Janice R. Andrews
January 16, 2024
This roundup of happenings in the beauty business today features a number of noteworthy events that are reshaping the market for cosmetics and personal care products.
Mydentity Guy Tang Reflect Hair Dyes Recall Alert:
A recall for Henkle Corp.’s #mydentity Guy Tang Reflect range of liquid demi permanent hair dyes has been announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The possible presence of nitrosamine contamination is the cause of the recall. Several U.S. states, including TX, CA, FL, NV, LA, NY, and others, received 190,952 units in total. It is recommended that consumers look up the individual lot codes mentioned in the recall notification.
Recall of Tec Italy Tonico Shampoo: Bacterial Infection
Tec Italy Tonico Shampoo is being recalled by Nattura Laboratorios S.A. De C.V. due to possible contamination with E. coli and Pluralibacter gergoviae. 3,936 units throughout several states, including NY, TX, CA, and FL, are impacted by the recall. The item is presented in 300 mL/10.14 fl. oz. plastic bottles.
Over Undisclosed Drugs, Grande Cosmetics Settles for $6.25 Million:
A $6.25 million settlement has been reached by Grande Cosmetics to address claims pertaining to its hair, brow, and lash products. According to allegations, these items included medications that were not mentioned, such as isopropyl cloprostenate, which carries a high risk of adverse effects. Compensation is available to customers who bought GrandeLASH-MD, GrandeBROW, or GrandeHAIR products between January 1, 2018, and December 14, 2023. Grande Cosmetics disputes any misconduct pertaining to its marketing, even as the settlement attempts to improve product labelling for clarity.
Lawsuits Against Target and Sephora for “Clean” Beauty:
There are lawsuits against Sephora and Target, two of the biggest names in beauty retail, for their purported “clean beauty” practices. A 2022 consumer lawsuit against Sephora claims that the company’s “clean” product labels fail to live up to consumer expectations because the ingredients do not match natural standards. August 2023 saw the filing of a second lawsuit against Target, alleging that propylparaben and other possibly harmful chemicals are included in several “clean” products. The fact that both lawsuits are still pending highlights the difficulties the beauty industry faces in establishing and upholding clean beauty standards.
Issues with Regulation in the Beauty Sector:
The absence of precise regulatory guidance on terminology like “clean,” “natural,” and “nontoxic” presents difficulties for the cosmetics sector. Although the FDA’s jurisdiction is increased by the recently passed Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA), it offers no direction about marketing claims. Class-action lawsuits could be brought against the industry as a result of this regulatory uncertainty. There is a pressing need for industry-wide clarity as long as clean beauty lawsuits persist.
