Just months after Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter begged to be released from a deal with RFLCT promoting a line of blue light skincare products, TikTok star Addison Rae has launched a near-identical skincare product called Screen Break. Just like RFLCT’s skincare line, Screen Break is aimed at protecting gamers and the phone-obsessed from supposed blue light emissions.
When Valkyrae first announced RFLCT in October 2021, the gaming community immediately called the products a scam, alleging that “blue light pollution” from phones and monitors doesn’t actually damage skin. It appeared to many that Valkyrae was taking advantage of her young and easily influenced fans.
The situation became troublesome for Valkyrae, who tried and break away from the company as fans and fellow streamers alike judged her involvement. She claimed she wasn’t aware of the company’s lack of research and allegedly leaked conversations with other streamers where she said she “messed up” by trusting RFLCT.
Despite the negative feedback for RFLCT, Addison Rae has decided to release her own blue light protection product. Screen Break aims to protect users’ skin from blue light released from phones, laptops, and television screens. It’s available at Sephora for $20, despite no valid research emerging on the validity of skin damage from blue light exposure had by laptop or phone use.
The gaming community was quick to laugh at Addison Rae’s new skincare product after the Valkyrae RFLCT drama. It seemed shocking someone else would try it again so soon after such backlash.
Valkyrae finally saw the reactions to Addison Rae’s Screen Break and responded as well. Valkyrae speculated it was most likely the same company behind the product, which seems likely due to the similarity in the products and the matching marketing materials.
“I’m rebranding to just Valky,” Valkyrae joked.
While most people agreed with Valkyrae that Addison Rae taking on this possible scam was foolish given the entire RFLCT debacle, others noted that Addison Rae would most likely not face the same backlash given her very different platform and audience. Some noted that “TikTok influencers will get away with anything,” while others spoke to the difference in vitriol when such an announcement was made in the gaming community.
For now, it remains to be seen if Addison Rae will be forced to disassociate herself from Screen Break as Valkyrae once was with her own blue light skincare line.
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