Sun Protection
Sun protection products have a crucial role to play in helping to keep our skin safe. They are a highly efficient weapon in the armoury of actions and precautions that will help protect us in the sun.
As an innovative industry, cosmetic manufacturers in Europe have been working hard to gain even greater sun protection performance from their products while making the products even more pleasant to use. In addition, Colipa is actively engaged in contributing technical knowhow to international efforts to harmonise testing methods for sun protection product efficacy. It is committed to clear labelling of sunscreen products which helps consumers to understand the levels of protection that these provide. Colipa also supports individual company initiatives to provide advice to consumers about how to protect themselves from the sun.
Tests for product efficacy
In 2003, cosmetics industry Associations from Europe (Colipa), Japan and South Africa jointly developed and adopted the first International SPF (Sun Protection Factor) test method. They were joined by the US association for the updated version in 2006. The development of the SPF test was accompanied by improvements in scientific knowledge and acceptance that in the main, SPF measures UVB protection.
In 2005, a standard evaluation method for water resistance was agreed, together with the efficacy levels required for each of two definitions to be displayed on products (water resistant and very water resistant).
Colipa has also developed a method for the in vitro determination of UVA Protection.