Rodan + Fields to Pay Out $38 M in Lash Boost Settlement

Apr 6th, 2022

Rachel Grabenhofer, Cosmetics & Toiletries

The plaintiffs claim the product is a misbranded drug that can cause serious side effects due to its isopropyl cloprostenate content. (Note: Depiction only; not the actual product).

According to a report by Top Class Actions, Rodan + Fields will pay $38 million to settle several class action suits against its Lash Boost product. This serum is marketed for its ability to increase lash length and density.

Drug Claims and Oversight

The plaintiffs claim the product is a misbranded drug that can cause serious side effects due to its isopropyl cloprostenate content. This chemical is an analogue of prostaglandin, a drug used in glaucoma treatments, which according to Optometry Times, alongside other prostaglandin analogs, also can target the anagen phase of the growth cycle for beauty benefits.

Due to this ingredient, the plaintiffs argue that Lash Boost should be regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a drug instead of a federally unregulated cosmetic product. Based on this classification, consumers are allegedly not warned about the risks associated with isopropyl cloprostenate and they unknowingly used this drug near their eyes, putting them at risk for adverse reactions.

Misleading Marketing

In addition, the plaintiffs allege the inclusion of isopropyl cloprostenate contradicts Rodan + Fields’ product marketing, which claims that Lash Boost is “not a drug product,” “contains only cosmetic ingredients,” and is “not associated with any significant side effects.” Rodan + Fields claims no wrongdoing. According to HBW Insight, the company reportedly maintains it did not intend for product to impart drug-like structure and/or function effects on the human body.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is July 14, 2022. The final approval hearing for the Lash Boost class action settlement is scheduled for Sept. 14, 2022.

Ingredients: Lash Boost Serum: Water/Aqua/Eau, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Keratin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Biotin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Isopropyl Cloprostenate, Octapentapeptide-2, Allantoin, Panthenol, Copper Tripeptide-1, Pantethine, Polypeptide-23, Curcurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Extract, Glycerin, Sea Water, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Fruit Extract, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Oil, Dipotassium GLycyrrhizate, Rhizobian Gum, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, PVP, Lecithin, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide. Source: Rodan + Fields