Blue light protection, part II-Ingredients and performance testing methods

There are numerous cosmetic ingredients that have been identified to have blue light protection benefits. The urge to learn more about blue light protection claims has led to several substantiation test methods that can be utilized by companies to prove product efficacy.

Part II of this article provides up-to-date information on cosmetic ingredients that can provide protection from blue light, and methods companies can use to substantiate blue light protection claims.

An Internet search was completed using the Google Scholar database and a cosmetic ingredient supplier database (UL Prospector) for ingredients and relevant literature.

Multiple ingredient categories, for example, algae-derived ingredients, UV filters, botanical extracts, antioxidants, and vitamins, are available on the market to fight against blue light-induced skin damage. There is not a formal standardized method to test for blue light protection; however, spectrophotometers, imaging devices, measuring oxidative stress, and visual evaluations are some of the methods being used today.

The number of ingredients launched for blue light protection and new methods developed to test products for blue light protection claims is expected to increase in the near future as we are learning more about the mechanism of damage that occurs in the skin upon blue light exposure.