The pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has faced thousands of lawsuits due to the alleged contamination of its talc-based products with asbestos over the last several years. However, Johnson & Johnson is not the only multinational corporation facing legal action over asbestos, which is linked to the deadly cancer mesothelioma.
The beauty care company L’Oreal itself faces 760 mesothelioma lawsuits in the United States, according to its midyear financial report. Now, a report from the Wall Street Journal has alleged that the corporation has employed restructuring counsels and investment banks in an attempt to find a way to avoid liability for these asbestos lawsuits.
In addition, the major cosmetic and personal care corporation Revlon is now also facing Congressional scrutiny over charges that it did not properly test cosmetic products for asbestos, signifying additional pressure after a June warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
More on L’Oreal’s Asbestos Lawsuits
Talc-based cosmetic products have been the source of numerous lawsuits, as the mineral can often be found adjacent to asbestos in the Earth’s soil, and without proper care can easily become contaminated.
It’s this risk that has led to allegations that some of L’Oreal’s talc-based products have led to asbestos-related disease. L’Oreal’s own filings indicate that none of these cases have gone to trial as of June 30, and to this point have been either settled or dismissed.
However, recent reports have stated that the corporation has employed investment bank Ducera Partners and restructuring counsel Weil, Gotshal & Manges to find a way to move litigation liabilities off its books without needing to file for bankruptcy.
The Wall Street Journal reported that their planned maneuver would move these talc concerns to a separate entity which would then be sold to an outside investor, in doing so washing their hands of any legal liability moving forward.
This represents a departure from how corporations such as Johnson & Johnson have attempted to deal with a preponderance of asbestos lawsuits through bankruptcy filings, a tactic that has largely been stopped in the legal system.
Revlon’s Asbestos Scrutiny
Meanwhile, Revlon is facing unwelcome attention of a different kind. In June, the FDA sent the New York-based corporation a warning letter, stating that its Oxford, North Carolina production facility did not demonstrate adequate asbestos testing for its talc-based products.
Although the FDA did not allege that asbestos was actually found on-site, nine members of Congress signed a letter pressing Revlon CEO Michelle Peluso for answers earlier this month, noting that Black women and girls would be disproportionately affected if their talc products were found to be contaminated.
“Black consumers, specifically women and girls, occupy a significant space within the overall U.S. beauty landscape. In 2026, beauty spending among Black consumers reached $16.2 billion, representing a 9 percent increase from the previous year. Given their prevalence in your customer base, it is our serious concern that Black women and girls would be disproportionately exposed to carcinogenic chemicals in contaminated beauty products,” according to the letter.
“Products that pose a risk to consumers have no place in our markets. Black women and girls should be able to use beauty and personal care products, including over-the-counter (OTC) drug products, without worrying about potential exposure to harmful chemicals.”
Sources & Author
- L’Oréal Taps Advisers to Explore Unloading Chemical-Related Liabilities. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/pro/bankruptcy/loreal-taps-advisers-to-explore-unloading-chemical-related-liabilities-8293cb96. Accessed on 10/13/2026.
- L’Oréal reportedly weighs talc liability exit as lawmakers press Revlon on asbestos testing. Personal Care Insights. Retrieved from https://www.personalcareinsights.com/news/loreal-talc-liabilities-revlon-asbestos.html. Accessed on 10/13/2026.
- Clarke leads letter to Revlon demanding answers following findings of dangerous contaminants in cosmetics. Yvette D. Clarke. Retrieved from https://clarke.house.gov/clarke-leads-letter-to-revlon-demanding-answers-following-findings-of-dangerous-contaminants-in-cosmetics/. Accessed on 10/13/2026.
