Invisible Zinc Sheer Defence

A tinted moisturiser with a high SPF factor is something on many a traveller’s shopping list pre-holiday, and  if you’re also a fan of BB creams, Sheer Defence from Invisible Zinc will tick all the boxes.

• What Is It: A tinted moisturiser with SPF50 protection. 
• Why buy: It’s a multitasking and lightweight tinted moisturiser which hydrates and protects the skin from UV rays. 
• The Details: Invisible Zinc Sheer Defence costs rrp $34 for 50g, and comes in Light, Medium and without tint, available from stockists including Priceline, Chemist Warehouse, Woolworths, Coles and pharmacies, www.invisiblezinc.com.

Road Test

There are many options when it comes to sunscreen protection today, but a new and likely popular option from Invisible Zinc is its Sheer Defence Range. It is a lightweight moisturiser combined with a high protection SPF50 mineral sunscreen; two of the range have a sheer tint, and one is without. Sheer Defence is also designed for daily use, and suitable for anyone with a sensitive skin. The high performance sunscreen protection is derived from zinc oxide, the only active ingredient in the formula, which forms an invisible film to create a barrier between the skin and the environment, reflecting UV radiation away. Use to daily and you’ll not only protect your skin from the sun, but also nourish your skin, and help prevent the appearance of premature ageing of the skin cause by UV exposure. Like all Invisible Zinc moisturisers, it actually feels like a real moisturiser being light, and non-greasy. I tested Sheer Defence Light at the beginning of spring on the Gold Coast and loved it. It had the consistency of a BB cream, the coverage was light but lasted through out the day, and I also found it softened the look of the pores around my nose. Most of all, I loved the dewy finish and knowing my skin was totally protected.

Beauty In Travel Loves     

• It comes in a lightweight pump container ideal for travellers.
• The formula feels like a BB cream with the option for tinted or un-tinted.
• The cream is lightweight.
• It is dermatologically tested, non-comedogenic, paraben free, fragrance free, and cruelty free. 

Insider Tips

• The cream is water resistant up to to two hours, so if you’re planning to swim during a long day at the beach, reapply frequently. 
• You can use a light layer of Sheer Defence under makeup.

Editor's note. Fact-checked and updated on 6 October 2026. Sheer Defence is still sold in Australia under the same name and in the same form — SPF 50, 50g, in Light and Medium tints plus an untinted facial moisturiser, with zinc oxide as the only active ingredient — through Chemist Warehouse, Priceline and the brand's listed supermarket and pharmacy stockists, so this review stands as written. The brand is owned by iNova Pharmaceuticals and its website is now invisiblezinc.com.au. The separate, older Tinted Daywear SPF 30 range is a different product and appears to be winding down. The recommended retail price quoted in the body dates from the time of writing and no longer applies.