A number of women have filed lawsuits against lip balm maker EOS after they experienced skin reactions on and around their lips, including bleeding, blisters, dermatitis (skin rashes), and pigmentation loss. Dr. Marie Jhin, a San Francisco dermatologist, said the rashes could be contact dermatitis caused by a reaction to vitamin E, according to Your […]
A number of women have filed lawsuits against lip balm maker EOS after they experienced skin reactions on and around their lips, including bleeding, blisters, dermatitis (skin rashes), and pigmentation loss.
Dr. Marie Jhin, a San Francisco dermatologist, said the rashes could be contact dermatitis caused by a reaction to vitamin E, according to Your Health Magazine. The Inquisitr noted that beeswax—an ingredient in the EOS lip balms—is a major allergen. People sensitive to beeswax need to know if beeswax is in products they use. The Inquisitr notes that EOS (Evolution of Smooth) does not fully disclosure the ingredients on the EOS Lip Balm labeling.
Four proposed class action lawsuits have been filed in January 2016 over claims that EOS Lip Balm use leads to cracking, bleeding, and blistering lips, according to WGN TV (Chicago). A woman bringing one of the lawsuits alleges her lips felt like “sandpaper” within hours after she applied the lip balm. When she applied more EOS balm, her lips began to crack, flake, bleed, and blister, and she developed a rash. Her symptoms lasted for 10 days. The lawsuit seeks damages and corrective advertising indicating EOS Lip Balm may cause mild to severe rashes, dryness, bleeding, blistering, cracking, and loss of pigmentation that may last from a few days to a few months. The skin reactions may be long lasting and, potentially, permanent. A California plaintiff alleges violation of the state’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act and a New York woman accuses EOS of false advertising and negligent product design, according to attorneys representing the woman. One lawsuit was brought by a mother who bought EOS Lip Balm for her teenage daughter as an “age-appropriate” alternative to lipstick. Her daughter developed rashes and blisters from the lip balm.
Celebrities Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, Ann Kendrick, Britney Spears, and Katie Perry promote EOS Lip Balm products. The EOS flavors involved are Blackberry Nectar, Coconut Milk, Strawberry Sorbet, Blueberry Acai, Pomegranate Raspberry, Summer Fruit, Sweet Mint, Honeysuckle Honeydew, Lemon Drop, and Medicated Tangerine.
An EOS post on social media said: “Some of you may have seen reports of a lawsuit filed against our company. We wanted to be sure that you, our valued customers and fans, know that the health and wellbeing of our customers is our top priority. Our products are safe to use, are made with the highest quality ingredients and they all meet or exceed all safety and quality standards set out by our industry. An independent laboratory puts each of our products through a battery of rigorous testing to ensure this is the case. For these reasons, we firmly believe this lawsuit is without merit, and we will continue to create new and exciting products that delight our customers.”
The lawsuits all allege violations of unfair business laws. One case alleges that EOS breached express and implied warranties, committed consumer fraud, and unjustly gained from the sales. Two of the lawsuits allege that EOS failed to provide any warning on the product itself or in the advertising material, and failed to commission a study on the adverse effects of its proprietary formula.
