Celebrity-founded wellness brand Hello Bello is facing a class action lawsuit alleging that its baby shampoo is falsely marketed as “hypoallergenic.” The complaint was filed by plaintiff Nitaya McGee in California state court on December 5, accusing the company of deceptive labeling practices.
Hello Bello, co-founded by actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, is known for offering personal care products aimed at families. However, the lawsuit claims that the Hello Bello Premium Baby and Kids Shampoo & Body Wash contains ingredients linked to allergic reactions—contradicting its “hypoallergenic” label.
According to the lawsuit, the product includes Coco Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, and Cocamidopropyl Betaine—chemicals that have been named “Allergens of the Year” by the American Contact Dermatitis Society. The suit argues that labeling the product as hypoallergenic misleads consumers, especially since babies and children are more vulnerable to skin sensitivities.
McGee says she purchased the shampoo several times, believing it to be safe for sensitive skin. She claims she would not have bought the product had she known it contained potential allergens.
The lawsuit seeks to represent all U.S. consumers who purchased the allegedly mislabeled product. It alleges violations of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act and Unfair Competition Law, as well as breach of express warranty.
The plaintiff is asking the court to award damages and restitution for affected consumers, and to issue an injunction barring Hello Bello from marketing the product as hypoallergenic in the future.
This case is reminiscent of a 2010 class action lawsuit filed against Johnson & Johnson and Walmart, which alleged that their baby shampoo and wash products contained methylene chloride—a chemical banned in cosmetics by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration due to its cancer risk.
The plaintiff in the Hello Bello case is represented by attorneys Craig W. Straub and Kurt D. Kessler of Crosner Legal P.C.
Case Name: McGee v. Hello Bello Consumer Wellness LLC
Case No.: 5:25-cv-00467-FLA-DTB
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