L’Oréal’s U.S. division is currently collaborating with legal and financial advisors to tackle increasing lawsuits related to its talc products, which are alleged to be linked to health issues. As of June 30, about 760 lawsuits pertaining to asbestos in these products were reported, a rise from 620 at the end of 2025. The company strongly disputes these claims.
To manage potential liabilities, L’Oréal is considering creating a separate corporate entity to handle tort liabilities, similar to a previous move by Honeywell, allowing the company to offload its exposure without affecting core operations.
The situation is reflective of broader industry challenges, as companies like Johnson & Johnson have faced significant financial repercussions due to prolonged litigation over talc products. Following substantial settlements related to such lawsuits, L’Oréal is also dealing with allegations regarding its hair relaxer products potentially causing cancer.
L’Oréal maintains confidence in its product safety and dismisses the allegations as lacking legal or scientific merit.
