Kenvue Brands LLC, the company formerly known as Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., is paying $4.7 million to settle claims that its Neutrogena Skin360 face-scanning tool collected facial data without proper consent, and eligible Illinois users can file a claim online or by mail before the deadline. The payout resolves Melzer v.
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., a case filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, with Kenvue admitting no wrongdoing as part of the deal, according to McCarter & English LLP's summary of the settlement. This article explains who qualifies, how to submit a claim, what a payment might look like, and the dates that matter before the fund closes.
Official resources:
- Read the official notice from Mccarter — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
- Read the original argument from Mlexwatch — Use this page to read the original argument in context.
Table of Contents
- What the Lawsuit Claimed
- Who Qualifies for a Payment
- How to File a Claim
- How Much You Could Receive
- Deadlines and What Happens Next
- Frequently Asked Questions
What the Lawsuit Claimed
Plaintiffs Helene Melzer, Christine Borovoy, Andy Sajnani and Patricia Biewald alleged that Neutrogena's Skin360 tool scanned users' faces and stored their facial geometry without the consent required under Illinois's Biometric Information Privacy Act, known as BIPA, according to RetailBoss. BIPA requires companies operating in Illinois to get written permission before capturing biometric identifiers such as facial scans.
Kenvue tried to end the case early by arguing that Skin360's facial scanning fell under a healthcare exemption in the law. In March 2025, the court denied that motion to dismiss, rejecting the exemption argument and allowing the case to move forward toward the August 2025 settlement, according to MLex Watch's coverage of the ruling.
Who Qualifies for a Payment
The settlement class covers anyone who, while located in Illinois, completed a Skin360 skin assessment through a mobile app or website between December 9, 2019, and May 5, 2023. That includes Neutrogena Skin360, NeoStrata Skin360, and any co-branded version of the tool, according to Cosmetics Business.
If you used any version of the Skin360 scan during that window while physically in Illinois, you fall within the class regardless of which brand's app or website you used. There is no requirement to show harm beyond having completed the scan during the covered period.
How to File a Claim
Class members submit a claim in one of two ways: online, or by printing a paper claim form and mailing it to the Skin360 BIPA Settlement Administrator at P.O. Box 3116, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. Each eligible person may submit only one claim, according to AllAboutLawyer's claim filing guide.
- Confirm you used Skin360 (or a co-branded version) while in Illinois between December 9, 2019, and May 5, 2023.
- Choose either the online claim form or the printable mail-in version — not both.
- Submit before the claim deadline to remain eligible for payment.
- Keep a copy or confirmation of your submission in case the administrator needs to verify it later.
How Much You Could Receive
Payments are not set at a fixed dollar amount per person. Instead, everyone who submits a valid, timely claim receives an equal pro-rata share of whatever remains in the $4.7 million fund after attorneys' fees, administrative costs, and service awards to the named plaintiffs are deducted, according to idTechWire.
That means the final per-person amount depends directly on how many class members file claims — more claimants means a smaller individual share, and fewer claimants means a larger one. Because the fund is divided this way, no exact payout figure can be promised in advance. Filing a claim is still the only way to be eligible for a share once the total is calculated.
Deadlines and What Happens Next
The deadline to submit a claim is November 25, 2026. Anyone who wants to exclude themselves from the settlement or object to its terms must do so earlier, by November 10, 2026, according to Cosmetics Business. A federal judge will hold a final approval hearing on December 17, 2026.
No payments go out until after the settlement receives final approval, and that timeline extends further if anyone appeals — the settlement notice warns an appeal could delay payment by more than a year, according to Global Cosmetics News. Beyond the cash payments, Kenvue is also required under the settlement to delete the facial images it collected from Skin360 assessments performed during the class period, according to idTechWire. That deletion requirement applies whether or not a given user files a claim for payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a claim if I used Skin360 outside Illinois?
No. The settlement class is limited to people who completed a Skin360 assessment while physically located in Illinois between December 9, 2019, and May 5, 2023, according to Cosmetics Business.
What if I want no part of the settlement?
You can exclude yourself or object to the settlement terms, but you must do so by November 10, 2026, ahead of the claim deadline, according to Cosmetics Business.
When will payments actually be sent?
Not until after the December 17, 2026, final approval hearing, and only once any appeal is resolved, according to Global Cosmetics News.