A federal court has granted preliminary approval to a $925,000 class action settlement for owners of defective Hydrafacial Syndeo devices, which are professional facial treatment machines used in spas and medical offices. However, the settlement is not yet finalized: the court has scheduled a final approval hearing for December 4, 2026, meaning eligible class members have not yet received payment. The lawsuit, filed in October 2024, alleged that Beauty Health Company sold Syndeo machines with serious defects including clogging, excessive vibration and noise, and loss of suction power—and that the company replaced defective units with machines having the same problems rather than offering refunds.
Official resources:
- SEC Form 10-Q filings — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
- Beauty Health SEC filings — Use this primary source to review the underlying data.
Table of Contents
- What defects were claimed in the lawsuit?
- Who qualifies for the settlement?
- How much will I receive?
- When will I actually receive payment?
- What is the legal background?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What defects were claimed in the lawsuit?
Hydrafacial's Syndeo is a vacuum-based facial treatment device marketed to spas, dermatology clinics, and aesthetic centers. The complaint alleged that Syndeo 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 machines routinely clogged, preventing serum flow during treatments, and produced excessive vibration and noise unsuitable for client-facing spa environments. Owners also reported loss of suction power over time.
When customers requested refunds or repairs, the company reportedly provided replacement machines that exhibited identical defects, leaving spa and clinic owners unable to offer treatments or recover their investment. The lawsuit claimed these issues violated New York consumer protection and warranty laws.
Who qualifies for the settlement?
The class includes all persons and entities who purchased, leased, or otherwise acquired a Syndeo device in New York on or before June 25, 2026. This definition captures spa owners, clinics, individual practitioners, and corporate entities that bought or leased the machines during the window covered by the lawsuit.
Eligible class members do not need to file a claim form to receive payment—the settlement automatically allocates funds to all verified purchasers or lessees. If you bought or leased a Syndeo machine in New York during the relevant timeframe, you should be eligible unless you affirmatively excluded yourself from the class.
How much will I receive?
The settlement fund totals $925,000 to be distributed equally among all class members on a pro-rata basis. The exact amount each person receives depends on the final number of eligible claimants: if there are 100 claimants, each receives $9,250; if there are 500 claimants, each receives $1,850.
The average payout cannot be calculated until the court finalizes the settlement and determines how many eligible class members exist. Funds will be distributed approximately 90 days after the court grants final approval, which has not yet occurred as of August 2026.
When will I actually receive payment?
As of August 2026, the settlement has preliminary court approval but is not yet final. The court has scheduled a final approval hearing for December 4, 2026, at which time the judge will decide whether to approve the settlement permanently.
Only after that hearing will the distribution process begin. The settlement notice lists a payment deadline of September 14, 2026, though the timing and meaning of this date relative to final court approval should be clarified when you receive settlement documents. Do not expect funds to arrive before late 2026 or early 2027 at the earliest.
What is the legal background?
The class action was filed October 24, 2024, in U.S. District Court (S.D.N.Y.
Case No. 24-cv-8073) by plaintiffs Jason Davalos, Sonia Davalos, and Sol Tan Tanning & Spa LLC. The plaintiffs alleged violations of New York's consumer protection and warranty statutes based on the defective machines and the company's failure to refund or adequately repair them. The parties reached a settlement-in-principle on February 26, 2026, and the court granted preliminary approval on June 25, 2026. The company—now operating under the name SkinHealth Systems—reported the settlement in its SEC filings but has not disclosed settlement terms beyond the total dollar amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to file a claim form to get paid?
No. The settlement automatically identifies class members based on purchase or lease records; no claim form is required to receive payment.
Why isn't the settlement final yet?
The court granted preliminary approval in June 2026, but scheduled a final approval hearing for December 4, 2026. The judge must approve the settlement a second time before funds are released.
Can I opt out or object to the settlement?
Yes, eligible class members have the right to object to or opt out of the settlement. Instructions for objecting should be included in official settlement notices from the court or settlement administrator.