Importing K-Beauty and Korean Cosmetics: Sourcing and Compliance
You can import K-beauty in three ways: buy finished Korean brands through their distributors, launch your own brand with a Korean OEM/ODM lab, or commission a custom formula. Whichever you choose, the product must meet the rules of the country where you sell it, not Korea's. This guide covers sourcing, minimum orders and what the US, EU and UK require as of October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Korea exported a record $11.4 billion of cosmetics in 2025, second only to France. Exports reached $11.1 billion in January–September 2026 (+31.1%), and the US is the largest market.
- Private label has become accessible: Cosmax, Korea's largest cosmetics ODM, cut its minimum order for new brands from 10,000 to 1,000 units.
- In the US, MoCRA facility registration, product listing, safety substantiation and adverse-event reporting all apply now. Sunscreens are OTC drugs, so Korean-market SPF formulas generally cannot be sold there as they are.
- Since 24 July 2026, Korean-origin cosmetics pay a 12.5% total US duty, and the US de minimis exemption is gone, so every parcel needs a customs entry.
- The EU requires an EU Responsible Person, a safety report (CPSR), a Product Information File and CPNP notification before sale; Great Britain requires a UK Responsible Person and SCPN notification.
How big is the K-beauty export market in 2026?
Korean cosmetics exports are at record levels. According to Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), exports rose from $10.2 billion in 2024 to a record $11.4 billion in 2025 (+11.8%). That made Korea the world's second-largest cosmetics exporter, behind France ($24.3 billion) and ahead of the United States ($10.8 billion).
The United States became the biggest market in 2025 at $2.2 billion, ahead of China ($2.0 billion) and Japan ($1.1 billion). Korean cosmetics went to 202 countries, and skincare made up about three-quarters of the total.
Growth sped up in 2026. Provisional MFDS figures show $7.0 billion in the first half (+27.3%) and $11.1 billion in January–September (+31.1%), almost equal to all of 2025. The US took 21.1% of that, and exports to the UK, the Netherlands and Canada more than doubled. The full-year 2026 figure is expected around January 2027.
Which sourcing route fits you: brands, private label or custom formulation?
The right route depends on whether you want to sell existing Korean brands or build your own. Each one gives you a different level of control, minimum order and compliance workload.
| Finished Korean brands (wholesale or distribution) | Private label from an OEM/ODM lab | Custom formulation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you get | Existing branded products, ready to sell | Your brand on a proven formula from the lab's library, adjusted slightly | A formula developed to your brief, owned or licensed under contract |
| Minimum order | Varies by brand, distributor and agreement | Large ODMs now from about 1,000 units for new brands | Agreed case by case, with development and testing on top |
| Lead time | Fast if the product is in stock | Months: packaging, filling, stability and labelling | Longest: development, stability testing, then production |
| Your control | None over formula or packaging | Brand, packaging, small formula changes | Full specification |
| Compliance work | Brand owner may already hold US, EU or UK files, but you must confirm them and your role | You are the brand owner: listings, notifications, labels and safety file are on you | Same as private label, plus safety data for any new ingredient choices |
| Best for | Retailers and e-commerce sellers testing demand | New brands that want their own product quickly | Established brands with a clear product concept |
If you buy finished brands, ask whether the supplier is an authorised distributor and whether the brand already sells in your market. A product made for the Korean market can differ from the export version in its formula, label or registrations. Our supplier guide explains how to check that a Korean company is real.
Korea's OEM/ODM labs and realistic minimum orders
Korea's cosmetics industry is built around contract manufacturers. An OEM (original equipment manufacturer) produces your formula to your specification; an ODM (original design manufacturer) also develops the formula. Many well-known Korean brands, especially indie labels, have their products made by these labs.
- Cosmax is Korea's largest cosmetics ODM. Its Korean plants are in Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek (Gyeonggi Province), with further facilities in China, the US, Indonesia and Thailand. About 1,000 Korean indie brands develop and manufacture through Cosmax, including Tirtir, Rom&nd and Anua.
