We all love to stay connected – the miracle of technology has had so many benefits that make our lives better. But on the flip side, we're spending roughly eleven hours a day in front of our screens. Not great for our eyes and there's also a significant effect on our skin. The blue light emitted from screens can actually age your skin, affect your mood and even your sleep cycles. Read on to learn how to save screen-soaked skin from the potentially damaging rays of blue light.

Blue light refers to the high-energy, short wavelengths on the blue end of the visible light spectrum. Much of the light we are exposed to comes naturally from the sun. However, blue light is also emitted from electronics, such as cell phones, computers, TV and LED lights.

Blue light, when it occurs naturally can be beneficial for health. Blue light from the sun, for example, helps to regulate your circadian rhythm, and encourages more restful sleep. The problem arises when we are oversaturated with blue light from our devices. Overexposure to blue light can actually confuse your natural rhythms, and may even contribute to trouble sleeping and waking. Prolonged exposure to blue light from screens can also lead to digital eye strain which is why more and more tech-savvy folks are turning to protect their eyes with blue light-blocking glasses.

When it comes to your skin, long term blue light exposure may trigger premature skin aging by penetrating into the deepest layers of the skin (due to its high energy levels) creating oxidative stress. Just like UV light, blue light results in the formation of pesky free radicals. Free radicals are atoms that contain an unpaired electron. The lonely free radical electron is in constant search to bind with a friend (another electron) to stabilize itself. Free radicals love to bind themselves to your skin cells wreaking havoc on your skin. Overtime, the result is hyperpigmentation (dark spots), inflammation, wrinkles, saggy skin and the breakdown of youthful collagen.

Red Algae or Seaweed, a key ingredient in OSEA products, inhabits deeper parts of the ocean where it absorbs both blue and UV light. Blue light penetrates the water at a greater depth than longer wavelengths, allowing Red Algae to survive such harsh conditions. Red Seaweeds have adapted to absorb blue light, thanks to their unique carotenoid pigments. In skincare, this translates to Red Algae essentially creating a barrier between your skin and blue light. At OSEA, we formulate our products with many types of Red Algae, including: Gigartina Skottsbergii, Palmaria Palmata, Porphyra Umbilicalis and Chrondus Chrispus.

Below are some of our favorite skincare solutions to counter the harmful effects of bluelight exposure: