By Cassandra TurnerProtecting your skin from our harsh (but beautiful) Australian sun has moved to a whole new level. Back in the 60s, there was no sun protection, in the 70s and early 80s we kind of caught on, but the popular options were either Reef Oil (aka frying yourself) or the thick gooey white zinc your mum used to cover your face with (so embarrassing) – neither of which were really the answer.
Then, once we caught on to the (horrendous) reality of skin cancer, it was drilled into us to slip slop slap every time we decided to frolic. Sunscreen was everywhere, but since then, we have realised that not all sunscreens are equal*. And that if we really want to protect our skin properly or attempt to repair some of the damage we’ve done, we need to amp up our sun routine once more.
Invisible Zinc – the sunscreen that takes Zinc to a whole new level (as in a usable, wearable level) tells us it now has a sister product to help protect and treat skin that we have knowingly or inadvertently treated badly – through daily exposure to environmental pollutants (including UV rays, pollution, drugs and other bad stuff that can lead to premature ageing, discolouration and uneven skin tone).
So naturally, at RESCU, we wanted to know more. It’s called Environmental Repair Serum and it is an intense antioxidant treatment for environmentally damaged skin. Containing concentrated anti-oxidants including green tea extract to fight damaging free-radicals, it’s also packed with other natural goodies including calendula, rosehip oil and aloe vera to help soothe and repair the skin.
We had another flash-back when we opened the packaging, it’s like a giant Bic Roller pen – but the idea is it delivers a measured dose of goodness whilst protecting the ingredients. Just twist, click and roll. It’s clear, non-sticky, has a lovely gentle green tea fragrance and doesn’t leave any trace of its presence visually. We now use it twice daily, layered with moisturiser and of course our Invisible Zinc™ Environmental Skin Protector SPF 30+ (RRP $35.00/50ml), since Environmental Repair Serum doesn’t contain an SPF. That way we are both helping protect and repair a lifetime of naughtiness in one go. Well, doing what we can anyway.
Environmental Repair Serum retails for $42.00/15ml. Call 1300 738 850 for stockists which include David Jones, Terry White, Myer, Priceline, leading pharmacies, dermatologists and cosmeticians. www.invisiblezinc.com
A bit extra…* We now know that not all sunscreens protect in the same way. Many broad spectrum sunscreens use chemical blocking agents such as Octyl Methoxycinnamate (OMC) or PABA. Chemical UV absorbers (blocking agents) can be photosensitive, i.e. they may break down after prolonged exposure to the sun. Research shows that they may even be absorbed back into the skin. Other mineral blocking agents such as Titanium Dioxide can irritate sensitive skin. Unlike most other sunscreens, Invisible Zinc™ uses 100% Zinc Oxide as its only blocking agent, and it provides a physical mineral reflector of both UVA and UVB rays. It gets our vote.