- Kolmar Korea, founded in 1990, was Korea's first ODM and reported 2025 revenue of KRW 2.72 trillion. Its main cosmetics plants are in Sejong, where 5 of 11 lines make sunscreen. The company says production can take as little as about three months from contract to delivery.
The MOQ (minimum order quantity) is the smallest run a factory will accept. Large Korean ODMs used to work in runs of 10,000 units; Cosmax has cut its minimum for new brands to 1,000 units. Smaller labs and brokers may quote less, but always compare what is included: formula development, stability and compatibility testing, packaging, filling and printing. Containers, pumps and printed boxes often come from separate suppliers with their own minimums, and they can decide your real MOQ.
What does MoCRA require for Korean cosmetics sold in the US?
FDA does not pre-approve cosmetics, but the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) gives every product a responsible person: the manufacturer, packer or distributor whose name appears on the label. For a private-label brand, that is usually you. As of October 2026, these duties apply:
- Facility registration and product listing through FDA's Cosmetics Direct portal, enforced since 1 July 2024. Registrations are renewed every two years and listings, including ingredients, are updated every year.
- Safety substantiation: records showing that each product is safe under its intended use.
- Serious adverse events must be reported to FDA within 15 business days.
- Adverse-event contact on the label since 29 December 2024: a US address, a US phone number or an electronic contact such as a website.
Small businesses are exempt from registration and listing, but not for products that touch the eye's mucous membrane, are injected or taken internally, or change appearance for more than 24 hours. Safety substantiation and adverse-event reporting apply to everyone.
Two rules are still not final: good manufacturing practice (GMP) and fragrance-allergen labelling. FDA also withdrew its proposed talc testing rule on 28 November 2025 and plans to propose it again. Check FDA's MoCRA page before each launch.
Labels must be in English, show the country of origin in English (for example "Made in South Korea") and declare ingredients. Watch your claims, too: a product that claims to treat or prevent a condition, such as acne, can be regulated as a drug in the US.
Why can't Korean sunscreens simply be imported into the US?
In the US, sunscreens are over-the-counter (OTC) drugs under OTC Monograph M020, not cosmetics. A sunscreen sold there must use only US-permitted UV filters, carry a Drug Facts label and be made in an FDA-registered drug establishment, with the product listed as a drug. Broad-spectrum claims need testing. This also covers makeup and moisturisers that claim an SPF, such as cushion compacts and BB creams.
Korean-market SPF formulas often rely on UV filters that are not permitted in the US, such as Uvinul A Plus (DHHB). That is why Korean-market sunscreens generally cannot be sold in the US as they are. For the US market you need a US-specific formula from a lab that already makes monograph sunscreens.
The US list is changing slowly. FDA added bemotrizinol (up to 6%) by final order in June 2026, effective 9 August 2026. For 18 months from that date, only the requestor, DSM, and its licensees may use it. On 10 September 2026, FDA removed PABA and trolamine salicylate from the monograph.
What US duty do Korean cosmetics pay in 2026?
As of October 2026, Korean-origin cosmetics pay a total of 12.5%. The normal (MFN) US duty on most cosmetics and skincare is 0%, and so is the KORUS free trade rate. Since 24 July 2026, however, a Section 301 tariff tops up Korean goods with a normal rate below 12.5% to a total of 12.5%. Cosmetics are not on the exemption list.
The US de minimis exemption, which let parcels worth up to $800 in duty-free, was suspended for all countries on 29 August 2025. CBP has since made the suspension indefinite, and the law itself ends it on 1 July 2027. Every commercial parcel now needs a customs entry: a $60 parcel of Korean skincare pays about $7.50 in duty, plus the carrier's fees.
The Section 301 tariff is being challenged in the US Court of International Trade, but duties are still being collected. Confirm the rate for your HS code with a licensed customs broker before you price, and see our guide to tariffs and trade agreements. Products made for a Korean brand in another country take that country's rates.
What do you need to sell Korean cosmetics in the EU?
Under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, four things must be in place before a product goes on sale anywhere in the EU:
- An EU Responsible Person (RP). They must be established in the EU. For imported products, the importer is the RP unless it appoints another EU-based person.
