Raise your hand if you’ve spent an ungodly amount of time perusing social media since the start of 2025 despite declaring this to be the year you finally take that digital detox. It’s okay; after all, we listen, and we don’t judge. And if you understand that reference, you are definitely in the right place. But this compulsive scrolling, swiping, and tapping isn’t just taking a toll on our collective psyches — it’s bad for our skin, too. From trying to keep up with the current news cycle to recouping time lost when TikTok went dark (the longest 12 hours of my life), many of us have frighteningly high screen times — and the eye bags to match. Staring at our desktops for eight hours straight then switching to our phones for late-night doomscrolls exposes us to excessive blue light, which can impact skin vibrancy, damage collagen, and increase hyperpigmentation.
But thankfully, like the TikTok ban, blue light-induced skin discrepancies are not permanent — you just need the right stuff. Available online and in-store, CVS skin-care offerings include everything you need to combat digitally-induced dull skin.
Fig.1 Beauty Glycolic Glow Treatment
Chances are, if you’re spending too much time on your screen, you’re neglecting some other aspect of your life as a result. AKA going to bed with an unwashed face more nights than you’d like to admit. Don’t worry; this is a safe space, and we’re all a little gross sometimes. But too many skipped washes can lead to a gnarly build-up of dead skin cells — a recipe for disaster (and dull skin.) This resurfacing formula utilizes AHA to gently exfoliate the top layer of dead skin while squalane helps retain moisture, revealing brighter and smoother skin.
Vanity Planet Outlines Ice Roller
Late-night doomscrolling doesn’t just lead to early-morning anxiety; it can also cause facial puffiness since lack of sleep can lead to fluid retention. This stainless steel ice roller is great for depuffing the face while helping to improve blood circulation and reduce inflammation — a big win for those dealing with rosacea or acne. Plus, the cooling sensation is a great, non-phone-related way to start your day.
La Roche Posay Anthelios SPF 70 Face Sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen indoors might sound redundant, but the blue light emitted from our various screens can do some real damage and even exacerbate premature aging. 8 a.m. Zoom calls are already daunting enough; no need to add skin damage to the tally. So, even if you’re spending your entire day indoors fighting your way out of email purgatory, you still need to put on sunscreen. This SPF 70 is a personal fave since it doesn’t leave a white cast on dark skin, a rarity in the current sunscreen market.
LOOPS Hyper Smooth Dark Spot Mask
Much like traditional sun damage, blue light damage can worsen hyperpigmentation, and these pesky dark spots are notoriously hard to treat. This face mask contains melanin-inhibitor tranexamic acid, skin-brightening alpha-arbutin and fortifying vitamin B3 — all excellent for putting hyperpigmentation to bed. If you’re determined to scroll to the end of the internet, at least do it with this pigment-blasting mask on.
Olay Eyes Depuffing Eye Roller
Nothing can totally replace a full eight hours of sleep. But Olay has come pretty close. Not only does this depuffing eye-roller contain an anti-aging formula with ingredients like niacinamide and caffeine that help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, it also has a cooling metal ball applicator that helps breaks down built-up under eye fluid caused by hours of late-night scrolling.
Futurewise Slug Cream Barrier Repair Moisturizer
Slugging your face post-social media binge is a great way to recoup moisture lost during treks through the digital abyss. Equipped with a vegan triple lipid complex, this cream helps replenish and restore healthy fats to the skin that deplete as we age. The blend of humectants, emollients, and occlusives work together to plump and refresh the skin with intense hydration.
RoC Multi Correxion Revive and Glow Daily Serum
Beauty trends change at the drop of a hat. One day, we’re all over espresso makeup looks; the next, we want our cheeks to resemble the sugary glaze of a strawberry donut. Regardless of what bakery item we may want to mirror at any given moment, glowing skin will always be in. This supercharged daily serum has 10 percent vitamin C to help improve skin vibrance and texture — leaving visibly brighter and tighter skin in its wake.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost+ Caffeine Eye Gel Cream
Caffeine isn’t just for your morning latte — it’s for your skin care, too. Formulated to tackle dark undereye bags, this eye gel is the perfect morning pick-me-up post-digital hangover and, you know, the kind caused by sleepless nights. Caffeine, a natural antioxidant, helps depuff and strengthen the skin’s defenses while hyaluronic acid helps hydrate the skin. Until we can collectively master the art of getting a full eight hours, this caffeinated cream is the next best thing.
La Roche-Posay Melasyl B3 Serum
Can I speak my truth? I find post-breakout dark spots to be more worrisome than the actual acne itself. They often last longer and are harder to treat than the pimples that cause them. Incessant exposure to blue light can worsen existing hyperpigmentation (those with darker skin tones know!). Equipped with 10 percent niacinamide and a patented Melasyl formulation, this serum helps improve the appearance of dark spots over time. One less skin-care woe to worry about? Sign me up.
Dermalogica Antioxidant HydraMist
Too many late nights spent scrolling through endless TikTok montages of the best restaurants you’ll never actually go to can be bad news for your complexion. This uber-convenient spray mist hydrates thirsty skin with bamboo and pea extract, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
If the thought of putting snail secretion on your face gives you pause, fair enough. Escargot goo as a skin-care product might sound like a lot at first, but this essence delivers so much skin goodness that we’re willing to look past the mollusk-ness of it all. Packed with moisturizing heavy hitters like betaine, butylene glycol, sodium hyaluronate, and, of course, snail secretion filtrate, this essence helps revive dull skin that has succumbed to the elements. And by “the elements,” we, of course, mean the apps.
This advertising content was produced in collaboration between Vox Creative and our advertiser, without involvement from Vox Media editorial staff.