You know that you have to protect your skin from the sun. So you slather your face with SPF 50 during the summer, and gravitate toward foundation and skin cream laced with sunblock in its formula. It's drilled into everyone's head so well that the protective regimen has become almost second nature. Everyone knows they have to take care of their skin and keep it healthy from damaging UV rays. But what if sun rays aren't the only enemy?
What if there's a new culprit trying to damage your skin, and you haven't even heard of it? Introducing High Energy Visible Light, or HEV rays for short, and the FIXMD skincare line that can block them.
HEV rays damage skin by breaking down collagen, and the rays come from the glow of screens, like our laptops, phones, and TVs. And seeing how we're constantly exposed to these rays, the damage can be considerable.
"HEV light penetrates even deeper into skin structures than UVA," the creators of the FIXMD line tell Bustle. HEV rays break down your skin subtly and slowly, but it's still super harmful — and you don't have the visible warning signs that you get from UV rays that you need to stop and protect your skin, like redness and sunburns. So it's sneakier.
"The deeper cells of skin are responsible for replacing and replenishing new skin cells," the creators say. " If they are damaged, and therefore not functioning at their full potential, the production of things like elastin, collagen, hylauronic acid, and proteins declines." Because of this, the damaged cells can become lazy, meaning your skin breaks down faster and starts looking damaged.
"Over 30 percent of people spend 10-plus hours a day in front of screens," the creators add. "Over 60 percent spend three to nine hours daily. So protecting from damage from the screens we sit in front of makes good common sense."
One downer about this piece of information is that SPF won't protect your skin from these screen rays, because it only works to block UV rays. But FIXMD is a collection that will help you protect your skin from that mean glow of your computer screen.
"Don’t panic, and don’t roll your eyes that there is yet another thing out there that can hurt you," creator Dr. Anson says. Just do the best you can to protect your skin.
But does the line work as great as promised? I've been testing out the products for four months, and below is the FIXMD collection with my review.
1
Longevity Cell Serum
FIXMD Longevity, $140, FIXMD Skin
This serum is one of the HEV ray blockers, thanks to its light-absorbing melanin ingredient. Acting just like sunblock, it will protect your skin from damaging rays, but it also doubles as skin cream that repairs and strengthens your skin. And in all honesty, it's one of my favorite skin serums I have tried and think it's worth the money. While I didn't see results a couple of days (or a few weeks) in, after months of using it my skin is way firmer, plumper, and just looks visibly healthier.
It contains Proline Lysine Copper, which is supposed to dramatically increase the skin’s firmness and boost its elasticity; Acetyl Hexapeptide-51, which boosts your skin’s natural mechanisms to help repair daily damage and rejuvenate your skin cells; and Saponaria Pumila Root Cell Extract, which helps block UV rays. It's a heavy-duty serum, and it gives you visible results.
2
Fortify Moisturizer
Fortify Moisturizer, $120, FIXMD Skin
A hardworking moisturizer, this lotion helps repair your skin’s surface for a fortified complexion that is shielded from regular day-to-day damage. This lotion is one of the products that help protect your skin from HEV rays, but if you're the type of person that doesn't like having 13 steps in their skincare regimen, I think it would be safe to skip this one.
I'm one of the people that can't handle a regimen with more than two steps, and I thought that the serum was so hydrating and restoring that I didn't really feel a need for the moisturizer. That and my skin is on the combination side, and I felt it got a little too oily with all the different skin products layered on top of each other.
Having said that, this moisturizer does have hardworking ingredients that will help protect your skin. Not only does it have Melanin to block HEV rays, but it also has Bakuchiol, a Retinol-like molecule that firms and revitalizes your skin; and Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, which protects against free radicals that destroy DNA, while also helping to calm redness and reduce fine lines.
So if you want a moisturizer that also protects and restores your skin, this is a promising option. But if you're planning to get the serum, I personally don't think you need both.
3
Detoxify Environmental Cleanser
Detoxify Environmental Cleanser, $45, FIXMD Skin
An environmental cleanser that gently removes impurities, this face wash has powerful antioxidants that help prevent skin damage, while its Swiss garden sprouts ingredient provides the first level of protection against environmental assault and pollutants.
While I've never tried a face wash that actively helps protect my skin from the outside (which I think is pretty cool), I don't know if I would say it changed my skin's texture or appearance. I love how my skin felt afterward (it was never tight or dried out,) but I wouldn't say it was left glowing without the help of other creams and lotions. But I do love the fact that it will help shield my skin from outside radicals and stress, since that means there will be less damage later on I will have to work to reverse.
4
Activate Eye Cream
Activate Eye Cream, $80, FIXMD Skin
This is probably my favorite product in the skincare line and I'll be 100 percent re-buying this once my bottle is out. I saw a visible and surprising difference after just two weeks of using this — and I also see a huge difference when I get lazy and stop.
The formula is meant to reduce fine lines, plump and firm up the delicate skin around your eye, protect it from UV rays, and also reduce dark circles and puffiness. And as someone who has been sporting dark, deep bags since the sixth grade (thanks Slavic genetics), that last bit is what won me over.
It actually brightens up your under eye area and makes your bags less visible. It's not a miracle cream and wipes them away completely, but it does soften the appearance, and also plumps up your skin in that area. I've tried a lot of eye creams and serums in my day, and this is hands down my favorite.
Whether you want a dermatologist-grade skincare regimen, or are looking to protect your skin from damaging rays that we're exposed to around the clock, this line is here to help. While it might be on the pricier side, it does give you results. And most importantly, it will keep your skin safe and healthy.
