Anti-blue light active ingredients

Blue light corresponds to the short wavelengths of the spectrum, between 380 and 500 nm, from violet to indigo to blue. Also known as HEV (High Energy Visible), it's part of the visible spectrum, which accounts for 55% of the light reaching the earth's surface, and is also widely emitted by many artificial light sources (LEDs, but also TVs, tablets, smartphones, computers, etc.).

Daily exposure to blue light, particularly from artificial sources, is one of the main factors responsible for premature skin aging, along with the sun and pollution. These wavelengths emitted by our screens penetrate deep into the dermis, gradually reducing the skin cells' ability to regenerate.

Although the link between blue light and premature skin aging has yet to be fully elucidated, as a preventive measure, a growing number of natural or synthetic active ingredients purporting to protect the skin from the deleterious effects of excess of these wavelengths have been developed since 2014. While in 2016, only a dozen or so cosmetic products claimed anti-blue-light activity out of the year's nearly 40,000 commercial launches, this figure has been growing ever since. This article begins with an overview of the cutaneous effects of blue light. Next, the scientific methods used to validate the efficacy of anti-blue-light active ingredients are outlined, before presenting a number of natural and synthetic active ingredients, as well as some of the formulations available on the market.

A glossary at the end of the article lists definitions that are important or useful for understanding the text.