What “Clean” Really Means to Us Especially After the Sephora Lawsuit

In March 2024, a major class-action lawsuit against Sephora’s “Clean at Sephora” label was dismissed by a U.S. District Court in California. The plaintiff claimed that Sephora misled consumers by marketing products as “clean” when some included synthetic ingredients linked to potential health concerns—such as endocrine disruptors and allergens. The case argued that customers were being deceived into paying premium prices for products they believed were free from anything harmful.

But here’s the catch: the court ruled in Sephora’s favor, stating that the company had **clearly outlined its definition of “clean”—products formulated without parabens, sulfates SLS and SLES, phthalates, formaldehydes, and a few others. Because that definition was publicly available and not hidden, the court found no grounds for false advertising.

So, while Sephora walked away legally clear, the case exposed a major flaw in the beauty industry: the term “clean” has no regulatory definition. Anyone can use it. And that means brands can define “clean” however they want—even if their version includes questionable ingredients.

At Bangin Hair, we believe “clean” should mean more than a marketing buzzword**. Our standards go beyond what’s legally required—we’re here to do what’s *actually* right for your body.

To us, clean means:

- Ingredients you can pronounce

- Naturally derived whenever possible

- No hormone disruptors

- No carcinogens

- No artificial dyes or fragrances

- Transparency, always

Clean should never mean “safe enough to market.” It should mean safe enough to trust, even during vulnerable life seasons—like postpartum, menopause, or living with chronic hormonal conditions. We’ve been there ourselves, and that’s why we built Bangin Hair the way we did.

So while the industry might be debating what clean *legally* means, we’re staying focused on what it means to you—safe, simple, powerful ingredients with nothing to hide.

1. Beauty Packaging. (2024, April 18). *Judge Dismisses Sephora 'Clean at Sephora' Lawsuit*. Retrieved from https://www.beautypackaging.com/breaking-news/judge-dismisses-sephora-clean-beauty-lawsuit/

2. CosmeticsDesign.com. (2024, April 23). *Q&A: Attorney breaks down ‘Clean at Sephora’ ruling*. Retrieved from https://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/Article/2024/04/23/Q-A-Attorney-breaks-down-Clean-at-Sephora-ruling/