Could nappy rash cream be the secret to better skin?

Don't underestimate the power of zinc

Jan Masters

less than 2 min read

May 17, 2024 - 3:00PM

bodyandsoul.com.au

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In the quest for a glowing complexion, Sudocrem is gaining momentum – but does it work? Our brave writer gives it a whirl.

TikTok beauty trends. Crikey, some make our eyes roll – like taping chunks of raw potato to your skin to blitz pimples. That said, the seemingly bonkers craze of applying babies’ bum cream to one’s face caught our attention, particularly as it has the tick of approval from high-profile US dermatologist, Dr Shereene Idriss.

The doctor posted a video of herself applying Triple Paste – a nappy rash cream that’s similar to Aussie household staple, Sudocrem – to her visage, something she calls ‘face-basting’, and it went viral. The post. Not her face.

<p><span>While Idriss joked that the white unction made her appear like a “buttercream cupcake”, she said there were benefits to be had from one of its key ingredients, zinc oxide, which delivers a soothing effect while locking in moisture. She recommends using it when your complexion is inflamed, irritated or parched.</span></p><p><span>Not one to avoid research, I scooped up a tub of Sudocrem to give it a whirl. It contains 15.29 per cent zinc oxide, as well as benzyl alcohol, which boasts antiseptic properties and works as a mild local anaesthetic, and anhydrous hypoallergenic lanolin, a softening emollient. The formula hasn’t changed since 1931.</span></p>

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While Idriss joked that the white unction made her appear like a “buttercream cupcake”, she said there were benefits to be had from one of its key ingredients, zinc oxide, which delivers a soothing effect while locking in moisture. She recommends using it when your complexion is inflamed, irritated or parched.

Not one to avoid research, I scooped up a tub of Sudocrem to give it a whirl. It contains 15.29 per cent zinc oxide, as well as benzyl alcohol, which boasts antiseptic properties and works as a mild local anaesthetic, and anhydrous hypoallergenic lanolin, a softening emollient. The formula hasn’t changed since 1931.

<p><span>But first, I quizzed aesthetic wiz, Dr David Jack. “Zinc oxide is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, which is why it’s soothing and healing. It’s also slightly occlusive, so it seals in moisture, although some people find it tends to block pores,” he advises. </span></p><p><span>That night, I slapped on Sudocrem. Cut to the next morning, and a spot had sprung up on my cheek and my skin felt a little dry and looked slightly matt. I was aiming for super-satiny. </span></p><h2>Budget beauty buys boasting zinc oxide:</h2><p><span>Not wanting to ditch the experiment prematurely, I tried again because Idriss also suggests using the nappy cream as a final layer. The idea is you apply your regular serum and moisturiser (although nothing with retinol in it) first. OK. Better. But not so much that I’d make it a beauty staple.</span></p><p><span>If nothing else, this has made me look afresh at zinc oxide. I already knew it featured in mineral sunscreens and can work well for sensitive skin. (BTW, never use a nappy cream in place of SPF). The ingredient is also in Avène’s Cicalfate+, which I found super-soothing on my sensitised skin, and that could become a new staple. Now, if I can just find something to help me sleep like a baby, this would be the perfect bedtime story.</span></p>

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But first, I quizzed aesthetic wiz, Dr David Jack. “Zinc oxide is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, which is why it’s soothing and healing. It’s also slightly occlusive, so it seals in moisture, although some people find it tends to block pores,” he advises.

That night, I slapped on Sudocrem. Cut to the next morning, and a spot had sprung up on my cheek and my skin felt a little dry and looked slightly matt. I was aiming for super-satiny.

Budget beauty buys boasting zinc oxide:

Not wanting to ditch the experiment prematurely, I tried again because Idriss also suggests using the nappy cream as a final layer. The idea is you apply your regular serum and moisturiser (although nothing with retinol in it) first. OK. Better. But not so much that I’d make it a beauty staple.

If nothing else, this has made me look afresh at zinc oxide. I already knew it featured in mineral sunscreens and can work well for sensitive skin. (BTW, never use a nappy cream in place of SPF). The ingredient is also in Avène’s Cicalfate+, which I found super-soothing on my sensitised skin, and that could become a new staple. Now, if I can just find something to help me sleep like a baby, this would be the perfect bedtime story.