Class Action Lawsuit Claims Babe Lash And Babe Brow Contain Harmful Chemicals

The dream of long, luscious lashes and bold brows might come at a scary price, according to a recent class action lawsuit filed against Elixir Cosmetics, the maker of popular lash and brow serums Babe Lash and Babe Brow.

The lawsuit, filed in New York federal court, alleges that these beauty products contain a hidden ingredient: isopropyl cloprostenate (ICP), a chemical typically found in prescription drugs used to treat glaucoma.

Hidden Drug in Babe Lash and Brow Products Raises Safety Concerns

Consumers Dalit Cohen and Melanie Wohl are sounding the alarm about the potential dangers of Babe Lash and Babe Brow serums. Their lawsuit alleges these popular beauty products contain isopropyl cloprostenate (ICP), a chemical typically found in prescription drugs used to treat glaucoma.

The lawsuit explains that ICP belongs to a class of drugs known as prostaglandin analogs, commonly used to lower intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients. Cohen and Wohl claim that Elixir, the manufacturer of Babe Lash and Babe Brow, and even some of its competitors, are well aware of the potential dangers associated with prostaglandin analogs.

Their primary concern is Elixir's alleged failure to adequately disclose the potential side effects of ICP, which can include:

• Permanent dry eyes
• Iris discoloration
• Dark circles under the eyes
• Loss of eyelashes

The lawsuit argues that Elixir is fully aware of the potential harm associated with Babe Lash Essential Serum and Babe Brow Amplifying Serum. They contend that the company has no justification for selling these products to unsuspecting consumers under the pretense of safety and without requiring medical consultation or disclosing the serious potential side effects.

The complaint also cites the FDA's stance on the matter, emphasizing that the agency has classified products containing ICP as drugs under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This classification makes their sale illegal and poses a significant danger to the health of consumers.

“Because the Products are drugs, Elixir was required to seek regulatory approval for safety and efficacy before selling them to consumers,” the case summarizes. “Elixir failed to seek such approval, and instead deceptively marketed and sold the Products as cosmetics, even though they are unapproved drugs.”

Consumers Report Adverse Reactions and Potential Side Effects

Cohen and Wohl also cite numerous customer complaints from online forums and product reviews, highlighting adverse reactions and unwanted physical changes experienced after using the products.

• Jenya, J.: "I had a severe allergic reaction to the product. Eyes got all puffy and wrinkled and red. This is after 14 days of continuous use. It took about 3-4 days to go down..."
• Alyssa T.: "The serum burns my eyes so I can't use it consistently enough to see any results."
• Amber C.: "I used this once and it burned my eyelids. No thank you."
• Kate P.: "Made my eyelids breakout in a rash and eyelashes did not grow at all."

The lawsuit further references a 2015 study which found that 91.7% of patients treated with prostaglandin analogue drops (including ICP) for glaucoma had meibomian gland disease, which can lead to permanent dry eye issues.

“Plaintiffs would not have purchased the Products had they been transparently marketed and advertised as having the characteristics that they do—that is, of illegality and with risk of causing serious physical injury and harm, and have been harmed economically by purchasing the Products as a result of Defendant’s deception,” the case reads. 

Elixir recently settled a separate class action lawsuit

This isn’t the first time Elixir has been in the hot seat over Babe Lash products. In 2023, the company settled a similar class action lawsuit brought by Daniele Skarpnes for $2.3 million. The allegations in this lawsuit mirror those of Cohen and Wohl’s – that Elixir failed to disclose risks associated with the use of ingredient Isopropyl Cloprostenate in their Babe Lash Essential Lash Serum and Babe Lash Eyelash Serum products. 

In filing the Elixir Babe Lash class action lawsuit, Cohen and Wohl want to hold Elixir Cosmetics accountable for their alleged deceptive marketing practices and the potential harm caused to consumers. They are seeking to represent a class of New York consumers who bought the Babe Lash Essential Serum and Babe Brow Amplifying Serum products within the applicable statute of limitations period.

Case Details:

• Lawsuit: Cohen et al v. Elixir Cosmetics OPCO, LLC
• Case Number: 2:24-cv-03327
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Plaintiffs' Attorneys:

• Michael D. Braun (Kuzyk Law LLP)
• Maia Kats (Just Food Law LLC