How Blue Light affects your skin?

How does Blue light affect your skin

Sunlight makes you happy! But now for years, we have known than long sun exposures without any protection affects your skin. But do you think squatting inside in front of the computer is a better alternative? For a while we have know, that our modern devices stream blue light and that it harms our skin. And ideally to avoid blue light before going to bed. But can blue light damage skin? The science has found now that screen light referred to as Blue Light affects your skin.

A day to day in our life

We wake up by the alarm we set on our mobile devices. We then reach to our mobile and check our social media accounts such as Facebook, Instagram and the latest news on Twitter. Afterwards we take a shower while listening to Spotify or a Podcast. We then take the train, tube etc to work while we browse the web, read a book or the news or just watching another episode of our favourite show.

In summary; hours of computer work followed by Instagram, Facebook & Co, in the evening watching a nice movie in bed on your iPad or the newest novel on the tablet minutes before we fall asleep.

Research has found that we spend more hours in front of the screen every day than sleeping. And as we know, sleep helps us to generate our cells in our bodies.

What is Blue Light?

Our skin is exposed to screen light for several hours a day, typically your 8 hours a day for work plus outside word exceeding it the hours we sleep per night. Blue Light, also known as “High Energy Visible Light” (HEVL), is the natural part of the sunlight that is adjacent to the UV light in the light spectrum (see picture). But not only the sun emits blue light / HEVL, but also the screens of our mobiles, iPads, other tablets, laptops as well as modern LED and halogen lights.  While UVA and UVB radiation and their effects on our skin are well known and researched, the effects of Blue Light have only recently been considered. According to the latest scientific findings, an excess of blue light has negative effects on the skin. Blue Light hits our skin from a shorter distance immediately. So it can penetrate unhindered into deeper skin layers triggering free radicals.

An interesting fun fact for an evening with friends: HEVL enables the sky to appear blue to us.

Image: Light spectrum

What are Free Radicals 

You can read more about them on our FAQ page here – What is oxidative stress.

As a brief reminder:  Free radicals are oxygen-containing molecules whose chemical structure lacks an electron. This makes them unstable and uncontrolled. In search of the appropriate elementary particle, they damage the skin cells by attacking intact molecules to steal electrons from those intact. They destroy collagen and elastin fibers. The stolen molecule is now no longer able to store water and form flexible connective tissue and eventually becomes itself a free radical. These almost criminal processes result in dehydration of the skin, which makes them age early and cause wrinkles. Free radicals can also promote skin conditions such as acne or uneven pigmentation (also known as age spots). So overall, not a movement you want to follow.

Our Anti-Blue Light Complex

In search of a plant-derived solution to this problem, NAYA found the butterfly lilac (Buddleia officinalis), COSMOS and Ecocert certified. From the blossoms of this plant, a powerful active is extracted, which protects the skin with the so-called Anti Blue Light effect from damage caused by natural and artificial light. Its cosmetic benefits and scientifically proven studies have us convinced:

• Maintains the normal skin physiology by protecting it against harmful effects of light radiations.
• Fights effectively against ROS production, inflammation, irritation and dryness.
• Prevents occurrence of dark spots and premature wrinkles.
• Preserves skin youth, quality and radiance

NOTE: Look out for our symbol below to learn which of our products contains this powerful bioactive ingredient

Natural Light protector – without SPF

The butterfly lilac extract acts as a 360 photo-protector as a natural shield against the entire light spectrum, i.e. UV light, blue light and infra-red light – but WITHOUT SPF (SPF) – all year around! The extract penetrates the skin without weighing it down. And the Blue Light that is affecting your skin, the effects will be reversed. Thus the Anti Blue Light effect offers active cell protection and keeps the skin intact, elastic and fresh. 

So look out for our symbol to know when we include this 360 Photo-protector in our products. We are exciting to launch and be the first skincare brand to use this powerful bioactive ingredient.

Would you like to learn more about this topic Anti-Blue light Complex? Please drop us an email or leave a comment below. You can shop our Everyday Day Cream here.