Does blue light from my cell phone and computer harm my skin?
Maybe you compulsively check your phone first thing in the morning and right before you go to sleep. In this techno-world, most of us are likely guilty of this, but have we considered the repercussions blue light (from a cell phone or computer display) has on our skin? No need to worry about that because TikTok star Addison Rae is launching her new skincare mist, labeled Screen Break, that protects against blue light!
Who is Addison Rae?
She is a social media influencer who catapulted to fame after posting and going viral on TikTok. Her TikTok videos revolve around dancing and making animated faces.
I’m so happy another creator is coming out of the digital woodwork to protect people from blue light. A few months ago, we saw 100 Thieves part owner, Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter, launch her own skincare line, RFLCT, (marketed to gamers) to protect against blue light pollution. That worked out great, right?
…
…
… NO! lol.
Her skincare line was cancelled immediately after several Sherlock Holmes types quickly uncovered this fact: there is no scientific evidence to back up these blue light beauty products’ bold claims. Valkyrae tried defending the claims by saying she had seen the research, but apparently RFLCT concealed it (for trade secret reasons?).
Did RFLCT hide the mysterious science, rebrand it, then sell it to Addison?
Ideavation Labs, the company responsible for creating RFLCT products, touted their blue light protection factor, BLPR, saying it worked something like SPF in sunscreen, by blocking out certain wavelengths—in this case, blue light. A quick Google search reveals the results of studies on blue light from screens. Hyperpigmentation is linked to blue light exposure as well as shifts in the circadian rhythm (sleep patterns). These skincare products were targeted to protect against the damage of blue light.
So do the ingredients used in Valkyrae’s cancelled RFLCT products and Addison’s Screen Break blue light mist actually protect against hyperpigmentation?
According to the RFLCT facial cleanser ingredient list, it contains “Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract,” which supposedly protects against hyperpigmentation. So maybe this product was cancelled too soon.
But does it protect against hyperpigmentation in general or that due to blue light?
Claiming a product protects from blue light when there is little science to support it is a bold move. Specifically, Screen Break claims the product is “clinically proven to protect skin from screen-emitted HEV blue light and daily pollution.” Can we see the science to back that up?
The ingredients seem similar to Valkyrae’s RFLCT—one or two of them could potentially be linked to blue light protection, but the rest seem to be steam-rolled garbola.
Is Addison aware of what happened to Valkyrae?
Maybe Addison is just caught up in planning a TikTok dance using her new blue light defense mist spray. A couple sprays here and there, a vivacious smile, arms and legs flailing about, and BOOM, blue light skin pollution eliminated—can’t wait to get a bottle!
I feel as if this is another case of aggressive marketing with a social media star as the face of a superfluous product targeting a portion of the population that doesn’t do research.
Do you read the ingredients on products YOU buy?
I went down the rabbit hole of blue light beauty products to find another product that is essentially the same as Addison’s (at Cleenbeauty.com). This blue light defense serum touts essentially the same benefits of Addison’s product—it uses ashwagandha and glycerin to “save us” from smart phones. Uh oh, who will tell Cleen Beauty that a popular content creator got cancelled for similar products and another one is essentially selling what they sell (at a better price!)? Ugh, the drama.
Curiosity has me wondering how the product will perform. RFLCT sadly never made it to market (ULTA was to be the front-seller), but Addison’s blue light mist is already on Sephora. If I type in a special code at discount, I get free shipping! Score! No longer will I worry about blue light damage!
In all seriousness, blue light probably has more effects on us than we currently understand. Screen time is relatively new to humans, so we most likely won’t know its full effects on skin, brains, and bodies for a while. Technology is an integral part of life, so blue light won’t vanish anytime soon. Thankfully, social media stars are developing and promoting life-saving blue light protection mist. Where would we be without them?!