Sephora Settles Lawsuit With Woman Who Says She Got Oral Herpes From Lipstick Sample

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — A woman who claims she got oral herpes from a lipstick sample has reached a settlement with makeup giant Sephora.

Elena Davoyan of Glendale sued Sephora in October 2017, alleging she got a cold sore on her lip in 2015 after trying a lipstick at Sephora's store at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. The lawsuit says Davoyan never had herpes or cold sores prior to visiting the store.

A notice of settlement was filed this week in Los Angeles Superior Court. The terms of the settlement were not revealed.

Sephora's business model is built around sampling products, and the lawsuit said the company should have known the risks this poses to customers.

In a statement, Sephora says they have resolved the matter while continuing to deny all of the allegations in the complaint.

"Sephora's entire retail concept is rooted in self-discovery and or goal is to enable an immersive environment that caters to clients' desire to learn and play uninhibited in a safe and clean environment. We take product hygiene very seriously and we are dedicated to following best practices in our stores."