Oil-Free Skincare Lawsuits Pile Up

Although many popular skin care brands advertise their products as being oil-free, investigations into these claims indicate many “oil-free” creams and moisturizers do contain oils. Some consumers have filed class action lawsuits against companies such as Neutrogena and CeraVe, claiming these companies may be engaging in deceptive and illegal labeling techniques in order to fool consumers into purchasing their products.

Which Companies Have Been Accused of Mislabeling Oil-Free Skincare Products?

Several popular skincare and makeup brands have recently come under fire from consumers for allegedly mislabeling their products. In addition to being unethical, mislabeling product ingredients or making false claims about products may also be illegal. These claims may be in violation of consumer protection laws enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FTC and FDA are responsible for ensuring companies that make claims about their skincare products are able to back those claims up with evidence. The agencies also prohibit companies from mislabeling ingredients on cosmetics.

Maybelline, e.l.f., CeraVe, Neutrogena and Murad are some of the most popular beauty brands that have been accused of mislabeling their products as oil-free in recent years.

What Oil-Free Skincare Class Action Lawsuits Have Been Filed?

Many oil-free skincare class action lawsuits have been filed against these companies by consumers who believed they were duped into purchasing beauty products.

A class action lawsuit was filed in December 2020 by a woman who claims she purchased Maybelline foundation and concealer that were advertised as being oil-free. However, the three products she purchased all contain oils. Plaintiff Norah Flaherty claims she would not have purchased these products if she had known they contained oils despite the marketing campaign labeling them as oil-free.

Consumers who purchase oil-free items may choose these products in order to prevent issues that may occur from oil build-up on the skin, such as clogged pores or acne. Additionally, consumers who have naturally oily skin may require oil-free products in order for their skin to appear healthy or for their makeup to properly adhere to their skin and look natural.

Flaherty also filed class action lawsuits against Neutrogena and e.l.f. for making similar claims about products that contain oil. According to her class action lawsuit against beauty company e.l.f., Flaherty claims she and other purchasers of the company’s products were deprived of their right to choose the type and quality of the products they use on their skin.

According to class action lawsuits filed against Maybelline, e.l.f., CeraVe, Neutrogena and Murad, these companies generally do include the names of the oils on the ingredient lists for their products. However, plaintiff John Daly claims in his class action lawsuit against Murad that he and other consumers would need to have an advanced understanding of chemistry in order to realize some of the listed ingredients, which have names such as dimethicone and polyisobutene, are oils.

In Daly’s case, the product he purchased that was found to contain oils was the Murad Clarifying Oil-Free Water Gel. He claims the name of the item is inherently misleading and he and other consumers trusted the name rather than reviewing each item on the ingredient list.

If you have purchased a skincare product advertised as being oil-free but have evidence it contains oil, you may be eligible to file a class action lawsuit against the company for making false claims about the product. Plaintiffs who file oil-free skincare class action lawsuits may be able to recoup reimbursement for these products, in addition to further compensation.