The Shanghai Food and Drug Administration said yesterday it is closely monitoring four more cosmetic brands - Clinique, Dior, Estee Lauder and Lancome - based on reports they contain harmful chemicals.

The Hong Kong Standards and Testing Center reported last weekend that heavy metal elements such as chromium and neodymium were found in five products sold by the companies.

"Chromium and neodymium may exist in the ingredients of cosmetics, or in water or air," said Anne Chuah, an official with the testing center. "They may be left in the products during manufacturing."

The producers of the cosmetics, Shanghai Estee Lauder Commercial Co Ltd, LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics (Shanghai) and L'Oreal Group all stated their products were safe.

"Estee Lauder individualist natural finish makeup and individualist finish powder makeup, which are on the list, are not sold on the Chinese mainland," said a statement released by Estee Lauder yesterday. "And the Clinique superpowder double face power sold in the local market has passed an inspection by state authorities."

L'Oreal said its cosmetic products strictly comply with current European and international regulations.

"All our products have been inspected by the authorities, so we are confident in telling our customers to go on using our products," said Zhou Genliang, an official with the company.

LVMH, the producer of Dior cosmetics, said it has not received any information about the report from mainland authorities and it holds a safety certificate from state authorities for all its products.

Local shops were still selling the products yesterday.

Meanwhile, customers continue to receive refunds for their SK-II products at local department stores.

Pacific Department Store and Oriental Shopping Center outlets began giving full refunds on Saturday to customers who had bought SK-II products this month.

"We accepted about 20 refunds every day," said a staff member at Pacific, who was not willing to be named. "The customers are only required to bring in a receipt from our store."

While consumers praised the stores, P&G, the distributor of the cosmetic line, has been criticized for not doing enough to provide refunds to customers.

Editor: Yan