A Hong Kong star faces a lawsuit over adverts she appeared in for beauty product SK-II, which has been found to contain harmful metals. [Shanghaidaily.com]

A woman in eastern China's Jiangxi Province is suing Hong Kong film star Carina Lau who appeared in an advertisement endorsing Japanese cosmetics brand SK-II.

"She should pay for cheating customers with false advertising," said furious 43-year-old Lu Ping.

Lu filed a lawsuit against Lau and is awaiting a local court decision on whether it will accept the case.

Lu saw an advertisement in a fashion magazine in January last year, in which Lau claimed using the product for four weeks could help "reduce wrinkles by 47 percent and make you appear 12 years younger."

Because Lu is about the same age as the actress, she decided to try the product.

She bought a bottle of skin-tightening, anti-wrinkle facial milk. But 28 days later, her skin had not become silky. Instead, she says, 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 month and Procter and Gamble, the company that owns the brand, was fined 200,000 yuan (US$25,000) for false advertising.

But Lu believes Lau is also culpable. "I wouldn't have bought it (the product) if she hadn't advertised it," she said.

Lau has continued to support SK-II, saying there is nothing wrong with the brand and she would "support SK-II as always."

Qiu Baochang, director of the committee for protecting consumers' rights under the Beijing Bar Association, said misleading consumers with false advertisements is potentially very harmful.

Lau is not the only celebrity to be involved in questionable advertising.

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