People who have purchased the nine types of SK-II cosmetics found to be unsafe by China's quality watchdog are now able to claim a refund.

However, customers in Beijing have complained of difficulties in getting their money back.

Meanwhile the company has said they are puzzled by the news their products are unsafe, and are currently working with authorities to verify the findings.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, announced on Thursday that they had detected harmful ingredients in SK-II cosmetics produced by Procter and Gamble (Japan) in South China's Guangdong Province.

According to the administration, nine types of SK-II cosmetics had been found to contain chromium or neodymium, which experts say could cause problems such as eczema and irritation of the eyes.

Customers said that they had to provide proof of purchase, and were not entitled to a refund if they had used more than two thirds of the product.

A female customer surnamed Hao at the Beijing Modern Plaza was denied a refund as she had used too much.

"It's absurd," she said. "The more I have used, the more I have been harmed!"

Zhang Qunxiang, a spokesperson with Procter and Gamble Company in Guangzhou, told China Daily that his company "was quite puzzled by the sudden news. We don't understand why such a problem happened."

"The batch of products found by the watchdog to be unsafe has been stopped at customs and won't enter the Chinese market. The company is working with authorities to get to the bottom of this puzzle as soon as possible," he added.