- A Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR), the safety assessment of the product.
- A Product Information File (PIF), kept for 10 years after the last batch is placed on the market.
- CPNP notification. One notification on the Cosmetic Products Notification Portal covers all EU member states.
The label must show the RP's name and address and, for imported cosmetics, the country of origin. Animal testing for cosmetics is banned in the EU.
New in 2026: products placed on the EU market from 31 July 2026 must follow the expanded fragrance-allergen labelling of Regulation (EU) 2023/1545. Stock placed on the market before that date may be sold until 31 July 2028. Check that Korean artwork follows the new list before you print.
Most cosmetics have a 0% EU duty, and the EU–Korea FTA keeps them at 0%, but import VAT applies. Since 1 July 2026, parcels worth up to €150 sent to EU consumers pay a €3 customs duty per item type, charged by tariff line rather than per unit. The EU's new packaging regulation (PPWR) has also applied since 12 August 2026.
What changes for the UK?
Great Britain has its own system, separate from the EU's. You need a UK-based Responsible Person, and each product must be notified on SCPN (Submit Cosmetic Product Notification) before it goes on sale. SCPN replaced CPNP for Great Britain in December 2020. By May 2026 it held more than 860,000 notifications from over 24,000 Responsible Persons. An EU CPNP notification does not cover Great Britain, so a product sold in both needs both. Products sold in Northern Ireland follow the EU rules.
How to ship cosmetics from Korea without dangerous-goods problems
Most creams, serums and masks ship as ordinary cargo, but some K-beauty products count as dangerous goods. Classify them before you book freight, not at the airport.
- Perfume and alcohol-based products: perfume is UN1266, a Class 3 flammable liquid. By air it must be packed, labelled and declared under the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.
- Aerosols and sprays: flammable aerosols are missing from some carriers' approved lists, such as UPS Air Cargo's; non-flammable aerosols are easier to ship.
- Nail polish and acetone removers are also flammable and have similar limits.
- Postal services: Korea Post EMS does not accept perfume or acetone nail remover and generally refuses aerosols. Since 21 September 2026 it has also temporarily refused liquids to Qatar, the UAE, Israel, Ethiopia and South Africa.
Carriers and forwarders often ask for a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to confirm that a product is not hazardous, so get one from the lab for every product. Sea freight follows the IMDG Code. Our shipping guide compares sea, air and express options from Korea.
Checklist before you place a K-beauty order
- Classify the product for each market. SPF claims, acne claims and some actives can make a cosmetic a drug in the US.
- Get the full ingredient list using INCI names (the international naming system for cosmetic ingredients), with percentages for your safety assessor. Then check it against the target market's banned and restricted lists.
- Decide who the responsible person is in each market, and who will register, list or notify the product.
- Approve label artwork per market: language, ingredients, country of origin, Responsible Person's address, the US adverse-event contact and the EU fragrance-allergen rules.
- Collect technical files: ISO 22716 certificate, stability and packaging-compatibility data, SDS and the certificate of analysis for each batch.
- Approve a pre-production sample and keep it as the reference for quality.
- Inspect before shipment: quantities, batch codes, expiry dates, leaks and the printed labels.
- Confirm the HS code, duty and Incoterm (who pays freight, insurance and duty) with your broker and forwarder. See our landed cost guide.
