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Two plaintiffs are suing the makers of St. Ives Apricot Scrub, claiming the product actually causes skin damage.
Plaintiffs Kaylee Browning and Sarah Basile are challenging defendant Unilever United States Inc. over its inclusion of crushed walnut shells in its St. Ives Apricot Scrub.
Crushed walnut shells damage the skin in a way that makes it completely unsuitable for use in a skin care product, the plaintiffs claim.
Browning and Basile quote assessments from a slew of skin care professionals decrying the use of abrasives like crushed walnut shells on facial skin.
One dermatologist quoted in a 2015 New York Magazine article said that “[l]arge, hard, and sandlike rocks” like those in St. Ives Apricot Scrub are “too abrasive for the face’s thin skin.”
Another dermatologist said using crushed walnut shells is like “using sandpaper on your face.” It can cause inflammation and irritation that can accelerate the aging process, the dermatologist said.
Still another skincare expert interviewed in the New York Magazine article said that abrasive scrubs create “micro-tears” in the skin, and that this damage makes the skin “more vulnerable to environmental damages, pollution, and sun damage.”
The plaintiffs also quote a blog post from an esthetician, who explains that the tiny tears in the skin caused by walnut shell powder allow bacteria to enter. The scrubbing action causes inflammation of the skin, which itself makes pores swell and close, promoting the development of acne, according to this esthetician.
“Accordingly, St. Ives is unfit to be sold or used as a facial scrub,” the plaintiffs claim. “The product is completely worthless.”
Browning and Basile allege the defendant knows this about its own product, since it advertises St. Ives Apricot Scrub as being “dermatologist tested.” Yet despite knowing this, Unilever does not disclose that the product causes skin damage or that it is not actually recommended by dermatologists, the plaintiffs claim.
The class action also challenges Unilever’s representation that St. Ives Apricot Scrub is “non-comedogenic,” i.e. that it does not tend to clog pores. They claim several of the product’s ingredients are in fact highly comedogenic.
Both Browning and Basile say they purchased St. Ives Apricot Scrub at times within the past three years – Browning in California, and Basile in New York.
Both say they relied on the defendant’s marketing of the product as suitable for use as a facial scrub when they chose to buy it. They allege they never would have bought St. Ives facial scrub if the defendant had disclosed that it causes skin damage.
Browning and Basile propose to represent a nationwide Class consisting of all persons in the U.S. who purchased St. Ives Apricot Scrub. They also propose to represent two subclasses, each from their respective home states of California and New York.
They are asking the court for an injunction preventing the defendant from continuing the alleged false advertising. They also seek an award of damages, restitution, court costs and attorneys’ fees.
The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys L. Timothy Fisher, Joel D. Smith and Scott A. Bursor of Bursor & Fisher PA.
The St. Ives Apricot Scrub Class Action Lawsuit is Kaylee Browning, et al. v. Unilever United States Inc., Case No. 8:16-cv-2210, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
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151 thoughts onSt. Ives Apricot Scrub Class Action Says Product Causes Skin Damage
My family and I have used this product quite a bit, I would like to learn more about the lawsuit.
I have used this product religiously for at least 9 years. If you look at pictures of me over the course of these years, you can see the change in my skin. I always had the smoothest skin. I don’t smoke, drink, go out in the sun, or anything that would have changed my skin as dramatically as it looks today…9 years later. I didn’t realize my facial care routine would be the cause. As of today, my skin stays broke out, red on my checks, and all over changed for the worse. The breakouts are worse on my forehead where I tend to put more pressure when I scrub. I had the lady at the bank ask me if I just got out of a tanning bed; my reply was “No, I don’t go to tanning beds. I just got out of the shower.” My checks were that red. I just thought there was a skin “calm down” period after the use of the product. I use this product so much that I have received it as a gift from my sister in law and my best friend. I just got it mixed in gifts from my best friend this February for my birthday. It’s in my shower now!!! I found this website looking on the internet in hopes to find cleansing whips to help me with my facial breakouts that have slowly gotten worse and worse. I have actually used more of the product to try and fight the breakouts but instead they have only gotten worse. I am going to stop the use of this product to see what the difference might be for my skin. It’s going to be SO hard to stop something you’ve done for nearly 10 years! I don’t know what to use for my skin now. I guess I’ll try the Aveeno positively radiant cleanser for sensitive skin?! My boyfriend has pointed out my broken out skin, my ex, my brother, and my grandmother. It’s embarrassing. They have all just wanted to know what has been going on with my skin. It start out as my brother pointing out that I had heat bumps on my forehead several, several years ago. All the way to, my grandmother asking me what I’m doing to my skin a few months ago…that I need to stop what I was doing to my skin that it looked terrible. I just thought I was slowly getting acne that was getting worse with time :(
I too have used this product and would like to know more about this case sign me up
The case is still moving through the courts and has not yet reached a settlement. Claim forms are usually not made available to consumers until after a court approved settlement is reached. We recommend you sign up for a free account at TopClassActions.com and follow the case. We will update the article with any major case developments or settlement news! Setting up a free account with Top Class Actions will allow you to receive instant updates on ANY article that you ‘Follow’ on our website. A link to creating an account may be found here: https://topclassactions.com/signup/. You can then ‘Follow’ the article above, and get notified immediately when we post updates!
I have been using this for years and years.. my skin is now red and blotchy, and very easily irritated. I am extremely interested in this case.
I’m interested in this. I use this all the time
I would like to be contacted about this
I am very interested in this case, I have used St Ives Apricot scrub for YEARS and based on this article this could be the answers I have been looking for when it comes to my skin, horrible acne, skin peeling, burning when I use it, I’ve tried all sorts of acne products to get rid of the acne but it sounds like the scrub is causing all the issues. I would very much like to have someone please contact me. Please.
The case is still moving through the courts and has not yet reached a settlement. Claim forms are usually not made available to consumers until after a court approved settlement is reached. We recommend you sign up for a free account at TopClassActions.com and follow the case. We will update the article with any major case developments or settlement news! Setting up a free account with Top Class Actions will allow you to receive instant updates on ANY article that you ‘Follow’ on our website. A link to creating an account may be found here: https://topclassactions.com/signup/. You can then ‘Follow’ the article above, and get notified immediately when we post updates!
I would very much like to talk with someone about this. I’ve used this product for many years(20+) and for the past six years I’ve had a strange rash/peeling/burning of my skin on my face. Doctors have been unable to tell me what is the cause and have been unable to find a treatment.
I’ve been using this for years. Now I’m scared of what it could have been doing to my skin. Please let me know how this turns out.
I am very interested in this case. Please alert me of proceedings.