A Nose By Any Other Name--or Color

Summer’s just around the corner and it’s almost time for the beach. So, you’d better make a list: new bathing suit, new Ray-bans, Tropical Blend Tanning Butter.

Oh, and you’ll be needing some zinc oxide to protect your nose from sunburn. You know zinc oxide. It’s that slimy white stuff that surfers and lifeguards have been smearing on their proboscises since Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon first hit the sand in “Beach Party.”

But this summer, white is not right.

Now zinc oxide is available in wildly different colors, thanks to two Southern California surfers who decided to bring nose protection out of the Dark Ages. Mike Rodgers and Tony Casella have invented Zinka, an FDA-approved protective sun block that comes in blue marine, fluorescent pink, neon green, bright orange and flesh tone, among other colors.

The nose in the picture is modeling fluorescent blue.

In real life, a Zinka’s nose is hard to miss. And, as the inventors are quick to point out, the comely zinc oxide can be color-coordinated with all the latest beach fashions. It’s available in surf and ski shops and Nordstrom department stores throughout Los Angeles, or by writing Ambassador Enterprises Inc., 15000 S. Avalon Blvd., Unit F, Gardena, 90248.

Zinka runs about $4.50 a tube. Or about the same as you’d pay to park all day at the beach.