Jessica Alba's Honest Company in takeover talks

Actress Jessica Alba is reportedly in early talks with bosses at consumer giant Unilever to purchase her hugely successful lifestyle brand, The Honest Company.

The Sin City star launched the company in 2012 with the aim of selling baby products and household items which do not contain harmful substances, and it was valued at over $1 billion last year (15).

The Honest Company has since expanded into beauty and cosmetics, and is said to currently generate an estimated $300 million in annual revenue.

Its popularity has attracted the interest of Unilever executives, who have entered into initial takeover discussions with Alba and her team, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Representatives for Alba and the British-Dutch multinational firm have yet to comment on the news.

Her work with The Honest Company hasn't been without controversy, as some consumers have been left far from satisfied with what they claim is false advertising regarding the brand's all natural baby food and cleaning products, while the business' sunscreen has also come under scrutiny for its alleged ineffectiveness.

The various complaints have sparked a series of individual and class-action lawsuits in the past year, but last month (Aug16), Jessica dismissed the claims as "baseless", insisting plaintiffs are only suing for free publicity.