Top model, 35, sues Estée Lauder over claims it branded her 'old' in anti-ageing skincare ad



A top model has filed a lawsuit against Est é e Lauder over claims that it labelled her as 'old' in an advertisement for anti-ageing skincare.

Caroline Louise Forsling is suing the cosmetics giant for $2million, alleging that it used her image without permission in the ad for Plantscription serum by Origins, a brand which is owned by Est é e Lauder.

The Swedish beauty, who is 35 according to public records, claims that her career has been 'irreparably' damaged by the poster, which reads that the product was tested on women aged 45-60.

'Irreparable damage': Model Caroline Louise Forsling claims that Origins, which is owned by Estée Lauder, branded her 'old' when it used her image without permission in an ad for its Plantscription serum

The photograph, which she says was a test shot taken during a shoot for an ad for a different Est é e Lauder-owned company, shows her make-up-free with her hair pulled back from her face.

Legal action: Ms Forsling says she had no idea that the unflattering test shot would be used

The Plantscription ad shows her face divided into two parts in a 'dramatization' of the serum's results after four weeks.

The 'before' side, on the left, shows an uneven skin tone with visible lines. The 'after' side shows a flawless, wrinkle-free complexion.



Arrows highlight flaws in the model's face, with copy alongside explaining how the serum 'reduces wrinkle length and depth, smooths uneven skin texture, and visibly lifts sagging contours.'

The suit reads: 'Defendants did not disclose in the Plantscription ad... that Forsling never used Plantscription, that Forsling is not aged 45-60 or that the so-called "dramatization" of the product did not result from the use of the product by Forsling, but rather reflected [their] manipulation of a photograph.'

Ms Forsling, who has modelled for Sports Illustrated and J Crew and walked the catwalk for Ralph Lauren and Chanel, does not reveal her age, only stating that she is 'significantly younger than 45 '.

She says she had no idea that the test shot, which she says was taken in July last year, would be used by another Est é e lauder brand.

Court papers claimed: 'Before stylists did Forsling's hair and makeup for the photo shoot, the photographer took a photograph of Forsling's face as a test shot.'

They added that her 'hair was pulled away from her face and she was wearing little or no make-up' and that Ms Forsling 'believed the test shot would not be used.'