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Worst makeup brands class action lawsuits overview:
- Who: Class action lawsuits have been filed recently against cosmetic companies, including L’Oreal, Target, Burt’s Bees, Murad, Almay, Grande Cosmetics, Neutrogena, and Clinique, among others.
- Why: The class action lawsuits and settlements primarily claim that makeup products sold by the brands contain harmful chemicals, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The lawsuits also claim the companies use false advertising and claim the brands are safe for consumers when they are not.
- Where: The makeup brands sell cosmetics to consumers nationwide.
Related: Makeup class actions, settlements target harmful ingredients in cosmetics
Consumers are sensitive about what they put on their skin, and, with so many cosmetics to choose from, the ingredients a product contains plays a major role in purchasing decisions.
The ingredients cosmetics contain have also led to a number of class action lawsuits, and, according to them and the consumers behind them, make these the worst makeup brands in America.
Consumers claim Huda, Grande Cosmetics sell eye-damaging cosmetics
Huda Beauty was in the spotlight last year after it agreed to a $2.8 million settlement with its customers to resolve claims its eye shadow contained ingredients that were unsafe to be near eyes.
The product in question was Huda’s Neon Obsessions Palette, which consumers alleged was marketed as an eye shadow despite it not being intended for the eye area.
Consumers claimed in a class action lawsuit that the product caused them to suffer injuries such as eye irritation, rashes, discoloration, skin inflammation and pain.
Further, consumers argued Huda only warned them the product was not meant to be used near the eyes with a six-word disclaimer on the back of its packaging. Consumers are still waiting on the final Huda settlement hearing.
Grande Cosmetics, meanwhile, was accused earlier this year of selling hair growth serums that can cause eye damage.
Consumers claim the serum, which is marketed for growing brows, eyelashes and hair, contains isopropyl cloprostenate (ICP), which they argue should only be used under physician supervision due to its risk of serious side effects.
Specifically, consumers argue ICP can cause eye damage, including iris discoloration, loss of eyelashes and growths in the eye.
Consumers claim Grande Cosmetics is aware of the issue but has refused to provide any remedy to the situation.
The class action lawsuit was the second filed last year over the issue with a consumer in California arguing the products should be classified as drugs rather than cosmetics due to their containing ICP.
bareMinerals makeup contains PFAs, falsely advertised as natural
Popular beauty brand Shiseido was also hit with a class action lawsuit last year over its bareMinerals makeup line with consumers alleging it contains harmful chemicals that are man-made.
Consumers argue that, despite being advertised as being free of any chemicals, the makeup line actually contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), which have been linked to a variety of adverse health effects.
The PFAs the bareMinerals makeup line contain are known as “forever chemicals,” consumers argue, given the amount of time they stay in an individual’s system after they are exposed to them.
The issue of PFAs in cosmetic products such as Shiseido’s came to light after a June study conducted by Notre Dame researchers revealed that more than half of the makeup in the U.S. may contain the harmful chemicals.
PFAs have been linked to a number of adverse health effects, including cancer, weakened immune systems, low birth weight and liver and thyroid issues, among other things.
Neutrogena sells products containing benzophenone, benzene
Also last year, a class action lawsuit targeted Neutrogena over its Health Skin Firming Cream with Broad Spectrum (SPF 15), which consumers claim contains benzophenone, a known human carcinogen.
Consumers argue Neutrogena fails to disclose to consumers that the product contains benzophenone, which they say also acts as an endocrine disruptor.
Further, consumers argue Neutrogena advertises that “safety is paramount” when it comes to its products, which they claim means it should have known its skin cream contains benzophenone.
Neutrogena has also been under fire over allegations it sells sunscreen products containing benzene, a known cancer-causing chemical.
Clinique falsely advertises ‘oil free’ and ‘live probiotic’ products
Beauty brand Clinique, meanwhile, dealt with several class action lawsuits last year, including claims it sold skincare products falsely marketed as “oil free” and ones falsely marketed as containing live probiotics.
In November, Clinique was unsuccessful in getting out of the claims that its oil free skincare products actually contain oil with a judge only dismissing claims related to products the lead plaintiff didn’t purchase.
Despite being marketed as oil free, consumers claim that at least eight of its “oil free” products actually contain oils such as dimethicone, tocopheryl acetate and isostearyl neopentanoate, among others.
Consumers claim the products caused a number of unexpected side effects, including breakouts, oily skin and eye irritation when mixed with sweat.
A similar class action lawsuit was filed against Maybelline in December 2020 by consumers who claimed the company falsely advertised some of its makeup products as oil free.
Last March, meanwhile, a consumer claimed Clinique falsely advertised that some of its skincare products contain live probiotics.
The inclusion of live probiotics has risen in popularity in skincare recently, according to the claims, due to their ability to combat conditions such as acne, rosacea and eczema.
Clinique’s products, however, could not contain live probiotics as claimed due to a preservative ingredient that would prevent them from growing, according to the class action lawsuit.
Ulta repackages makeup and sells it to customers as new
Going back to 2018, a class action lawsuit alleged Ulta Beauty repackaged and sold makeup products to consumers who believed they were buying them brand new.
Consumers in the complaint claimed Ulta employees, at the direction of management, repackaged returned items and put them back on the shelves.
The complaint came after an Ulta employee went on Twitter to reveal the practice, including that the products were not sanitized before being placed back for sale, according to the class action lawsuit.
Beauty brands begin to Move away from talc over cancer risks
A number of cosmetic and beauty brands also began removing talc from their makeup products last year after a Food and Drug Administration study revealed the presence of asbestos in around 18 percent of products tested.
Brands such as Chanel, Revlon and L’Oreal are among the brands moving away from talc, which has been a popular makeup ingredient over the years due to its ability to soften, absorb moisture and prevent caking.
The dangers of talc were not entirely unknown, however, with a consumer filing a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson in 2018 over claims the company failed to warn customers about the cancer risk associated with talc in its baby powder product.
In addition to these brands, L’Oreal, Target, Burt’s Bees, Murad and Almay have all been hit with recent class action lawsuits and may be forced to pay settlements this year over their makeup products.
Have you purchased makeup containing dangerous toxins? Let us know more in the comments.
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719 thoughts onAccording to class action lawsuits, these are the worst makeup brands in America
Wow I have been purchasing these brands forever now.
Add please