What our Dermatologists think of the viral zinc nappy cream trend 

Spoiler: they like the idea. Here’s why zinc works for unhappy skin, and how to get the benefits without the nappy cream feel.

If you've spent any time on TikTok or Instagram lately, you've probably seen it. People smothering nappy cream over their face before bed, then filming their skin the next morning. The trend has travelled far enough to be covered by Vogue, and it's one of the questions our Dermatologists have been asked about a lot this year. 

So is there anything to it? There's real reasoning behind it, and there's a better way to do it. 

Zinc oxide has been used by Dermatologists for a long time on irritated, sensitised skin. On the skin it forms a soft, protective film. That film helps calm the appearance of redness and irritation, and slows down how much moisture escapes from your skin overnight. 

When people wake up saying their skin looks calmer and more hydrated (or like a lovely, glazed donut), they're not imagining it. Their skin has had a night to recover with fewer things working against it. 

Your skin barrier is a brick wall 

Hot weather, air-con, stress, overwashing, harsh products (including actives like retinol) all knock bricks out of it. That's when skin feels tight, dry and reactive.  

A zinc cream at night protects the wall while your skin does its own recovery work, which is why the trend feels like a reset. 

So why not just use nappy cream?   

Nappy creams were designed for a baby's bottom. They're usually thick and heavy, hard to spread and hard to wash off, and some contain fragrance your face doesn't need. A very heavy layer may also not suit skin that's prone to congestion. 

We checked a popular nappy cream from the supermarket. It contains 15.29% zinc oxide.   

Barrier Recovery Cream: the zinc cream made for faces 

Our Dermatologists formulated this cream years ago, under the name Repair Your Skin, for sensitised, reactive skin that needed a reset. It kept selling out. So when it last sold out, we took that opportunity to do a refresh.   

It's now back with a new name and a new look - introducing Barrier Recovery Cream. Same formula that the die-hard fans fell in love with.

• 18.6% zinc oxide to calm the appearance of redness and irritation
• A dual-enzyme complex, delivered via liposome, to support your skin's natural recovery
• Antioxidants including vitamins C and E to help defend against everyday environmental stress
• Dipotassium glycyrrhizate, from liquorice root, to help skin feel calm and comfortable 

How to use it 

• Apply to clean skin, morning or night.
• For intensive overnight barrier support, apply a generous layer as the last step of your evening routine.
• Massage gently into face, neck and décolletage.
• On nights you skip your actives, use it as your recovery step.
• Barrier Recovery Cream is a moisturiser, so sunscreen still goes on top in the morning. 

Who it's for?

• Sensitised, reactive or redness-prone skin
• A compromised or damaged skin barrier that feels tight, dry or stings when you apply products
• Over-exfoliated skin, or skin that’s had one too many actives
• Skin going through the “retinol uglies”, or skin that has been irritated by retinol
• Skin that’s drier, redness-prone and more reactive through perimenopause and menopause
• Dehydrated skin that feels tight and over it after summer heat, air-con, flights or too many products
• Anyone curious about face basting who wants a version made for faces
• Anyone chasing the glow and who feels like their barrier could do with a regular reset

For more information and tips from our Dermatologists, follow Bloc's Instagram. 

Shop Barrier Recovery Cream, $69