On February 6, 2026, Alston & Bird secured a major victory for a global skin care company in a putative nationwide class action alleging that the statement “Natural Moisturizing Factors Enriched” on the label of certain lotions was false and misleading because the products contain synthetic ingredients.
Judge April M. Perry of the Northern District of Illinois resoundingly rejected the plaintiff’s theory and granted the skin care company’s motion to dismiss, holding that the plaintiff could not read the word “natural” in isolation and that her claims were implausible under her own definition of “natural.” The court also found that the plaintiff failed to allege an actual injury and lacked standing to pursue claims for lotions she did not purchase.
The Alston & Bird legal team representing the global skin care company includes partners Beth Chiarello and Kara McCall, counsel Caitlin Maly, and senior associates Matt Binder and Matt Atha (Mass Torts & Toxic Torts).