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5 blue light protectors to know about now

If you want to get a handle on sun protection this summer, make sure you're shielding skin against this potentially damaging light source

You know that the latest beauty buzzword isn’t a fad when it is embraced by skin doctors and practitioners alike. Emanating from the sun and to a lesser extent our digital devices, blue light protection is real, as excessive exposure can cause a range of harmful effects from skin barrier damage to pigmentation and inflammation.

Also called high-energy visible light (HEV) and part of the visible light spectrum, some types of blue light can be beneficial to our health but they can also be harmful, depending on the intensity, exposure and duration.

We have learnt that using our devices before bedtime can lead to changes in sleep patterns and quality – this is because blue light inhibits melatonin, a hormone that regulates the circadian rhythm, the body’s natural clock.

From a skin perspective, studies have shown that blue light can cause oxidative damage to fibroblasts and keratinocytes, degrade collagen and elastin, fast forward skin ageing, and increase pigmentation.
But one doctor has discovered an ingredient that claims to balance out the skin’s negative reaction to blue light.

“Blue light is everywhere, and often overlooked in the skincare routine,” says celebrity skin doctor, Dr Nyla. "The Artemisia Flower is a rare Japanese plant that's properties are rich in antioxidants, making it one of my hero ingredients for protecting the skin against environmental stressors and repairing any skin damage.”

Dr. Nyla spent five years researching the perfect blend of clinically proven, potent ingredients to revive radiance while repairing, protecting, and balancing the skin’s negative behaviour. The Dr. Nyla Radiance Day Cream includes nourishing ingredients to restore hydration, a gold-encapsulated peptide complex to increase three types of collagen synthesis, and SPF20 protection.

Be aware of the sun, well as your screen time

According to Advanced Nutrition Programme, it’s a common misconception that too much screen time equals too much blue light exposure. They believe that most of the harmful blue light we are exposed to actually comes from the sun and damaging UV light comprises only five per cent of sunlight, while harmful blue light makes up to 25-30 per cent.

Enter the breakthrough skin supplement, Skin Blue Filter, which is proven to both protect and repair the skin, reducing damage to the skin barrier by 60 per cent in external lab studies.

Ideal for all skin types and ages, it protects from within by shielding skin with cell-protecting nutrients and specialist antioxidants to provide elevated protection and anti-inflammatory benefits. Ingredients include vitamin E, sustainable olive fruit extract and biotin vitamin B7; just one capsule a day is all you need.

Advanced Nutrition's Head of Nutrition Lorraine Perretta, recommends a two-pronged internal/ external approach: "It is important to protect skin from blue light exposure, especially from the sun, as it has a negative impact including damaging collagen and elastin, resulting in fine lines, deep wrinkles, and sagging skin. Melanocytes cells can also be damaged, which contributes to discolouration, brown spots, and pigmentation. Furthermore, blue light damages the lipid layers between skin cells.

"When the lipid layers are damaged, it compromises the skin barrier function, causing skin to be red, reactive, and sensitive," she continues. "The skin is the largest organ of the body; but it is also a two-sided organ. If you only use SPF on the outside, you’re only treating half the skin. To protect from blue light damage, our skin researchers always recommend applying SPF to protect the outside and combine it with Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Blue Filter supplement to protect your skin from the inside."

A great multi-tasking option for holidays, sunny days or simply to keep to hand when you’re online, e.l.f Stay All Day Blue Light Micro-Fine Setting Mist is a light facial mist spray that absorbs blue light, protects skin and sets makeup.

Along with glucosylrutin, an antioxidant ingredient that helps to reduce the transmittance of blue light, the weightless formula is enriched with aloe and elderflower extract which soothe and provide anti-inflammatory benefits.

Digital pollution is also addressed in the Dr Barbara Sturm Anti-Pollution Drops, which are formulated to protect skin from the dangers of blue light from electronic screens. They contain a special complex with extracts derived from marine microorganisms, to help strengthen the skin’s defence against urban pollution and signs of atmospheric skin ageing. Use as the last step in your skincare regime.

A physical sunscreen is always a good idea when protecting skin against external aggressors: new from Australia, Synergie Skin UberZinc contains SPF15 and 21 per cent zinc oxide which provides physical solar protection from UVA, UVB and IR. It’s also rich in antioxidants lycopene and green tea extract to neutralise free radicals, making it a daily skin essential.

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