11 Cosmetic Brands which faced court trails

Lucknow: When it comes to cosmetics we blindly trust some big brands. We spend extravagantly on the products we use, as we don’t want to risk our health and looks.

The quality of products is decided on the bases of who is the brand face, we easily fall prey to brands marketing strategies. They make us buy what they want us to sell, while making us believe we have the choice.

Here are some famous brands which faced court trails for some reasons or other:

Garnier Fructise Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum:

L’Oreal faced a class-suit for its hair range product 'Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum'. The product contained 'cyclopentasiloxane' and 'dimethiconol', the two main ingredients, known to be inflammable.The product was advertised to be used immediately before styling hair, using a blow-dryer, curling iron, straightening iron or other styling appliance. These substances are each reported to catch fire at around 171 degrees Fahrenheit, where the normal heating range for commonly used styling appliances is approximately 200 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Olay anti-aging products:

A class-suit was filed against Procter & Gamble Co., accusing its Olay line of anti-aging products of false advertising and “ill-gotten gains.”

In Los Angeles, a complaint was filed by Lorette Perez-Pirio. She said that magazine and Internet ads and product labels for the Anti-Aging Eye Roller and the Regenerating Eye Cream “misrepresent the effects and purported benefits of the products.” Her complaint suggests that the brand is misleading its consumers by false and exaggerated promises, to give miraculous results.

MAC Cosmetic's lipstick:

An American woman sued MAC Cosmetics after she contracted herpes from applying MAC lipstick. The woman stopped into a pop-up shop where a MAC representative applied a lipstick from MAC Cosmetics range. After two days she developed a cold sore, on consulting with her doctor, she was diagnosed with herpes.

She stated in the suit that the disease lead to 'mental anguish and emotional distress.'

Maybelline lipstick:

The Maybelline was sued for its false statements and deceptive marketing. Many women accused the brand, claiming that the brand's 'Super Stay 10HR Stain Gloss' and 'Super Stay 14 HR' lipstick do not fulfil their claims.

The overstatement and false claims over the product's actual staying period was challenged by its consumers.

The lawsuit claims that “Maybelline overstates and misrepresents the staying power of its Super Stay products as a means to induce consumers to purchase the product.”

Lakmé Sun Expert

'Lotus Herbals', a renowned brand in herbal beauty products, filed a complaint against 'Hindustan Unilever'. The suit was filed over an advertisement, which was leaked on WhatsApp. In the ad HUL showed its product ‘Lakmé Sun Expert’ of superior quality in comparison to Lotus sun screen’s ’Safe Sun’.

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly:

A California couple filed a lawsuit against Unilever United States Inc., claiming its Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, flammable. The accused alleged that she sustained third degree burns as the Vaseline Petroleum Jelly she applied, caught fire.

However, Vaseline’s US site states that “Vaseline Jelly is not flammable. When heated to extremely high temperatures of more than 400 degrees Fahrenheit, Vaseline Jelly may give off flammable vapours. Even in summer, this isn’t going to happen naturally.”

Fair and Handsome:

The company, for its deceptive and false marketing, was slapped with a penalty of 15 lacs. A boy from Delhi, moved to a district consumer court as he was dissatisfied with the lies of getting a fairer skin within 4 weeks of use. The boy used it for a month and didn’t get desirable results. The court, found the ad guilty of "misrepresentation to the public".

Dove Soap:

Dove received a collaborative boycott on online media, when its 3-second long controversial ad was posted on Dove’s US Facebook page. The advertisement showed a black woman removing her top to reveal a white woman, reminded of the era of racism. It only earned viewers despite. In spite of celebrating all colors as beautiful, white skin has always been the main centre of cosmetic industries.

On Twitter, posts including the hashtag #BoycottDove, started, criticising the racism it portrays, in US.

Dove made an apology and removed the clip, posting on its Twitter account that the post had “missed the mark in representing women of color thoughtfully.”

Johnson & Johnson Baby powder

In February 2016, J&J was penalised to pay 95,72,36,000.00 Indian Rupee in damages to the family of Jacqueline Fox, a 62-year-old woman who died of ovarian cancer in 2015. The deceased was said to have been sprinkling Johnson's Baby Powder on her underwear ever since she was a teenager.

J&J was sued by over 1,000 U.S. women, by 2017, for not educating consumers about possible cancer risk from its Baby Powder product.

LO'Real Softsheen-Carson's Optimum Amla Legend Relaxer

L’Oréal was in middle of controversies when its hair oil product was accused of causing hair loss and other serious side effects.

A lawsuit was filed against its hair oil alleging it to be "short on oil and long on danger, causing hair loss, breakage, scalp irritation, blisters and burns." The consumers complained that the product caused heavy hair loss.

EOS Lip Balms

On December 4, 2015, Rachael Cronin, complaint about the side effects she suffered after using EOS Lip Balm. According to the plaintiff, within hours it left her lips cracked, bleeding, blistering, and flaking. The condition got worst with severe blistering and rashes that she had to seek medical care.

The lawsuit also states that the packaging contained no warnings about potential side effects.