To settle lawsuit, stores to give away $175 million in cosmetics

January 14, 2009 (WPVI) -- On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, 14 department store chains, Including five that do business in our area, will be giving away $175-million worth of cosmetics.

The give-away is the settlement of a 2003 class-action lawsuit. It accused the stores and cosmetics companies of preventing the products from ever going on sale.

You can take advantage of the give-away if you lived in the United States and bought makeup from the retailers or manufacturers between May 1994 and July 2003.

The settlement doesn't say you need proof of your purchases.

The local department stores involved are Bloomingdales, Macy's, Neiman-Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks 5th Avenue.

Each person is allowed to get one item from the 19-item giveaway list.

Among the items: perfumes from Boucheron, Chanel, Christian Dior, Guerlain and Givenchy.

There are also moisturizing creams from Clarins, Estee Lauder, Clinique and Lancome.

Along with shower gels from Calvin Klein, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani.

Plus, there are several different Lancome mascaras.

The giveaway will run until the products are all gone, or for a maximum of one week.

Action News called the department stores and companies involved, but none would comment on the giveaway.

Lines at cosmetics counters are expected to be long, but some women say they don't mind waiting to get something for these high-end products for free.

To read details of the cosmetics suit settlement, click here.

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