Big brands spend millions on research and quality control — and still, from time to time, they recall products or spend years in court over ingredients. Here are four stories worth knowing, and the lessons from them.
1. Talc: the biggest court saga in cosmetics
Tens of thousands of plaintiffs in the US claimed that baby powder and other Johnson & Johnson talc products caused ovarian cancer, and that asbestos contamination of talc caused mesothelioma. The company tried three times to resolve the cases through the bankruptcy of a subsidiary; the courts rejected all three attempts, and in March 2025 the proceedings resumed.
In July 2026 J&J announced a settlement of about 76,000 ovarian cancer claims for roughly $5.5 billion. The company does not admit fault and insists that its talc is safe; most mesothelioma cases it settled earlier. J&J stopped selling talc-based powder in the US back in 2020, replacing talc with cornstarch. In 2024 the IARC (the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer) classified talc as probably carcinogenic (group 2A).
Takeaway: for children, choose powders based on corn or rice starch.
2. Benzene in aerosols
Benzene is a known carcinogen that should not be in cosmetics. In 2021–2022 it was found in aerosol products of several market leaders:
| When | Who recalled what |
|---|---|
| July 2021 | Johnson & Johnson — five aerosol sunscreens from Neutrogena and Aveeno |
| December 2021 | Procter & Gamble — 32 dry shampoos and conditioners, including Pantene, Herbal Essences, Aussie, Old Spice |
| October 2022 | Unilever — dry shampoos Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI, TRESemmé produced before October 2021 |
Unilever named the propellant — the gas that pushes the product out of the can — as the source of the benzene. The companies stressed that the detected levels were unlikely to harm health and recalled the products out of caution.
Takeaway: the problem may lie not in the formula but in raw materials or packaging. That is why quality control of every batch and the batch number on the label matter.
3. Benzene in acne products
In March 2025 the FDA tested 95 products containing benzoyl peroxide — a common anti-acne ingredient. Six were found to have elevated benzene levels and were recalled, among them La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo and products from Proactiv, SLMD and Walgreens. The FDA assessed the risk as very low even with long-term use.
Takeaway: even pharmacy brands get recalled. Check whether your batch is on the list — how to do that is described in our guide.
4. Formaldehyde in hair straightening products
In the US more than 12,000 lawsuits have been consolidated into the federal case MDL 3060 (Northern District of Illinois). The plaintiffs claim that chemical hair relaxers caused uterine and ovarian cancer; the defendants include L’Oréal USA, Revlon, Wella and other manufacturers. The claims rely on a 2022 NIH study of more than 33,000 women: among those who used relaxers more than four times a year, the risk of uterine cancer by age 70 rose from 1.64% to 4.05%. The manufacturers deny the claims; the first bellwether trial is scheduled for September 2027. The FDA's proposed ban on formaldehyde in such products has been repeatedly postponed.
In the EU, since 31 July 2024, products that release formaldehyde above 0.001% must carry the warning “releases formaldehyde” on the label (Regulation (EU) 2022/1181).
Takeaway: look in the ingredient list for formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (DMDM Hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Diazolidinyl Urea, Quaternium-15) and for the warning on the label.
What these stories have in common
- Problems are often discovered by independent laboratories and courts — years after the product reaches the market.
- The risk may lie not in the main ingredient but in raw materials, preservatives or packaging.
- A consumer's best protection is a simple, clear ingredient list, certified manufacturing and brands that openly show what is in their products.
These are exactly the principles by which Beautymarket selects brands for its portfolio. How to read an ingredient list — our tips.
This material is for information only. The parties' positions in court cases are given from open sources as of October 2026.
Sources
- Carrier Management: J&J — $5.5 billion to settle talc cases (July 2026)
- NBC News: P&G recalls dry shampoos over benzene
- FDA: Unilever recalls dry shampoos over benzene
- Epocrates: FDA — recall of six acne products over benzene
- Drugwatch: hair relaxer lawsuits (MDL 3060)
- ChemLinked: the EU lowers the labelling threshold for formaldehyde releasers