Ulta class action alleges clean beauty products contain ‘banned’ ingredients

Ulta class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Margaret Garvey filed a class action lawsuit against Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc.
• Why: Garvey claims Ulta misrepresents that its “Conscious Beauty” products are made with “clean ingredients”.
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

A new nationwide class action lawsuit alleges Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance misrepresents that its “Conscious Beauty” products are made with “clean ingredients” that exclude ingredients on its “Made Without List”.

Plaintiff Margaret Garvey claims Ulta’s “Conscious Beauty” products contain numerous ingredients that are excluded by the company’s “Made Without List.”

When Ulta launched its “Conscious Beauty” program in October 2020, it described it as a “first-of-its-kind” initiative focused on delivering transparency to inspire more informed, conscious product choices for guests, their loved ones and the environment.

“The program aims to provide transparency and empower consumers to make more informed choices about their Ulta beauty products by focusing on five key pillars: clean ingredients, cruelty-free practices, vegan options, sustainable packaging, and positive impact,” the Ulta class action says.

 That’s not something the brand has actually lived up to, Garvey alleges.

Class action: Ulta misled consumers into purchasing ‘Conscious Beauty’ products

Garvey says in her class action lawsuit that Ulta’s “Made Without List” is a set of standards that prohibits the use of certain ingredients commonly associated with adverse health and environmental impacts.

Ulta allegedly requires brands participating in the program to formulate their products according to these standards, which include excluding acrylates, phthalates, aluminum compounds and other substances.

Despite these claims, Garvey argues that many of the products sold under the “Conscious Beauty” label contain prohibited ingredients.

Ulta’s marketing materials and website allegedly emphasize that the products are made with clean ingredients, leading consumers to believe they are free from harmful substances.

Garvey says she purchased Ulta products believing they were clean and environmentally friendly, only to discover they contained ingredients on the “Made Without List.”

She claims she would not have purchased the products or would have paid less if she had known the truth.

The Ulta class action lawsuit alleges violations of California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act, False Advertising Law, Unfair Competition Law and Environmental Marketing Claims Act. It also alleges fraud, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment.

Garvey seeks to represent a class of all residents of the United States who, within the applicable statute of limitations periods, purchased the products for personal, family or household purposes.

Recently, beauty product manufacturer Revlon was hit with a class action alleging the company falsely advertises Almay products as being “hypoallergenic,” when in fact they contain a “shocking array” of known skin sensitizers, irritants and allergens.

Have you ever purchased a “Conscious Beauty” product from Ulta? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by James A. Morris and Shane A. Greenberg of Morris Law Firm and Daniel J. Orlowsky of Orlowsky Law LLC.

The Ulta class action lawsuit is Garvey, et al. v. Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc., Case No. 3:25-cv-05965, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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