The buzzworthy lawsuit against e.l.f. Cosmetics is making waves among beauty shoppers and industry analysts alike, as a proposed class action accuses the brand of misleading consumers with oversized packaging containing significantly less product than expected.
The complaint, filed in California federal court in February 2025 , focuses on two of e.l.f.'s best-selling products—the Holy Hydration! Gentle Peeling Exfoliant and the Glossy Lip Stain—alleging that each is sold in containers that are more than half
empty, or filled with “nonfunctional slack-fill.” The lawsuit seeks to represent all California residents who purchased these specific products during the past four years, spotlighting broader packaging transparency issues in the beauty industry. The Heart of the Allegations Central to the complaint is e.l.f.
's use of opaque product packaging, which the plaintiff claims leads customers to believe they are purchasing containers filled with product from end to end. However, buyers allegedly receive much less—sometimes only about half of what the packaging suggests.
For example, the Glossy Lip Stain tube is partially visible through a window in the package, but the actual beauty product does not extend the full length of the exterior box, giving shoppers a false impression that the item is almost two inches longer than reality.
The lawsuit contends that even shaking or inspecting the containers would not warn a consumer about the substantial amount of slack-fill present…
