A high-profile legal battle is unfolding between skincare giant Honasa Consumer Ltd. (the parent company of Mamaearth and The Derma Co. and FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) over a controversial sunscreen advertisement.
The controversy ignited after HUL’s Lakmé brand aired a commercial for its SPF 50 sunscreen, suggesting that many sunscreens claiming SPF 50 offer only SPF 20 protection. The ad featured yellow-colored bottles resembling Honasa’s The Derma Co. 1% Hyaluronic Sunscreen Aqua Gel SPF 50 packaging, a resemblance Honasa found objectionable.
Calling the advertisement “defamatory, misleading, and inappropriate,” Honasa petitioned the Delhi High Court seeking either withdrawal or modification of the ad. The company argued that such portrayals unfairly tarnished the reputation of its brand, which had undergone successful third-party clinical testing and topped Amazon’s sunscreen sales rankings.
Meanwhile, the dispute has turned reciprocal. HUL has filed a counter-lawsuit in the Bombay High Court against Honasa over another advertisement. Honasa’s campaign had congratulated Lakmé for achieving SPF 50 standards with a tagline “Welcome to The Derma Co. Standard,” which HUL alleges damages Lakmé’s brand image.
Senior advocate Amit Sibal, representing Honasa, contended that HUL’s ad was a classic “hit and run” marketing, attacking competitors without specific proof. He emphasised that Honasa’s sunscreen has been clinically validated and that misleading SPF claims by brands could harm consumer trust and skin health.
HUL, in its defense, maintained that its advertisement aims to safeguard consumer interests by highlighting the importance of in-vivo SPF testing. HUL further stated that Lakmé has been conducting such testing for its sunscreens since 2015 and that many rival brands falsely market their products with exaggerated SPF ratings.
In the latest development, the Delhi High Court granted HUL time to respond to Honasa’s plea and scheduled the next hearing for April 17, 2025. However, the court declined Honasa’s request for an interim ban on HUL’s advertisements across newspapers, billboards, and social media.
As both sides prepare for the next round in court, the dispute highlights the increasingly aggressive marketing and legal tactics in India’s booming skincare industry.
Also Read: Top 5 Summer Businesses in India Under ₹5 Lakh Investment
