Jessica Alba Stands by Honest Company Products in Wake of Sunscreen Suit
The company she co-founded is facing a $5 million lawsuit.
— -- Actress and entrepreneur Jessica Alba says she is “excited about what the future holds” in the face of a $5 million lawsuit and consumer complaints against The Honest Company, the company of non-toxic baby and homecare products she co-founded nearly four years ago.
“This is a dream come true, to be able to have an idea and to see it come to life,” Alba said today on "Good Morning America.” “I’m also so thankful for everyone that’s brought Honest Company into their homes and spread the word.”
“I mean really our growth has come from our customers and them sharing with their friends and family how much they love the Honest Company and how it’s made such a big difference in their life,” she said.
Alba's The Honest Company is being sued by a customer who claims the brand "deceptively and misleadingly labeled and marketed its products," according to the court documents obtained by ABC News.
In the suit, filed last week in Northern California District Court, Jonathan Rubin's attorneys allege that several items, including the brand's hand soap, dish soap, multi-surface cleaner and diapers, were marketed as having only natural ingredients, but in reality also have "unnatural" ingredients, some of which include "a synthetic preservative" and "a synthetic surfactant" and a petrochemical-based additive in the diapers. The suit also claims that The Honest Company's sunscreen was ineffective.
The lawsuit comes shortly after customers began posting pictures on social media and on Amazon, claiming to have used the Honest Sunscreen SPF 30 and gotten burned because it was not effective.
Alba, 34, who has previously called the allegations in the lawsuit “baseless and without merit,” today reiterated the mission of the company she co-founded in 2011 after she developed a rash during her first pregnancy and went looking for non-toxic household products.
“I created the Honest Company to give people access to safe and effective products and we are committed at the Honest Company to make sure that we use the safest and most effective ingredients,” Alba said on “GMA.” “We’re also committed to continue to educate our customers on how best to use our products.”
The “Dark Angel” star appeared on the cover of Forbes magazine earlier this year when it featured America’s richest self-made women to become multimillionaires, or billionaires, before the age 50.
The actress, and mother of two young daughters, said today that it took nearly three years to get the company started, a process she described as “challenging.”
“I definitely had a lot of people look at me sideways when I would present a business plan or the idea,” she said. “There was definitely some resistance initially but it’s taken off.”
The next step in Alba’s growing, billion dollar empire is Honest Beauty, a line of natural skincare and makeup products that launched today.
“It really is like seriously a labor of love and I really wanted to launch a company that celebrates diverse beauty,” Alba said of the line, available at HonestBeauty.com. “As a woman of color I just felt like we need to be represented in all the different shades that we are and we need to be celebrated and so we have a beautiful range of products that look great on everybody’s skin tone.”
Alba shared a few of her favorite items from the line on “GMA,” plus these extra beauty tips, in her own words.
What to Do When You Haven’t Slept:
Concealer Duo: Concealer is critical to getting out the door looking fresh fast. Having two tones makes it easier to cover trouble spots and highlight what you want. Dab some under your eyes to cover dark circles, on top of your lids and around your nose to even out your complexion.
True Velvet Eyeliner - Eye Opener: This is a little secret that I learned from makeup artists. Apply a nude colored eyeliner to your inner rim (aka the waterline) to make your eyes look more open.
Truly Lush Mascara + Primer: Mascara makes lashes pop and opens up your eyes. I apply primer to lashes before mascara to plump them up even more. I close my lashes on brush from base to tip for no clumps. Don't forget your eyelash curler!
Créme Blush: A fresh-looking flush is an instant pick-me-up. The best way to see where blush should go? Just smile in the mirror and apply to the apples of your cheeks. This is where you would naturally flush.
Lip Gloss: Sheer colors are easy to apply (no mirror required) and let your lip color shine through
How to Do Makeup at Home:
Everything begins with your complexion. Always prep and hydrate your skin to get a soft, smooth-looking finish.
Break down your eyeshadow in three moves: sweep, contour and highlight. Sweep neutral shadow across lid. Define crease line with darker shadow. Finish off with a shimmery shadow on the center of the lid. And then blend--blending pulls it all together.
Choose one feature you love and make it pop. If you’re wearing a red lip, keep the rest of your makeup subtly sophisticated. If you’re rocking a sultry smoky eye, finish it with a soft nude or neutral lip.
Loving the 90s-inspired berry lip? Explore new lip colors in stages. Start with a stain by applying lipstick or crayon to center of lip and tapping out the tint on lips. If you love it, go ahead and commit to a full layer.
When in doubt, aim for a fresh, clean face; a full, well-groomed brow; lush lashes and a soft lip that amplifies your natural coloring.
If You Want Great Skin:
Drink lots of water. I like to add fresh mint and lemon to boost the refreshment.
Eat a clean diet with fresh fruits and veggies. Avoid processed foods whenever possible.
Start with a clean slate and wash your face before you go to bed. If you’re too tired—and we’ve all been there--you can always use a makeup remover wipe for one-step clean.
Know your skin. If you tend to have dry skin, take the time in your routine to hydrate and moisturize. If you have oily skin, avoid products that can over-strip your skin. That “squeaky clean” feeling isn’t as good as it sounds.
Manage stress. Taking five minutes to breathe, relax and reset could make your whole day.
Keep it moving and maintain an active routine. Staying fit is a stress reliever, a mood lifter and a game changer.
Get your sleep! And if that’s not an option, that’s what a good concealer is for.