The safety of a lip-plumping product launched by Aritaum has been called into question after users took to online forums to document their adverse reactions, according to a report published by The Korea Herald.

Several consumers posted images of swollen lips and rashes, allegedly caused by the AmorePacific-owned cosmetics brand’s Volume Up Oil Tint, online.

Dermatologists have corroborated the evidence, claiming that the oil-base may have allowed bacteria to grow or the combination of oil and colour fixing agents may have caused irritation.

AmorePacific has voluntarily recalled certain shades and serial numbers of the oil tint product, but having carried out tests, reported to Korea’s regulatory body that it met standards for microbial limits and did not qualify for mandatory contamination control.

“The reasons can be the differences in personal skin types. But we are looking closely to products that were not sold via official distribution channels, but through unofficial channels such as e-commerce and open markets online,” Lee Kyung-min, AmorePacific’s Communications Manager told The Korea Herald.