oxidative stress to keep skin beautiful, clear and youthfully radiant.
Available at huxley.sg
06 | This Works Morning Expert Open Eyes Eye Cream
Your eyes are particularly susceptible to blue light damage because the skin around them is the thinnest on your face. This eye cream is the much-needed antidote with natural giant kelp extracts to reinforce the delicate skin, Persian silk tree extracts to reduce the appearance of dark circles and cocoa seed peptides to limit the effects of blue light.
Available at sephora.sg
07 | Cover FX Water Cloud Primer
What’s not to love about this makeup primer? It makes your foundation look smoother, spread more evenly and last longer, plus it has plankton extracts to counter the effects of blue light emission and urban pollution. We also love the cooling sensation on application, making it a welcome treat for skin. It can be worn on its own or under makeup too.
Available at sephora.sg
08 | Dior Diorsnow Ultimate UV Shield
If you’re concerned about hyperpigmentation and photo-ageing, this SPF50+ PA++++ sunscreen is just what you need. It not only offers broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, it also wards off oxidative damage from blue light and infrared light. The product texture is a pleasure in itself too, boasting extreme breathability, it feels weightless on the skin while keeping it feeling comfortable and looking semi-matte all day long.
09 | IDS Skincare DermaShield Serum
Dubbed the “screen protector” in a bottle, this serum has marigold extract, vitamin B and microalgae extracts that work together like an invisible shield to protect skin from the harmful effects of blue light and infrared light as well as environmental pollutants that can accelerate skin ageing. It even promises to protect skin from DNA damage. However, it doesn’t replace your sunscreen so you need to layer it on with your usual sunscreen if you are heading outdoors to get optimal skin defence.
Available at IDS Skincare
10 | Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Light
The brand’s iconic Magic Cream now comes in a new supercharged, lightweight fluid texture enriched with SPF20 PA++, promising 24-hour hydration and urban pollution defence to boot. This Cream Light combats radiation from natural light and also light from digital sources to keep skin healthy, supple and naturally beautiful.
Available from 28 May 2020 at sephora.sg