Class Action Says St Ives Apricot Scrub Causes Skin Damage

Two women have joined in a class action lawsuit against the makers of St. Ives Apricot Scrub, alleging the product damages the skin. According to a report on Glamour.com, Kaylee Browning and Sarah Basile are challenging Unilever United States Inc. over its inclusion of crushed walnut shells in its St. Ives Apricot Scrub. The lawsuit claims that these crushed walnut shells are abrasive and cause skin damage. Dermatologists have backed this up by saying that crushed walnut shells in a scrub are like using sandpaper on your face.

Failure to Warn and False Advertising

Another expert interviewed by the New York magazine said that these types of abrasive scrubs create small tears in the skin making it more vulnerable to sun damage, pollution and other environmental damages. One of the more serious consequences of these skin tears is that they allow bacteria to enter causing acne and other skin problems. The plaintiffs say that the product is “completely worthless” and that Unilever has failed to warn consumers about these problems despite that knowledge that their product could cause skin damage.

In addition, the class action challenges Unilever’s representation that the St. Ives Apricot Scrub is “non-comedogenic” or that it does not tend to clog pores. Browning, a California resident, and Basile of New York, said they bought the scrub several times within the last three years and that they would never have done so had they known it could cause skin damage. The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction preventing Unilever from continuing their false advertising and an award of damages, restitution, court costs and attorneys’ fees.

Understanding Class Actions

Class action lawsuits are intended to allow a larger group of people, all harmed by a defendant (often a corporation), to sue as a group. A class action lawsuit is when a group of people files a single lawsuit with the same or similar legal claim. A “lead plaintiff” or “class representatives” often speaks on behalf of the group. Class action lawsuits are common in defective product cases or in instances where workers have been wronged by employers.

Class action lawsuits, for example, help to make whole those who have suffered an injury or a monetary loss as the result of a defective product. These legal actions give power to the people and are a tool to help the common man and woman fight against large corporations that behave in a reckless or negligent manner.

Our California class action attorneys are looking into the damages caused by St. Ives Apricot Scrub. If you have used these products and suffered skin damage, please contact us for more information.