Rodan + Fields Lash Boost Lawsuit and $38M Settlement

Rodan + Fields agreed to a $38 million class action settlement in September 2022 resolving claims that its Lash Boost eyelash serum contained a drug-like ingredient capable of causing eye-related side effects the company never disclosed. The Rodan and Fields Lash Boost lawsuit settlement covered anyone in the United States who bought the product for personal use between October 1, 2016, and March 11, 2022, and who did not return it for a refund. Rodan + Fields denied wrongdoing and did not admit liability.

What the Lawsuit Alleged

Lash Boost is an eyelash-enhancing serum whose key active ingredient is isopropyl cloprostenate, a synthetic prostaglandin analog. Prostaglandin analogs were originally developed to treat glaucoma and ocular hypertension, and were later found to promote hair growth by extending the active growth phase of the follicle.¹

Plaintiffs argued that because isopropyl cloprostenate affects the structure and function of the body, Lash Boost should have been regulated as a drug under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act rather than sold as a cosmetic.² According to the complaints, Rodan + Fields told consumers the product was “not a drug product,” contained “only cosmetic ingredients,” and was “not associated with any significant side effects.”³ By selling Lash Boost as a cosmetic, plaintiffs said, the company sidestepped the safety disclosures that would accompany a drug.

The plaintiffs pointed to the FDA’s earlier treatment of the same ingredient. In 2011 the FDA sent a warning letter to another company selling isopropyl cloprostenate in eyelash and eyebrow products, describing those products as misbranded “unapproved new drugs.”² The FDA did not take direct enforcement action against Rodan + Fields over Lash Boost.

The Side Effects Consumers Reported

Complaints from consumers described a range of adverse reactions:

Changes in iris color
Eyelid drooping
Eye and lid discoloration
Itchy eyes and eye sensitivity
Thinning and loss of eyelashes
Eye infections
Vision impairment

These reports were included in the original class action complaint filed in federal court.⁴ Clinical literature on prostaglandin analogs used near the eyes documents periorbital effects such as skin thinning, hyperpigmentation, and a sunken-eye appearance, generally reversible once a person stops using the product.¹ The EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety concluded in 2022 that it could not confirm the safety of isopropyl cloprostenate at cosmetic concentrations and noted that other regulators have advised against or prohibited prostaglandin analogs in eyelash products.⁵

How the $38 Million Settlement Was Structured

The San Francisco County Superior Court granted preliminary approval on March 8, 2022, under Judge Ethan P. Schulman, and final approval on September 28, 2022.⁶⁷

The $38 million fund was non-reversionary, meaning the full amount was committed regardless of how many people filed claims.⁸⁶⁹

The settlement also required Rodan + Fields to revise the Lash Boost product label to include warnings about potential side effects associated with isopropyl cloprostenate, add expanded cautionary usage instructions, and update its advertising and training materials.⁶

Who Was Eligible and What They Could Claim

The class included anyone who bought Rodan + Fields Lash Boost for personal, family, or household use between October 1, 2016, and March 11, 2022, and did not return the product for a refund.⁶ The class was nationwide.⁷

The claims deadline was September 7, 2022. Class members claiming a single tube did not need proof of purchase and could receive up to $175 in cash or $250 in Rodan + Fields product credit. Those claiming more than one tube could receive up to $350 in cash or $500 in credit but had to provide documentation such as order confirmations, credit card statements, or receipts.⁶ Actual amounts depended on the total number of valid claims; if claims exceeded available funds, the settlement administrator would reduce payments proportionally.¹⁰

When Payments Went Out

Digital payments and physical checks began going out on December 30, 2022. The deadline to claim a digital award was January 15, 2023, and class members who did not claim digitally received mailed checks in February 2023. The claims process was completed by mid-2023, and the settlement is now closed, with no reported appeals.¹¹ The claim window has closed; new claims are no longer being accepted.

Rodan + Fields’ Position

Rodan + Fields denied all allegations throughout the litigation and settled without admitting liability. The company stated that Lash Boost “is safe when used in accordance with its label” and called it “a much-loved, industry-recognized innovation that has been used by millions of customers.”² When the case was first filed in 2018, the company said plaintiffs were comparing Lash Boost to “unrelated products, including prescription products that have different ingredients and formulations.”⁴

The company did not reformulate the product. As of 2025, the Lash Boost label still lists isopropyl cloprostenate as an ingredient, now with a disclosure that it is “a synthetic prostaglandin analog.”¹²

1
Wiley Online Library. Prostaglandin Analogs in Eyelash Serums
2
Allure. Rodan and Fields Lash Boost Class Action Lawsuit
3
Cosmetics and Toiletries. Rodan + Fields To Pay Out $38M in Lash Boost Settlement
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CBS News. Rodan + Fields Hit With Suit Over Lash Boost Eyelash Enhancer
5
European Commission. Prostaglandins and Prostaglandin Analogues Used in Cosmetic Products
6
ClassAction.org. Here’s How To Claim Your Money From the $38M Rodan + Fields Lash Boost Settlement
7
Keller Rohrback. Rodan + Fields Lash Boost Litigation
8
Tycko & Zavareei LLP. TZ Secures Eye-Opening $38 Million Settlement
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ClassAction.org. Rodan and Fields Settlement Notice
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ClassAction.org. Rodan and Fields Lash Boost Claim Form
11
Top Class Actions. Rodan + Fields Lash Boost $38M Class Action Settlement
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Rodan + Fields. Eyelash Growth Serums Work