7 blue light blocking products for skin & eyes.

In my previous blog post “Screen time and skin damage” I covered a few ways that our devices are aging us and causing damage to our skin. Blue light and HEV light rays emitting from our phones, computers, and tablets are degrading the health of both our skin and eyes. Here is a list of 7 products that help shield our skin and/or eyes from these damaging light rays. Read to find out which products are my favorite and which blue light blocking glasses are most helpful.

Ocushield - Blue light shield

An Ocushield is a product you apply to the screen to your phone, tablet, or computer, like a screen protector. Ocushield’s site has a variety of different sizes of shields for different devices. These screen shields protect our eyes and skin from a large percentage of the blue light (HEV) light waves coming from your tablet, phone, or laptop screen. The Ocushield is able to filter out blue light without affecting the color of your screen. Turning your device to nighttime mode is also a good option for decresing HEV light waves but this gives your screen a slightly warmer or orang-sh tint. If you’re someone who is on a computer, tablet, or phone for a living I would say this is a product worth getting!

scrub me secret: check out my previous blog post “screen time and skin damage” for info about blue light and HEV light that emits from our devices. This blog post covers what blue light is, the damage it can cause to our skin & eyes, and why protection from this light is needed.

TULA -

Daily sunscreen gel

Daily SPF is a key part of our skincare routines; it helps protect our skin from blue light and UV rays the degrade our proteins and cause unwanted pigment. This specific TULA daily sunscreen gel has added wild ginger root, an ingredient that protects against pollution and blue light. This product also contains probiotics and fruit extracts that promote an even skin tone. As an esthetician, I would recommend this for my clients looking for a new/better sunscreen.

scrub me secret: I always preach sunscreen as a part of your skincare routine for the healthiest looking skin! Find out more info in blog posts New Years resolution to sun protection, Tanning bed facts you’ll want to know, Protect yourself before you wreck yourself, and Celebrating 10 years as an esthetician.

Dr. Barbara Strum -

Anti-pollution drops

These highly-reviewed anti-pollution drops are a combination of hydrating hyaluronic acid and a complex blend of vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant-rich ingredients that deliver protection from HEV light and environmental pollution. I myself have not personally tried these drops but with so many great reviews and an ingredient list that piques my interest, I may have to try! One deterrent is the high price point of this product but as we know high-quality skincare is sometimes worth the price. I would also think that since a small amount is used that this could potentially last you longer than a typical serum.

Blue light blocking glasses - Yellow/orange tint

Blue light blocking glasses are special over-the-counter glasses that are worn to protect eyes from HEV light from our devices. When researching which blue light glasses are most helpful for eye health I read that glasses with a yellow or orange tint are best for blocking the deeply penetrating HEV light rays emitting from our phones, computers, or tablets. Blue light blocking glasses that are clear have been shown to block fewer blue light rays vs. the tinted ones. Keep this in mind when shopping for blue light blocking glasses. See my ‘scrub-me-secret” below for a different option for these glasses.

scrub me secret: some eye doctors say that it is more beneficial to practice the habit of looking away from your device for at least 20 seconds, 3 times an hour vs. wearing blue light blocking glasses. The practice of looking away for 20+ seconds gives your eyes a break from the strain that our screens out on them. Also, turning your device to night mode is really helpful for our eyes.

PCA - Daily defense mist

This daily defense mist is a product I’ve just started using both in my at-home skincare routine and in the skin care studio for my clients. I think this is what actually sparked the inspiration for these blog posts on blue (HEV) light. Upon first look, it’s hard to distinguish this mist from your typical hydration spray; because that’s what it feels like, a really refreshing hydration mist. This is actually much more beneficial than a typical mist! Dandelion and Marrubium Vulgare extracts are added ingredients that block harmful HEV rays and pollution from penetrating into our skin. Other added extracts including Aloe add hydrating and skin-strengthening benefits. Definitely recommended as the last step of your AM skincare routine!

scrub me secret: Before recommending this mist I wanted to make sure it was worth the price point. While this is a higher price point than our typical toner, hydration mist, or setting spray I do think it’s worth the purchase. I use way less of this product than a regular hydration spray so that makes me feel better about the price as well. Just a light layer over my SPF. I researched other blue light and pollution defense mists and the range seems to be from $20-$60.

Patyka - Anti-pollution

hydramist

A more affordable option for pollution and blue light defense mist is this Patyka product. This mist protects skin by using fruit extracts and butterfly bush (Buddleja) flowers as its shielding ingredients against pollution and HEV rays. It has other hydration binding plant-based ingredients for the skin. Something that makes me a bit apprehensive of this product and that is the fragrance (parfume) in the ingredient list. Added fragrance in facial and body skincare can cause irritation. This is one of the more affordable mists but it could come at a cost for sensitive skin types.

scrub me secret: It’s really important to me that my skincare doesn’t contain artificial fragrance or perfume (parfume). My skin gets irritated and can become sensitized very easily by ingredients like fragrance oil. Essential oils used in the right amount and used correctly can be really beneficial for skin, even sensitive skin types like my own. My blog post “Battle of the aromas: natural vs. synthetic” covers this topic.

Goldfaden MD - Mist RX

This RX mist is really similar to the PCA daily defense mist but has some different skin protecting and radiance boosting ingredients like kale sprout water, plant stem cells, and Terminalia Ferdinandiana fruit extract which is a natural source of vitamin C. This mist sounds like an amazing blend of antioxidant protectants, skin hydration boosters, and pollution blocking ingredients. I liked the ingredients list so much that I ordered a mist for myself to compare it to the daily defense mist I’m currently using. At the same price point as the PCA daily defense mist, I think this is the typical price point we should expect to see for a pollution and blue light blocking facial mist. As an esthetician, I recommend this product.

The future of skincare is ever-changing! With more time spent on our devices than ever, I think incorporating a pollution/blue light defense product into your skincare routine is a great idea. I also love the idea of getting an Ocusheild or keeping your phone and computer on night mode to filter out HEV light rays. I love that there are new products coming out to keep our skin as healthy as possible with our changing lifestyles. As an esthetician I recommend blue light (HEV) blocking products!