Class action claims Avène products falsely advertised as ‘0% preservative’

Pierre Fabre class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Ivy-Karina Vales filed a class action lawsuit against Pierre Fabre USA Inc. and Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmetique USA Inc.
• Why: Vales claims the companies falsely advertise that their Avène skincare products are preservative-free.
• Where: The Piere Fabre class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

A new class action lawsuit claims Pierre Fabre USA falsely advertises that its Avène skincare products are preservative-free.

Plaintiff Ivy-Karina Vales filed the class action complaint against Pierre Fabre USA and Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmetique USA on Dec. 8 in California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

According to the class action lawsuit, the companies falsely advertise their Avène skincare products as preservative-free despite containing a well-known preservative.

Vales claims the companies mislead consumers into paying a premium for products they believe are preservative-free, causing financial harm to consumers who prefer such products.

As a result, Vales says she and other consumers are entitled to compensation for the price premium they paid for the products. She also seeks injunctive relief to prevent Pierre Fabre from continuing to market the products as preservative-free.

Avène skincare products contain citric acid, lawsuit claims

According to the class action lawsuit, Pierre Fabre’s Avène skincare products are marketed as preservative-free, leading consumers to believe they are purchasing premium products.

“Defendants falsely and deceptively advertise the products as ‘preservative-free’ and/or ‘0% preservative,’” Vales says. “However, contrary to the products’ Challenged Representations, the products actually contain citric acid — a well-defined artificial preservative ingredient commonly used in cosmetic products.”

Vales claims Pierre Fabre’s advertising exploits consumers’ desire for preservative-free products, allowing the company to charge higher prices. She says she and other consumers relied on the company’s advertising when purchasing the products, believing they were free of preservatives.

If consumers had known the products contained preservatives, they would not have purchased them or would have paid less, she alleges.

Recently, various lawsuits have targeted the use of citric acid in “all natural” or “preservative free” claims. Frito-Lay is facing class action allegations over the use of citric acid in its Poppables snack, while Big Heart Pet Brands is accused of falsely advertising its Milk-Bone Dipped dog biscuits for the same reason.

What do you think of the allegations made in this Avène skincare class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Valter Malkhasyan and Erik Pogosyan of Malk & Pogo Law Group LLP.

The Avène Fabre class action lawsuit is Vales v. Pierre Fabre USA Inc., et al., Case No. 5:25-cv-10523, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Class action claims Zappos secretly shared shoppers’ data with Meta without consent
• Class action alleges True Religion’s sitewide ‘limited-time’ sales never end
• $33M Wells Fargo subscription billing class action settlement
• $630M Google Play Store class action settlement