Cosmair will include sun protection in an upcoming line extension to its Colour Riche lipstick brand, marketed under its L’Oreal Cosmetics division.

Scheduled to launch nationally on April 1, new Sheer Colour Riche will have a sun protection factor (spf) of 15.

Skin products with SPF 15 are considered to offer reasonable protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays for most users.

Montreal-based Cosmair will refer to Sheer Colour Riche’s sun-blocking qualities in its advertising and promotional materials. It will not, however, do so using the terminology ‘SPF 15.’

That is because it has yet to receive approval from the Health Protection Branch.

Under Canadian law, before a product can make any claim to having an spf level, it must be tested and reclassified as a pharmaceutical product.

Currently, products containing SPF 15 or higher can make the claim of offering ‘sunscreen 15’ protection.

But as of April 1995, any product that claims to offer sun protection will first have to be tested and reclassified.

According to a Cosmair spokesperson, the company intends to seek reclassification for Sheer Colour Riche before the deadline.

Dominique De Celles, marketing manager on L’Oreal, explains the sun protection was added to Colour Riche’s line extension of sheer colors, and not to the existing full color products, ‘because one tends to wear sheer colors in the spring and summer.’ PA