ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE

It’s not just the sun that’s damaging your skin.

BEAUTY BUZZ

YOU SHUN THE SUN AND CHOOSE NATURAL PRODUCTS OVER CHEMICAL, BUT A SIMPLE NETFLIX BINGE COULD ACTUALLY BE DOING THE MOST DAMAGE

WHAT IS BLUE LIGHT? Blue light refers to the high-energy wavelengths that sit on the blue end of the visible light spectrum. Much of the blue light we’re exposed to comes from the sun, however it’s also emitted by LEDS — such as those found in our phones, TVS and laptops. According to recent research, Australians are spending more than onethird of their day in front of these devices.

WHAT DOES IT DO

TO MY SKIN? Blue light isn’t all bad – at the right wavelength, it can actually be harnessed to kill acne-causing bacteria. But while relatively harmless in small doses, the issue arises from the frequency and close range at which we’re exposed to our screens – and given the fact that most of us scroll, tap and swipe until we sleep, it’s safe to say we’ve moved beyond casual exposure. Jocelyn Petroni, the skin expert behind some of Australia’s most famous complexions, warns that blue light can infiltrate the skin even further than the UVA/UVB rays we’ve been so smugly averting. “Blue light can penetrate right into the skin’s dermis, causing oxidative stress in the skin and premature ageing,” she says. It can also generate free radicals, which cause the natural collagen in our skin to break down. What we’re left with are elements of photo-ageing in the form of wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and decreased skin elasticity. And if you’re regularly falling short of your beauty-mandated eight hours of sleep? According to Petroni, you’re even more susceptible to the harmful effects.

HOW CAN I PROTECT

MYSELF? Thankfully, the beauty industry has heeded our call, with a surge of blue lightprotection products hitting shelves recently. Look for hydrating, antioxidantrich formulas to defend against and minimise harm from free radicals. Petroni