Published
March 22, 2026
Updated
September 26, 2026
The court granted final approval of the $990,000 Differin benzene acne product settlement on June 30, 2026. Payments of $9 per approved product are expected to be distributed in mid-October 2026; claims closed May 19, 2026.
Current Status
Update — September 26, 2026: Payments Expected Mid-October. The court held the final approval hearing on June 30, 2026, and approved the settlement along with class counsel's request for attorneys' fees, costs and service awards. According to the official settlement website, payments are expected to be distributed in mid-October 2026. Claims closed on May 19, 2026, and new claims are no longer accepted. Approved claimants do not need to do anything further. More detail is in our Differin payment update.What Is This Settlement About?
People who filed a valid claim for Differin acne products by May 19, 2026 are set to receive $9 per product — up to three without a receipt, unlimited with receipts.A class action lawsuit alleged that Galderma Laboratories, the company behind Differin, misled consumers about possible benzene contamination in three of its benzoyl peroxide acne treatment products. Benzene is a known carcinogen — a chemical linked to cancer. The lawsuit claims consumers would not have purchased these products, or would have paid less for them, if they had known about the potential benzene contamination.
Galderma denies that its Differin products were contaminated with benzene. Galderma denies that its labeling and advertising were misleading. Galderma denies any wrongdoing or liability. The court has not determined that Galderma did anything wrong. Both sides agreed to settle to avoid the cost, risk, and time of continuing the lawsuit.
Status
Approved — Payments Expected Mid-October 2026
Final approval granted June 30, 2026
Claim Deadline
May 19, 2026
New claims are not accepted.
Payout
$9.00 per product
up to 3 products without proof ($27 max) · unlimited with receipts
Proof Required
No
for up to 3 products · receipts required beyond that
Galderma has agreed to pay $990,000 into a settlement fund.
Which Products Are Covered?
Only three specific Differin products are included in this settlement. All three are benzoyl peroxide (BPO) formulations:Differin Daily Deep Cleanser (5% Benzoyl Peroxide) — this is the daily face wash with benzoyl peroxide
Differin Acne Spot Treatment (10% Benzoyl Peroxide) — this is the spot treatment gel applied directly to individual blemishes
Differin Maximum Strength Acne Foaming Cleanser (10% Benzoyl Peroxide) — this is the stronger foaming cleanser
Other Differin products are NOT included. Differin Gel (adapalene 0.1%), which is the retinoid-based acne treatment that Differin is best known for, is not part of this settlement. Only the three benzoyl peroxide products listed above are covered.
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Who Qualifies?
You qualify if you are a person in the United States, the District of Columbia, or any U.S. territory (including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) who purchased any of the three covered Differin products between January 1, 2020 and February 19, 2026 for personal, family, or household use (not for resale).How Much Can You Get?
You can receive $9.00 for each qualifying Differin product you purchased. There are two ways to file.Without proof of purchase: you can claim up to 3 products at $9.00 each, for a maximum of $27.00. No receipts or documentation needed — just submit the claim form and attest that you purchased the products.
With proof of purchase: there is no limit to the number of products you can claim. If you have receipts showing you bought 10 bottles of Differin Daily Deep Cleanser over the past six years, you can claim all 10 at $9.00 each ($90.00). The more receipts you have, the more you can claim.
After deducting attorney fees, administration costs, and service awards from the $990,000 fund, the remaining amount will be distributed to claimants. If total approved claims exceed the available fund, payments may be reduced proportionally.
When Will I Get Paid?
Payments are expected to be distributed in mid-October 2026, according to the official settlement website. Only people who submitted a valid claim by May 19, 2026 will be paid. Updates are posted at DifferinBPOProductSettlement.com.Important Dates
Claim Deadline: May 19, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline: May 19, 2026
Objection Deadline: May 19, 2026
Final Approval Hearing: June 30, 2026 — settlement approved
Payment Date: Mid-October 2026 (expected)
What Is Benzene and Why Does It Matter?
Benzene is a chemical compound classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. It is associated with an increased risk of leukemia and other blood cancers with prolonged exposure. Benzene is not an ingredient in benzoyl peroxide acne products — the concern raised in this and similar lawsuits is that benzene may form as a degradation byproduct of benzoyl peroxide under certain conditions, such as high temperatures or prolonged storage. Several benzoyl peroxide acne products from multiple brands have faced similar lawsuits and recalls in recent years, including the CeraVe benzene class action lawsuits against L’Oréal USA.Galderma denies that its products contained benzene and denies any wrongdoing.
Settlement Notice PDF
Download the Full Settlement Notice (PDF)Case Information
Case: Williams v. Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
Case Number: No. 1:24-cv-02222 (N.D. Ill.)
Court: U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Judge: Hon. Lindsay Jenkins
Defendant: Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
Settlement Fund: $990,000
Payout Per Product: $9.00
Without Proof: Up to 3 products ($27 max)
With Proof: Unlimited products at $9.00 each
Class Period: January 1, 2020 through February 19, 2026
Claim Deadline: May 19, 2026
Opt-Out / Objection Deadline: May 19, 2026
Final Approval: Granted June 30, 2026
Payment Date: Mid-October 2026 (expected)
Settlement Website: DifferinBPOProductSettlement.com
Class Counsel: Bryson Harris Suciu & DeMay PLLC, Bursor & Fisher P.A., Aylstock Witkin Kreis & Overholtz PLLC, Milberg PLLC
Official Settlement Website: DifferinBPOProductSettlement.com
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Settlement Amount
$990,000
Case Title
Galderma Laboratories Differin Benzoyl Peroxide Class Action
Case Number
1:24-cv-02222
Court
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Status
Approved — payments expected mid-October 2026
Final Approval
Granted June 30, 2026 by Judge Lindsay Jenkins
Administrator
Epiq
Official Website
Differin BPO Product Settlement.com
