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The Kiss My Face cosmetics company has been falsely labeling its body lotion and body washes as “natural” when they in fact contain synthetic ingredients, according to a recently filed class action lawsuit.
Plaintiff Stefania Maniaci is raising false advertising allegations against defendants Kiss My Face Corp., Kiss My Face LLC and Bycmac Corp., the makers and marketers of hundreds of personal care products under the Kiss My Face brand. She alleges the labeling on these products violates New York State consumer protection laws.
Maniaci says she bought Kiss My Face body lotion several times within the last few years, in reliance on the products’ labeling that said they would “nourish naturally” and were “naturally effective.”
She says she understood these representations to mean that the products did not contain any synthetic ingredients. Based on those representations, she was willing to pay a premium for these skin care items over what she would have had to pay for other products not labeled as being “natural.”
But contrary to these products’ labeling, Maniaci says they contain at least two synthetic ingredients: phenoxyethanol and ethyl hexylglycerin.
Maniaci says these ingredients were the subject of complaints filed by the Federal Trade Commission in April 2016 against three cosmetics manufacturers who labeled certain products as “natural” even though they contained one or both of these ingredients. All three companies then agreed to stop promoting these products as “natural,” Maniaci states.
Had she known Kiss My Face products contained these supposedly synthetic ingredients, Maniaci claims she never would have purchased them.
She now believes Kiss My Face is mislabeling these products on purpose to take advantage of heightened consumer interest in natural products. According to one consumer survey, 86 percent of respondents said they understand “natural” labeling to mean that the product represented does not contain artificial ingredients.
Maniaci’s claim is the most recent in a line of Kiss My Face class action lawsuits challenging the brand’s “natural” labeling. In March of this year, California plaintiff Andrew Gasser brought his own Kiss My Face class action lawsuit raising similar claims under California consumer protection law.
Two months later, plaintiff Noriko Ikeda, also of California, brought her own action that specifically addresses the labeling on Kiss My Face sunscreen, body wash and body lotion.
In her own Kiss My Face class action lawsuit, Maniaci seeks to represent a plaintiff Class that would cover all persons who purchased Kiss My Face body lotion or body wash in the state of New York during the applicable statutory limitations period.
She is asking for an award of statutory, actual and punitive damages against the defendants, restitution and disgorgement of revenues related to the allegedly false advertisement, and reimbursement of her court costs and attorneys’ fees.
Maniaci’s attorney is Michael J. Gabrielli of Gabrielli Levitt LLP.
The Kiss My Face False Natural Labeling Class Action Lawsuit is Stefania Daidone Maniaci v. Kiss My Face Corp., et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-03670, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
UPDATE: The Kiss My Face False Natural Labeling New York Class Action Lawsuit was dismissed on September 13, 2017.
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52 thoughts onKiss My Face Class Action Says ‘Natural’ Label is False Advertising
Four days ago I began using a Kiss My Face bar of soap I’d gotten as a gift. The second day I’d shaved my legs using this while in the shower. I’d noticed small bumps all over them but thought I must have gotten goose bums while shaving so dismissed it. The next day I had a rash all over my lower arms but dismissed it thinking it was caused from my dogs playing in the mud from the storm and it irritated me from rubbing them. I’d taken an oatmeal bath thinking that could help. By the next day I began itching the crazy and the bumps had turned into a rash in different sections of my body that itched like crazy that I thought I’d scratch it raw. I’d taken Benadryl wondering what I could be having an allergic reaction to. By the next day I could hardly bare the discomfort I was in while even trying cortisone to stop the burn of the itch so intense. This morning it dawned on me that I’d begun using the Natural soap Kiss My Face. I figured since it was a natural product that couldn’t be it but googled it anyways! I guess I am not the only one caused tremendous discomfort!
I have bought their products. How do I submit a claim form?
I nearly had a melt down when I couldn’t find KMF soap and the clerk said they were out of business! I’ve been using it for over 40 years. Even have one of their old tee shirts. Sad. Their soap was the best.
Now I can’t get my favorite products any more. I guess you put them out of business with your lawsuit.
If you are so smart, why don’t you create your own natural products instead of ruining others?
You are so right ?. Now I can’t get my favourite lotion anymore, the only one that won’t leave any oil on the skin for the whole day, and the only lotion that stop eczema in hot weather.
I for yrs have used all the products. Now use the body washes lavender pacholi anti stress early to rise go to bed too. Use the face wash and jazimine shave stuff too. Thanks Debra Gouveia
I have used this product many times, however, for such a small item, I have not kept receipts. I have purchased at lease 10 products a year
Right!!!! Every day I read these posts and these idiots do it over and over again. I hope they realize they won’t ever see any type of reimbursement because they aren’t smart enough to follow simple directions.
add me
LOL, I agree. I too have “added” and thought, did I drink a V8 earlier because immediately following, my brain reaction kik’d in and thought, to whom am I asking>? Of course, I didn’t receive an answer (LOL) this is when I knew “adding me” will not be answered….LOL. I doubt if your comment will halt the rest of the “please add me” ppl, thinking this is the only way they feel they will be seen and/or heard until there is an application link to fill out. #Goodluck
Most definitely add me to any Class Action Lawsuit. I use to buy this product line all the time for myself and daughter (sorry no Kiss My Face for the cat) at New Seasons Market Oregon.