From the oily lifeguards of “Baywatch” to the blonde surfer, Jeff Spicoli, of “The Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” gloppy, white noses are a staple to any stereotypical beach scene. This image has been redesigned with a colorful alternative to protective nosecoat-- maybe giving Spicoli a run for his money.
Lifeguards, who spend hours upon hours exposed to the summer sun up in the chair, have traded their infamously white noses for blue ones-- as many avid beachgoers have picked up Zinka Colored Nosecoat as their new go-to sun protectant.
For decades, surfers, beach volleyballers, and lifeguards have painted their noses with that thick, white paste in order to fully protect their exposed faces from sun damage. Zinc oxide has made its mark on the board, under the net, and on the stand, as it assures protection from both UVA (which cause skin cancer) and UVB (which cause sunburn) rays-- while regular sunscreen options normally only protect from UVB rays.
However, with Zinka’s colorful alternative, the brand has created a safe and fun way of making sun protection a part of everyday beach routine.
“From the beaches of Southern California, circa 1986, a memory of Lifeguards patrolling the waters and wearing white Zinc on their noses inspired a vision to have color, sunscreen and zinc oxide merge together,” Zinka states within their History section of their website. “This artsy and colorful idea quickly took hold of the surf community and grew from 2 guys to 60 employees in just a few short months.”
Zinka Colored Nosecoat’s 80s inspiration has successfully penetrated the 00s, as the sunscreen has painted the lifeguard stands from the beaches of SoCal to those of the Jersey Shore for decades past. This summer, roughly half of the lifeguard stands that I have seen at the Jersey Shore have sat guards sporting Zinka on their noses and under their eyes-- usually in bright blues, pinks, or greens.
Made of 25 percent zinc oxide, the colored nosecoat can be used on any section of the skin and is visible on the skin in bright color, as it is also water resistant and reflective of sunlight. Zinka has clearly provided an alternative that promotes strong sun protection that doubles as a fun and artistic fashion statement, making beachgoers actually want to put sunscreen on before hitting the waves.
Try not to make Summer 2016 a summer of smoothing on gallons of oil and stressing about tanlines. Attempt to protect your face (you only have one!) and utilize Zinka’s colorful possibilities to have fun with making sure that your skin stays as healthy as possible in the summer sun.
