國家質檢總局日前宣布SK-II部分產品被檢出含有違禁成分鉻、釹，而在人們心目中，SK-II化妝品可謂是“高高在上”，消費者購買一套護理類的系列產品就需要花費上萬元，即便是一套最基礎的護理產品也要花費2000多元。對于那些高價購買SK-II化妝品的消費者來說，被愚弄之后便引發了憤怒。國慶節期間，江西消費者呂萍在起訴SK-II的同時，提出追加被告的申請，申請追加SK-II形象代言人劉嘉玲、莫文蔚為被告，狀告二人涉嫌共同欺詐消費者。

Carina Lau, a well-known Hong Kong star, appeared in advertising for Japanese cosmetics brand SK-II owned by Procter & Gamble. While many Chinese catch up on their favorite movies during the weeklong National Day vacation, a woman in south China's Jiangxi Province is waiting for a local court to respond to her request to sue a movie star. "She should pay for cheating customers with false advertising," said furious 43-year-old Lu Ping. She filed a lawsuit against Carina Lau, a Hong Kong star, who appeared in advertising for Japanese cosmetics brand SK-II owned by Procter & Gamble. Lu saw the advertisement in a fashion magazine in January last year, in which Carina claimed that using the product for four weeks could help "reduce wrinkles by 47 percent and make you appear 12 years younger". Because she is about the same age as the actress, Lu decided to try out the product. She bought a bottle of skin-tightening, anti-wrinkle facial milk. But 28 days later, her skin had not become silky. Instead, her face became itchy and she felt a burning sensation. Last month, China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine found chromium and neodymium in nine SK-II products, including the one Lu used. The toxic heavy metals can cause dermatitis and skin rashes. Neodymium also causes harm to eyes, lungs and liver. They are banned for use in cosmetics in China. SK-II products were taken off the shelves in China last September and the company was fined 200,000 yuan (25,000 U.S. dollars) for false advertising. But Lu believes that Carina Lau is also culpable . "I wouldn't have bought it (the product) if she hadn't advertised it," she said. To fuel Lu's anger, Carina told the public after "SK-II Gate" that "there is nothing wrong with the brand" and she would "support SK-II as always." "Celebrities influence consumers, especially when they are idolized and trusted," said Qiu Baochang, director of the committee for protecting consumers' rights under the Beijing Bar Association. Misleading consumers with false advertisements, Qiu said, is potentially very harmful. (Agencies)

Vocabulary:

try out: 試用 itchy: 發癢 chromium and neodymium: “鉻”和“釹” skin rashes: 皮疹 culpable: 應受處罰的 （英語點津陳蓓編輯）