The sun’s blue light is a big part of why on a cloudless day we see the sky as blue. But, unlike the invisible UVA and UVB radiation, which is not an issue after dark, the threat from blue light doesn’t stop when the sun goes down.

As mentioned, HEV light is also emitted by common devices we use or are exposed to all day long: televisions, fluorescent bulbs, at-home light devices for acne, computer monitors and smart phones. We explain more about these risks and what you can do about them in this article.

How to Protect Skin from HEV Light

So, what can you do to protect your skin from HEV light? Daily application of a broad-spectrum sunscreen is the logical first choice, given that the sun emits a large portion of blue light that sunscreen can protect from. But don’t reach for just any sunscreen: You want one that’s rated SPF 30 or greater and contains plenty of antioxidants, a research-proven combination that Paula’s Choice uses in all of our sunscreens.

What can antioxidants do for skin?

Just as UVA and UVB light exposure triggers a cascade of oxidative damage on and within skin, so does blue light. The startling difference is that blue light can penetrate farther into skin than UVA light, causing deeper damage that eventually shows up as wrinkles, rough texture and brown spots.

Antioxidants are found in well-formulated sunscreens as well as in specialty products, boosters and moisturizers. When applied to skin, these antioxidant-loaded products help defend and minimize the chain reaction of damage before it visibly impacts your skin.

Other tips to protect your skin from HEV light include—

Wear large, wraparound-style sunglasses with dark lenses that have a UV rating, as the blue light portion of the visible spectrum can also damage your eyes

Consider “computer glasses” if your job has you staring at screens much of the time. These yellow-tinted glasses, which don’t make the world look as yellow as you might think, block the blue light that most modern-day monitors emit

Not a fan of glasses? Install covers that block the blue light from your smartphones, tablets and computer monitors (readily available online)

Enable the “night mode” settings on your portable digital devices permanently, which significantly reduces the blue light in favor of harmless yellow light.

The Good Side of HEV Light

We know that the information in this article so far doesn’t put blue light in, well, the best light; however, the truth in beauty is that some (safe) exposure to blue light is also good for us.
Routine exposure to blue light, preferably from daylight, helps regulate our body’s sleep-wake cycle, improves our mood, keeps us alert and can even enhance memory.

As with many things in life, blue light has both risks and benefits. Balance comes from trying to ensure that your routine exposure (with an antioxidant-rich sunscreen applied first) helps as it’s supposed to without going in the opposite direction and harming your skin.

Paula Begoun

It all started when Paula was very young trying to take care of her own problem skin that progressively got worse in spite of the professional help sought. Acne, super-oily skin along with debilitating eczema over 60% of her body at the age of 11!

She tried numerous options but all led to disappointment. In early adulthood after working as a makeup artist to send herself through university she came to the realization that most skincare claims were either seriously misleading. Determined to find out the truth about skin and skincare—it became a compulsion eventually leading her to take her first steps into a career in the world of cosmetics.

“I didn’t want anyone to go through what I went through ever again. In looking over my evolving career, I believe I’ve accomplished much of what I set out to do. But I’m not quitting! There’s still a lot of work and research yet to be done and this blog continues my lifelong work”