Estee Lauder, Origins Plantscription False Advertising Class Action Lawsuit

A federal class action lawsuit claims Estee Lauder and Origins pushed their “Plantscription” products with bogus claims about “anti-aging benefits,” and used a model in their advertisements that never even used the product.

The lead Plaintiffs are suing Estee Lauder and Origins for fraud, unfair business practices and false advertising.

According to the Plantscription class action lawsuit, Estee Lauder and Origins engaged in deceptive and misleading conduct relating to the marketing, advertising, selling and promotion of the successful anti-aging product Plantscription, which is featured in a “prolific” ad campaign with model Caroline Forsling.

The truth, the class action lawsuit says, is that model Forsling never even used the product, and the so-called “anti-aging” effects are false, rending the Defendants’ failure to disclose these facts “wholly deceptive.”

The class action lawsuit claims the photo used of Forsling in the Plantscription ads was actually taken during a photo shoot for hair care products.

“Forsling did not authorize the hair care company [which is owned by Estee Lauder] to use or license the photos to advertise any other products,” the Plantscription class action lawsuit says.

Forsling never used the product, yet Origins used a “Before & After” photo of the model in its advertisements. The “Before” photo was supposed to represent the model’s skin condition before Plantscription use. The “After” photo was supposed to represent the model’s skin condition after use, but it is merely a photoshopped image of Forsling with visible wrinkles and dark spots edited out, the lawsuit says.

The class action lawsuit further points out that “a large quantity” of consumers who purchased Plantscription are dissatisfied with the results, and “feel tricked, deceived and/or otherwise misled by their purchase.” The complaint cites numerous unhappy customer testimonies posted on the Origins website.

The Plantscription class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of all U.S. consumers who purchased any cosmetic product of Estee Lauder and/or Origins, specifically, but not limited to, “Plantscription,” when the Defendants had represented in the product’s promotional and/or advertising material that using the product would result in anti-aging benefits as depicted in its ads, when in fact the model in said ads had not used “Plantscription.”

It is seeking over $100 million in compensatory damages, punitive damages, and more.

A copy of the Estee Lauder, Origins Plantscription False Advertising Class Action Lawsuit can be read here.

The case is Nancy Calzadilla Wheeler, et al. v. The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.; Estee Lauder, Inc.; and Origins Natural Resources, Inc., Case No. 12-cv-882 U.S. District Court, Central District of California.