Common mistakes when importing Korean cosmetics
| Mistake | What happens | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Assuming Korean SPF products can be sold in the US | Stock that cannot legally be sold as a sunscreen | Use a US-specific OTC sunscreen formula, or sell SPF products only where they are allowed |
| Labels in Korean only | Goods held, relabelled or rejected by marketplaces | Print market-specific labels, or plan compliant stickering before shipment |
| No full ingredient (INCI) list from the supplier | No safety report, notification or listing possible | Make the full formula disclosure to your safety assessor a contract condition |
| Pricing on old duty rules (KORUS 0%, $800 de minimis) | Margins wiped out by 12.5% US duty and entry fees | Recalculate landed cost with current rates |
| Buying "brand stock" from unofficial sellers | Domestic-market versions, short expiry or counterfeits | Buy from the brand or an authorised distributor and check batch codes |
| Shipping perfume or sprays as normal cargo | Refused shipments, fines or delays | Classify with the SDS and book as dangerous goods where needed |
How Korea Import Hub helps with K-beauty sourcing
We are a sourcing agent based in Incheon, founded by former Korean exporters, and we work in English, Korean, Japanese and Chinese. We find and verify brands, distributors and OEM/ODM labs, including suppliers that sell only in Korea. We negotiate in Korean, coordinate samples and collect the formula and technical documents your Responsible Person or broker needs. Before shipping, we inspect the goods and send a photo report, then handle export documents, origin paperwork and freight. We can also buy on your behalf from domestic-only suppliers. Tell us about your product: we reply within 24 hours on business days and send a written quote before any paid work.
Frequently asked questions
Can I import Korean sunscreen and sell it in the United States?
Usually not as it is. In the US, sunscreens are over-the-counter drugs, not cosmetics. A US-legal version must use only US-permitted UV filters, carry a Drug Facts label, and be made in an FDA-registered drug establishment and listed as a drug. Most Korean-market SPF formulas use filters that are not on the US list, so you need a US-specific formula from a manufacturer that already makes OTC sunscreen.
Do Korean cosmetics need FDA approval before I can sell them in the US?
No. FDA does not pre-approve cosmetics (colour additives are the exception). Under MoCRA, however, the manufacturing facility must be registered and each product listed with FDA, the responsible person must keep safety substantiation records, report serious adverse events within 15 business days and put an adverse-event contact on the label. Most small businesses are exempt from registration and listing, but not from the safety and adverse-event duties.
How much import duty do Korean cosmetics pay in 2026?
In the US, most cosmetics have a 0% normal duty rate, but since 24 July 2026 Korean-origin goods pay a Section 301 tariff that brings the total to 12.5%. In the EU and the UK, most cosmetics are 0% anyway, and the free trade agreements with Korea keep them at 0%; import VAT still applies. Rates change, so confirm yours by HS code with a licensed customs broker. See our tariff guide.
What is the minimum order for private-label skincare made in Korea?
It depends on the lab and the product. Cosmax, Korea's largest cosmetics manufacturer for other brands, cut its minimum order for new brands from 10,000 to 1,000 units. Smaller labs and brokers often advertise lower minimums, but check what is included: stock formula or custom, packaging, filling and testing. Packaging suppliers can have their own minimums, so ask for a full quote.
Who can act as Responsible Person for Korean cosmetics in the EU or UK?
In the EU, the Responsible Person must be established in the EU. For imported products it is the importer, unless the importer appoints another EU-based person in writing. In Great Britain you need a UK-based Responsible Person, who notifies each product on SCPN. A Korean manufacturer cannot fill either role from Korea, so many brands use a specialist service provider.
Sources
- Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026
- Questions and answers: FDA's regulatory actions on over-the-counter sunscreen — U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026
- FDA expands sunscreen options for the first time in 20 years (bemotrizinol) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration, June 2026
- USTR takes action in forced labor Section 301 investigations — Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, July 2026
- E-commerce FAQs (suspension of de minimis) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 2026
- Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products — EUR-Lex, consolidated text
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 on the labelling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products — EUR-Lex, 2023
- Ensuring fairness and safety: EUR 3 customs duty on low-value parcels — European Commission, June 2026
- New data on UK cosmetic product safety notifications (SCPN) — Office for Product Safety and Standards, GOV.UK, July 2026
- Korea becomes world's No. 2 cosmetics exporter (MFDS 2025 analysis) — Korea Biomedical Review, May 2026
- K-beauty exports hit $11.1 billion in nine months — Seoul Economic Daily, October 2026
- Cosmax lowers minimum order quantity for new brands (Korean) — Dealsite, January 2025
Regulations, tariffs and freight conditions change often. This guide is general information, not legal or customs advice — confirm requirements for your product with a licensed customs broker in your country.
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