Neutrogena Class Action Says ‘Natural’ Sunscreen Contains Artificial Ingredients

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Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. has been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging it deceptively labeled and advertised Neutrogena-brand sunscreen as “naturally sourced,” “100% naturally derived sunscreen,” or as having “100% naturally sourced sunscreen ingredients.”

Plaintiff Paige Hernandez alleges that the “naturally sourced” claims on Neutrogena sunscreen products are false, misleading and/or deceptive.

Hernandez says she purchased at least one Neutrogena “naturally sourced” sunscreen product from a California retail store.

Before choosing to purchase the Neutrogena sunscreen, Hernandez says she read the product packaging and interpreted the statements that the product was “naturally sourced,” “100% naturally derived sunscreen” or “100% naturally sourced sunscreen ingredients” to mean that the sunscreen did not contain synthetic or artificial ingredients.

According to the Neutrogena sunscreen class action lawsuit, the products contain artificial and synthetic ingredients even though they include labels that suggest the product is a “100% naturally derived sunscreen.” Hernandez asserts the “natural” sunscreens actually contain phenoxyethanol, dimethicone, ethylhexyglycerine, and/or glycerine.

The Neutrogena natural sunscreen class action lawsuit points to complaints filed by the Federal Trade Commission last year against cosmetic companies that represent their products as “natural” when they contain one or more of the ingredients listed above. In response to the FTC complaints, four cosmetics companies reportedly agreed to stop marketing the products in question as being “natural.”

Hernandez claims she paid a premium price for the Neutrogena sunscreen products and, according to the class action lawsuit, she would not have made the purchase if she had known that the “naturally sourced” representations were deceptive, false and/or misleading.

The sunscreen products named in the Neutrogena class action lawsuit include:

• Sensitive Skin Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 60+
• Pure & Free Baby Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 60+
• Pure & Free Baby Faces Ultra Gentle Cream Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 45+
• Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Sunscreen (Stick)
• Neutrogena Pure & Free Liquid Sunscreen
• Sheer Zinc Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50
• Sheer Zinc Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30
• Sheer Zinc Face Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50
• Neutrogena Naturals Brightening Daily Moisturizer Sunscreen

According to the Neutrogena sunscreen class action lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson knows that consumers will pay a higher price for products that are labeled as having “100% naturally sourced sunscreen ingredients” or similar language.

By filing the Neutrogena naturally sourced sunscreen class action lawsuit, Hernandez seeks to represent herself as well as a nationwide Class and a California subclass of consumers who purchased the Neutrogena sunscreen products for personal use since April 14, 2013.

The Neutrogena natural sunscreen class action lawsuit asserts violation of the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act, California Unfair Competition Law, California False Advertising Law, breach of express warranty, unjust enrichment, fraud and negligent misrepresentation. Hernandez seeks injunctive relief, compensatory and punitive damages, prejudgment interest, restitution, attorneys’ fees and costs.

Hernandez is represented by Reuben D. Nathan of Nathan & Associates APC.

The Neutrogena Naturally Sourced Sunscreen Class Action Lawsuit is Paige Hernandez v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., et al., Case No. 8:17-cv-00680-JLS-JCG, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.