We’re well aware of the damage UV light can do to our skin, but there is another type of light that, though lesser known, also poses a danger.

High energy visible light (HEV), also known as blue light, has a different wavelength, a higher intensity and penetrates deeper into the skin than UV light. Coupled with the artificial blue light we’re exposed to from our computer monitors and smartphone screens, it contributes greatly to the photoaging of our skin. And regular sunscreens don’t protect us from blue light.

Luckily, evolution has gifted us with some natural defenses. While we primarily perceive light through our eyes, our skin also contains photosensors, called opsins. The perception of light through the epidermal opsins helps alert the skin so an adaptive response can be triggered. The subsequent activation of protection mechanisms, such as an increase in the amount of lipids on the cornified envelope, cell cycle arrest and DNA repair, and an enhanced antioxidant response, helps the skin to be more prepared for further light exposure.

Of course, other organisms do a much better job of protecting themselves against extreme solar radiation. Among the most adept is the Exiguobacterium sp., a microorganism able to adapt and survive to conditions of high radiation. For example, while waterfalls are lovely, the water can intensify the sun’s rays on the holes created by the erosion of the waterfall where water accumulates. This produces a “magnifying glass” effect of the light radiation, creating an environment hostile to most forms of life. Despite that, Exiguobacterium sp. has been found in a waterfall in the eastern Pyrenees Mountains in northern Spain.

Lipotec was able to isolate the microorganism from this habitat using sustainable practices. We then used it to create a ferment extract, LUMICEASE™ blue ingredient, that minimizes the main signs of photoaging by preparing the skin for exposure to solar and artificial blue light, while also protecting it during exposure and repairing light-induced damage.

A laboratory study found that LUMICEASE™ blue ingredient activates opsin photosensors in the skin and promotes adaptive responses to protect and repair the skin from light-induced damage. Tests on volunteers exposed to natural sunlight and artificial blue light showed a reduction in brown spots of 11.7% while wrinkle volume and average roughness were reduced by 21.5% and 13.2%, respectively.

To learn more about LUMICEASE™ blue ingredient, click here.

Protecting your Skin from Blue Light