PRIME Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday ordered the Ministry of Health to strictly monitor the use of toxic chemicals in cosmetics and urged Khmer women to project their “natural beauty”.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Health Ministry’s annual conference, the premier said the number of beauty salons in the Kingdom has grown significantly, and that many women are probably using beauty products without knowing what chemicals they contain.

He also suggested that cosmetics containing harmful chemicals could cause cancer.

“They have to clearly inspect [the products] before using them in order to make sure that people who use makeup for beauty are not in danger of cancer,” Hun Sen said.

Hun Sen also ordered health officials to penalise those who “cause damage to public health” by selling dangerous products or cosmetic services.

He concluded his remarks with a request that women shy away from the excessive use of cosmetics. “I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to all women – single, married or widowed. It’s better to keep your natural beauty,” he said.

Kim Nimol, who owns the Seara Beauty Salon in Phnom Penh, said Tuesday evening that her shop often sells weight-loss and skin-whitening products to customers, but added that it would make no business sense to sell dangerous products.

“I think about my clients’ health more than I think about money because I am afraid of losing my business and clients,” she said

“If we use cheap products to make skin white, it can make our skin itchy, get pimples, and sometimes it can become skin cancer,” she said.

“I think all beauty store owners should not earn money by destroying other people’s health.”