LIGHT YEARS

Your screen time could be damaging your skin.

It’s gauche to be glued to your phone all day. But if you need another reason to disconnect, know this: Your tech might also be aging your skin, thanks to the high-energy visible (HEV) light that screens emit. According to research from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, that HEV light, or blue light, generates free radicals that can damage skin. “These free radicals can cause inflammation, increased production of pigment, wrinkles, uneven tone and texture and sagging skin,” says Dr. Julia Carroll, a Toronto-based dermatologist. For those of us who just can’t quit our phones, skincare brands—like Estée Lauder, with its new Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex ($80)— are creating antioxidant-rich products to fight blue light. “[Antioxidants] like vitamin C neutralize the free radicals that can potentially contribute to skin damage,” explains Carroll. And keep wearing sunscreen, ideally one that’s formulated with physical blockers like zinc or titanium. It’ll help protect you from blue light along with fending off those dreaded UVA and UVB rays.