Yes, you still need to wear sunscreen indoors—to protect you from your screens

Blue light is the latest threat against your goal to achieve perfect skin. Here’s the 411 on blue light: It’s a high-energy visible light that penetrates the skin deeper than other lights because of its longer wavelength, according to Dr. Marie Hayag, a New York-based cosmetic dermatologist. 

It’s the light emitted by our screens that disrupts our circadian rhythm—the internal process that regulates sleep—and it turns out that it’s posing danger to our skin. How grave of a danger? Well, the thing is, science isn’t settled on its effects on skin. But some of its effects include prematurely aging your skin by destroying collagen through oxidative stress and causing hyperpigmentation in medium to dark skin.

[READ: New skincare tip: Use your phone less]

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

As expected, many skincare products allegedly formulated to prevent and repair blue light damage are cropping up in the market. But do we really need them?

Not really. If you ask Dr. Hayag and other dermatologists, the solution may just be as simple as wearing sunscreen, but not just any kind. Mineral sunscreens with iron oxides are ideal if you are constantly in front of the screen, according to a 2019 study. Look for those formulated with high zinc oxide or titanium dioxide content, which deflect blue light away from the skin so it doesn’t cause damage. 

The thing with this kind of sunscreen though is that it tends to leave a white cast especially on people with darker complexion. Thankfully, it is the year of the Lord 2021 and products have more or less addressed this. Here are some of our recommendations.

Belo Sun Expert tinted sunscreen with SPF 50 

Contains titanium dioxide

P452 for 50ml

Photo courtesy of Belo Group

Innisfree Intensive Triple-shield sunscreen with SPF 50

Contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide

P950 for 50ml

Photo courtesy of Innisfree

The Inkey List daily sunscreen with SPF 30

Contains zinc oxide

P1,175 for 50ml

Photo courtesy of The Inkey List

Supergoop Mineral SheerScreen with SPF 30

Contains zinc oxide 

P1,950 for 45ml 

Photo courtesy of Supergoop

Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense with SPF 30

Contains zinc oxide

P2,125 for 60ml

Photo courtesy of Drunk Elephant

Shiseido Global Suncare Multi-Defense UV Protector with SPF 50

Contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide

P2,800 for 30ml

Photo courtesy of Shiseido

Murad City Skin™ Age Defense Broad Spectrum with SPF 50

Contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide

P3,450 for 50ml

Photo courtesy of Murad
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