With working from home increasingly becoming the norm, it seems people’s screen time has dramatically skyrocketed, resulting in the surge in sales of blue light protection beauty products.
Blue light emissions, which come out of electronic devices such as smartphones and computer screens, are said to be able to penetrate the skin and the retina, according to research by the Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering. The study found that consistent exposure to this light can damage the retina, in addition to triggering oxidative stress on skin that can lead to premature ageing.
And while beauty products containing technologies such as those with blue light defences have exploded onto the market in recent years, they are now picking up more than ever as consumer demand increases during self-isolation.
According to the NPD Group, blue light protective skincare sales increased by 170% in the first half of 2020, and makeup with blue light protection also saw a 179% increase for the same time period.
“We saw really, really strong growth in 2019, so it was already a trend,” NPD beauty industry analyst, Larissa Jensen, said. “But that growth accelerated in the first half of 2020. A lot of it had to do with the pandemic and many consumers in lockdown and an increased amount of working from home.”
In fact, brands have now started adding antioxidants and SPFs such as iron oxide to serums, sunscreens and foundations, in an effort to build a barrier from blue light. They have also begun marketing products specifically for blue light protection in response to increased consumer interest.
Biossance, for example, launched its Squalane + Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum back in May. This serum is formulated to deliver dramatically smoother, more luminous skin overnight. In addition to a variety of beneficial ingredients, it contains clover, which is formulated to reset the skin by minimising the effects of daily exposure to pollution, blue light and UV rays.
To discover even more brands that offer beauty products with blue-light protection and to download high-res images, click here.
