Is your phone making you look older? And the best products to combat the ageing effects

There's no question about it, we are all addicted to our phones and spend way to much time on them. Whether it's answering emails, checking in with loved ones, apps to calculate  how many calories you have burnt or simply making a phone call, our phones have become an intrinsic part of our lives and arguably, our personalities.  Did you know that your mobile phone is estimated to contain ten times more bacteria than a loo seat? Do you ever clean your phone? 

10 ways that the mobile phone has ruined travel

What is blue light?

For as long as I can remember dermatologists, skin experts and brands have focused on the damaging effect of UVA/UVB rays on our skin with beauty houses and brands constantly launching products to protect against the nasty rays. More recently the rise of anti-pollution products has the beauty industry saturated in anti-pollution creams and lotions and the latest healthy skin inhibitor is HEVL - high energy visible light aka 'blue light' that is found on our phones, computer screens and TVs. The beauty industry is ploughing money into products that claim to protect against screen-face and blue light exposure.

According to Mintel, "In the UK, 38% of women aged 16-24 years and 54% of US women look for anti-ageing products that even out skin tone caused by too much exposure to blue HEVL. Like SPF was in the 90's, HEV is set to become the new beauty buzzword to shop with super brands such as Soap and Glory, Lancome and bareMinerals already choosing to market and promote the HEV-blocking properties on their product labels.

To put things into perspective, skin expert and founder of skin brand Paula's Choice, Paula Beth Begoun explains, " UVA rays have a wavelength of 220-440 nanometres, UVB has 280-370 nm and blue light has a length of 380-500nm." Sunscreen protects up to and including a wavelength of 400nm, proving the proximity and exposure of blue light to be severely damaging to our skin and higher than sunscreen can protect you from.

"The severity of blue light and its affect is the proximity and prolonged period of time that we are exposed to the rays," advises Begoun. We sit in front of our screens for an average of eight hours a day and if that's not enough we then go home and sit on our phones for personal uses like Instagram and facebook, which can mean in one day you have spent around 90% of your awake hours in front of blue light. Have you ever gone into your phone settings where it calculates how many minutes and you have been on your phone? It's quite scary. 

How can you protect your skin from blue light?

"The best way to protect your skin is by using a broad spectrum SPF," advises skin expert Bianca Estelle. "Look to a serum or treatment cream that contains Alpha Arbutin which is clinically proven to treat hyper pigmentation and prevent pigmentation from forming- a side effect of over exposure to blue HEVL," says Estelle. Amp up your skin armor with an anti-oxidant rich serum, anything including vitamins ACE ," these will prevent free radical damage that are linked to cancer," advises Estelle. 

Products to protect against blue HEVL 

Elemis Daily Defence Shield SPF30 ￡46 

Infused with phyto-melantin to protect against specific HEVL light.

Obagi Sun Shield Broad Spectrum, ￡40.87 

A broad spectrum sunscreen will aim to block out UVA/UVB rays and some blue light

Paula's Choice Resist Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum, ￡35

Fortified with a blend of proven ingredients, the serum harnesses antioxidants and stabilised vitamin C to repair damaged cells, stimulate collagen production and rebuild the skin's protective barrier for healthier, younger looking skin.

Bea Skin Care Solar Defence Caps, ￡32

Start your defense from the inside out with these SPF supplements that will reduce damage from exposure to HEVL.

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Defense, ￡35 

Bareminerals have used a natural ingredient to fight the unnatural. Organically sourced cocoa is the key ingredient to help block the damaging effects of blue light.  ( Launches 12th July)

Niod Copper Amino Isolate Serum 1%, ￡38

As this contains copper peptides, daily application will help restore any damaged skin from too much exposure to blue light.

Skinceuticals Phloretin CF, ￡130.99

 This antioxidant serum will help protect against UVA/UVB rays