Beauty Hacks for Screen Time Skin

Are you aware of the amount of time you’re spending in front of your screen every day? You’ve probably already felt the so-called “tech neck” on your own skin and heard of the negative impact blue light has on your sleep hormones – but have you thought of the impact all this time spent scrolling through Instagram could have on your skin? 

While studies are still somewhat undecided on how blue light affects our skin long-term, science indicates that it may contribute to skin ageing, pigmentation and low level inflammation. Blue light is a little bit shorter in wavelength than ultraviolet light, but penetrates deeper into the layers of your skin. So, what you want to consider when it comes to working in front of the computer (besides the surprisingly unpopular alternative of reducing your screen time) is to protect your skin with products rich in antioxidants. 

Antioxidant ingredients to look for include legendary vitamin C – just make sure it’s in a form that doesn’t evaporate easily. Vitamin C is very delicate and has very short shelf time, so the best alternative would be to go for small-batch brands, fresh cosmetics (I have a few recommendations below). Vitamin C will reduce the pigmentation caused by too much screen time, as well as battle the effects of free radicals (unstable atoms that react with other atoms violently to complete their electron shell thus damaging skin cells).  

NUORI’s Supreme-C Serum Treatment comes with an innovative and clever pump, that holds the 100% pure ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in a different dispensing system. This means that the delicate vitamin C that easily breaks down when in contact with water, is mixed into the serum only right before the first application, activating the serum to its full potential – a smart solution to keep the active components of vitamin C fresh, making sure your skin gets all the benefits! The Supreme-C Serum blend is an intense treatment that repairs damages caused by free radicals, with the addition of hydrating hyaluronic acid and natural glycerin, as well as plant-based ferulic acid that boosts the photo-protective properties of vitamin C. 

Studies suggest that another beneficial ingredient to shield oneself from blue light, is blueberry seed oil. Blueberry seed oil is high in antioxidants and vitamin A (natural retinol) that smoothes skin and reduces hyperpigmentation. It also contains protective phytosterols that neutralise free radicals (by providing the free radicals with electrons to stabilise them) and protect your skin from harm caused by living in an urban environment. 

Finnish brand Flow Cosmetics’ Bilberry Moisture Cream is a light, fast-absorbing cream, perfect for everyday use. Even though it’s lighter, it contains rich, hydrating ingredients such as shea butter and argan oil, balancing and soothing lavender and neroli essential oils. The arctic bilberry (blueberry) seed oil acts as an active ingredient to nourish the skin and battle free radicals – as well as a natural blue light shield. 

Apart from skincare, there’s some other things to take into consideration. Protect your skin from the inside as well by adding antioxidant rich foods such as blueberries, strawberries, green tea, and dark chocolate into your diet. YES, chocolate – only make sure it’s one with 70% cocoa or more. We support slave-free chocolate from Tony’s Chocoloney, and they have an excellent dark chocolate – but we won’t judge you if you go for any of their other flavours as well, it is 2020 after all…

Now back to outside beauty, Naya’s lovely Day Cream with bioactive antioxidants and an added 2% of blue light active – butterfly lilac extract –  is also an excellent option to keep your skin hydrated and protected from blue light. Committed beauty brand Naya have also shared a terrific tip with us to help you out when working long hours in front of the computer:

“Simple but effective. Just like the basic neck-roll exercise, rolling your eyes can prove to be extremely beneficial for you, especially if you are sitting in front of the computer for hours. Take a minute and roll your eyes while working. Just close your eyes and roll your eyes around in circular motions. This exercise will massage, lubricate and eases the strain on the muscles around your eyes.⁠”

Switching your phone to night mode is also something to consider, as well as taking a device-free day once a week – to give your skin, eyes and brain a break. We know extra screen time is a direct result of 2020, but we hope these little things can make your skin happier with a bit of chocolate and relaxation thrown in for you along the way!

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