Published
April 21, 2024
Updated
August 1, 2026
The $2 million Suave settlement covered two recalled 24-Hour Protection aerosol antiperspirants purchased from 2018 to 2024. Final approval was granted in September 2024, but the former claim period is closed and no public payment completion notice is posted.
Current Status
Claims closed on July 15, 2024. After the September 13 fairness hearing, the federal court entered a final approval order on September 16, 2024. The administrator's public pages do not provide a later distribution report or payment mailing date, so this page does not characterize checks as issued or completed. No new claim may be filed through OpenClassActions.StatusFinal Approval Granted; Claims Closed
Claim DeadlineJuly 15, 2024 — Passed
Settlement Fund$2 Million
Former No-Proof BenefitUp to $9.87
What Was the Suave Lawsuit About?
The case concerned Suave 24-Hour Protection Fresh and Powder Aerosol Antiperspirants sold during the class period. Plaintiffs alleged that certain recalled lots contained elevated benzene and that consumers paid for products they would not have purchased, or would have valued differently, if the alleged condition had been disclosed. The litigation followed a national recall involving aerosol personal-care products. Unilever denied the allegations and any wrongdoing. The settlement was a compromise rather than a finding that every covered can contained benzene or caused an injury.Which Purchases Were Covered?
The class generally included people in the United States who purchased Suave 24-Hour Protection Fresh Aerosol Antiperspirant or Suave 24-Hour Protection Powder Aerosol Antiperspirant for personal, family, or household use from January 1, 2018 through March 7, 2024. Products bought for resale were not qualifying household purchases. Other Suave sticks, roll-ons, shampoos, and aerosol products were not automatically included just because they shared the brand name.What Could Claimants Receive?
A claimant with acceptable proof of purchase could request the full purchase price of covered units, including applicable taxes, subject to the settlement terms. Without proof, a claimant could request $3.29 per unit for up to three units, producing a maximum no-proof amount of $9.87. Those figures were former claim values, not current offers. Payments could be increased or reduced proportionally depending on valid claims and the amount remaining in the $2 million fund.How Did Recall Reimbursements Affect a Claim?
The settlement prevented duplicate recovery for the same purchase. Cash or voucher compensation already received through an official recall reimbursement could be deducted from the settlement benefit, down to a minimum of zero. A person could not collect the same product price twice merely by using both programs. That offset was one reason the final administrator calculation could differ from the amount originally requested.What Proof Was Used?
Receipts, order confirmations, and similar purchase records supported the full-price category. The no-proof category did not require a receipt, but it still required a truthful, timely claim and was limited to three covered units. Medical expenses or personal-injury damages were not the benefit described by this consumer purchase settlement. People with health concerns should seek medical guidance rather than treating the $2 million agreement as a finding about individual exposure.What Is Benzene?
Benzene is a chemical associated with serious health risks at sufficient exposure levels. Its presence in some aerosol personal-care products has led to recalls and consumer litigation. The settlement allegations focused on product contamination and economic loss. They did not establish that every purchaser was exposed at the same level or that every claimed symptom was caused by a Suave product. Regulatory recall information and individual medical advice serve different purposes from the payment rules in this case.Final Approval and Payment Status
The September 16, 2024 order found the settlement fair, reasonable, and adequate and directed entry of judgment. It also made clear that the compromise was not an admission by Unilever. The approval order confirms the judicial stage, but it does not publicly document the date on which each approved claim was paid. The official Suave settlement site should be used for any later administrator announcement.Official Information
Review the latest information on the official Suave settlement website.
Case
Barnes v. Unilever United States, Inc.
Case Number
1:21-cv-06191
Court
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Class Period
January 1, 2018–March 7, 2024
Settlement Fund
$2 million
Claim Deadline
July 15, 2024
Final Approval
September 16, 2024
Official Website
official Suave settlement
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