Photo/Shetuwang

Sept. 29 (NBD) -- La Mer, a skincare brand under Estee Lauder Companies Inc, was accused by a Chinese beauty blogger on Twitter-like Sina Weibo of false advertising on the brand's Chinese website.

On Wednesday, the blogger called "Dr. Big Mouth" claimed La Mer made an exaggerated and false advertising on the brand's Chinese website about its products' effect to heal scars and burns. And there is no such description in the brand's English website, which was denounced as a deliberate deception and discrimination against Chinese customers by the blogger.

When it comes to the brand description, both the Chinese and English websites of La Mer tell a story about physicist Dr. Max Huber embarking on a healing quest after a lab accident. But only on the Chinese website, La Mer claims Miracle Broth, the skincare product Dr. Max invented, healed his burns and restored his skin.

The introduction on La Mer's Chinese website saying that Miracle Broth restores Dr. Huber's skin

The blogger said one of his followers, believing in La Mer's scar healing magic, even borrowed a loan to buy the facial cream, but saw no effect at all. La Mer's best-seller moisturizing cream is priced at 175 U.S. dollars for a one-ounce jar.

Dr. Big Mouth had filed a lawsuit against La Mer, calling for the company to rectify the false advertising on its Chinese website, to apologize to Chinese customers who were deceived and to make compensations for customers' loss in accordance with laws and regulations.

The blogger's accusation has triggered heated discussions on the Internet, with over 30,000 comments under the blog.

In response, the public relations department at Estee Lauder's Shanghai office said in a statement sent to media that La Mer is committed to the highest standard of craftsmanship and ingredient quality.

Estee Lauder is aware of the questions brought up by the blogger and is carrying out related inspections, a Shanghai-based news portal reported Thursday citing a person with the public relations department. The core function of Miracle Broth is to moisturize the skin and if one has specific skin problems, they should consult a doctor, added the person.

Email: gaohan@nbd.com.cn