We hate to break it to you, but simply protecting your skin from sun damage just isn’t enough anymore. Recent studies show ‘millennials’ are spending an estimated 22 hours a week on smartphones alone. So UVA and UVB aren’t the only damaging light rays we’re bombarding our skin with.

Welcome to the age of digital pollution, where the blue light from screens accelerates skin damage, contributing to wrinkles, sagging, hyperpigmentation and more.

What is HEV?

HEV is in short, a type of blue light. Standing for High Energy Visible light, HEV sits on the sunlight spectrum in the blue/violet band of the visible spectrum. With a particularly high energy level, research has suggested this blue light may penetrate deeper than UVB rays. HEV causes different types of damage, also triggering damage that can contribute to skin ageing.

Keep in mind that exposure to this blue light through smartphones, computers and other digital devices comes on top of the potential skin damage you’re already getting from sunlight and envrionmental pollution.

With studies showing we clock more than 10 hours of screen time per day*, it’s clear we’ve got to start protecting our skin indoors, as well as outdoors.

Should I be worried?

In our digitally obsessed world, it’s almost impossible to avoid exposure to screens. Even if you don’t work at a computer, it’s near impossible to avoid smartphones, tablets and digital devices at home.

While this blue light is not associated with sunburn, and isn’t currently associated with skin cancer, it can cause skin to age prematurely. HEV is also attributed to hyperpigmentation, age spots and melasma.

What can I do to protect my skin?

While there are plenty of products on the market that protect skin from UVA and UVB, there are less out there for protecting from blue light. However, bareMinerals NEW Complexion Rescue Defense Radiant Tint Protective Moisturiser will protect you indoors and outdoors.

Complexion Rescue Defense is the first mineral-based all-in-one moisturiser to help protect against the damaging effects of blue light. Formulated with sugar molecules it helps protect against the effects of blue light. Also boosted with mineral SPF30 to protect against sun damage, it’s the ultimate indoor-outdoor skincare.

The daily supershield, suitable for men and women, not only fights against daily damage, but also delivers a soft and radiant glow. That makes this vegan-friendly formula and winner in our eyes!

*Nielsen Total Audience Report Q1 2016