Lancome Anti-Aging Cream Marketing Claims Draw FDA Warning

Marketing claims made in connection with various of Lancome anti-aging cream products have resulted in a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has indicated that the advertising violates federal law by promoting medical benefits that have not been established or approved by the drug regulatory agency.

In an FDA warning letter sent to Lancome USA on September 7, the agency told the subsidiary of L’Oreal to stop marketing the skincare products with language that makes them sound like drugs, by suggesting that the products affect the structure or any function of the human body.

The FDA pointed to marketing materials published by the company that indicate their skincare products can “reconstruct skin to denser quality” or “stimulate cell generation” to create a younger look around the eyes.

Because the products are not generally recognized among qualified experts as safe and effective for the claimed uses, the FDA has indicated that the marketing claims make the anti-aging creams a new drug under federal law, requiring the manufacturer to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA before they may legally market them in the United States.

Some of the products identified in the warning letter include Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate, Genifique Eye Youth Activating Eye Concentrate and Night Cream, Absolue Precious Cells Advanced Regenerating Cream SPF 15 Sunscreen, Renergie Microlift Eye R.A.R.E. Intense Repositing Eye Lifter and Absolue Eye Ptrecious Cells Advanced Regenerating and Reconstructing Eye Cream and Absolue Night Precious Cells Advanced Regenerating and Reconstructing Night Cream.

Other claims advertised for the Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate suggest that the product “boosts the activity of genes” and “stimulates production of youth proteins”.

The FDA has requested that Lancome take immediate action to correct the violations associated with the advertising of the products, and notify the agency within 15 working days of the steps that have been taken.

Although no reported injuries have been reported in connection with the product, the FDA has warned L’Oreal’s Lancome unit that failure to fix the advertising claims may lead to further enforcement actions such as seizures of the products and injuctions against the manufacturers and distributors.