An increasing number of young girls are putting on makeup these days. Elementary school teachers say some girls start to dabble in fourth grade, and a significant number of girls in sixth grade come to school wearing makeup including beauty balm and lip tint.

The problem is many of these young girls buy low quality makeup items with no safety guarantee from stationery stores near schools. This leads to concerns about adverse side effects and skin complications for children.

A team from the Chosun Ilbo visited 30 stationery stores near elementary schools in Mapo, Seodaemun, and Eunpyeong districts in Seoul. They were selling makeup items for children priced at a mere W2,000 to W3,000 (US$1=W1,117). Some even contained semi-toxic substances or had no ingredients labeled at all.

Liquid lip tint is especially popular among these young girls. But liquid tint can be easily absorbed into the body, and many of these lip tints sold in stationery stores are of poor quality. They seldom carry a label with ingredients.

The Korea Consumer Agency analyzed makeup products for children sold online and stationery stores last year. None of the eight brands studied complied with standards for ingredients and safety requirements.

Experts warn that using bad quality makeup products at a young age may result in premature puberty.

Lee Ju-hee, a dermatology professor at Yonsei University, said, "No matter how mild it is made, makeup products are a concoction of chemical substances. Clinical tests are done on adults, so there can be many unknown side effects when they are used on children."

In fact, more and more children visit clinics due to skin problems caused by paraben and phthalates found in cosmetic products, Lee added.

An official at the Korea Consumer Agency said, "It is necessary to educate young children about the importance of using quality products that are tested and tried."