Case Overview: A class action lawsuit has been filed against skincare brand Pixi, alleging the company falsely advertised its products as containing collagen when they actually use a synthetic substitute.
Consumers Affected: Individuals who purchased Pixi skincare products containing "Botanical Collagen."
Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Skin care brand Pixi has come under fire from consumers over claims its products don’t actually contain the collagen the company advertises.
A new lawsuit filed in New York accuses Pixi of marketing its treatments in a “systematically misleading manner” by conspicuously misrepresenting the products include collagen when in fact they use a “fake imitation of collagen derived from a synthetic extract of the bark and stems of the Acacia seyal tree” called acacia seyal gum extract.
Brooklyn resident Brian Kelly filed the proposed class action lawsuit, accusing Pixi of violating state advertising laws and unjustly enriching itself at the expense of its consumers.
He said he purchased Pixi products including the “Botanical Collagen & Retinol Serum” because they were labeled and marketed as containing collagen, and he relied on Pixi’s labeling in his decision making. He said had he known the labels weren’t true and the products didn’t actually contain any collagen, he wouldn’t have bought them.
“Defendant’s misleading and deceptive practices proximately caused harm to Plaintiff and the proposed class members who suffered an injury in fact and lost money or property as a result of Defendant’s deceptive conduct,” the lawsuit states.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in animals and it plays a vital role in maintaining the structure of tendons, ligaments, bones, and even the cornea. This fibrous protein, essential for the strength and elasticity of connective tissues, is absent in plants, making it a uniquely animal-based substance, as the lawsuit points out.
In recent years, collagen has gained significant attention for its anti-aging benefits, particularly for promoting youthful skin, hair, and nails. This surge in popularity has led to a booming market, with sales expected to surpass $16 billion by 2028 as consumers increasingly seek out collagen in supplements, cosmetics, and various food products, the lawsuit states.
However, Pixi has capitalized on the trend without using the real ingredient, the lawsuit alleges, saying that plant-derived ingredients like acacia gum, a highly processed extract from the Acacia seyal tree, is a subpar substitute. While acacia gum serves as a common thickening agent and emulsifier in many formulations, it cannot replicate the properties of collagen, as it lacks the animal-based proteins that give collagen its unique benefits.
At the core of the lawsuit is the accusation that Pixi is falsely marketing its products to increase sales, something many other companies currently stand accused of by their consumers. In one such case, a class action lawsuit against Bigelow Tea is proceeding to trial after a federal judge ruled that the company's "Made in the USA" claim on its tea products is misleading, as the tea leaves are grown and processed overseas.
Meanwhile LuxClub Inc., a popular bedding company known for its supposedly eco-friendly sheets, is facing heat from a customer lawsuit. The complaint accuses LuxClub of misleading consumers with deceptive advertising about their bamboo sheets, saying the sheets are primarily made from two materials: viscose, a rayon derivative of heavily processed bamboo, and microfiber, a synthetic polyester.
In the Pixi false collagen class action lawsuit, Kelly wants to represent Pixi consumers from across the country. He is suing for alleged violations of New York and other state business laws and is seeking damages, interest, fees, and costs.
Case Details
Plaintiffs' Attorneys
Have you used any Pixi products advertised as containing collagen? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
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