Latest news with #K-beauty
Qatar Tribune
4 hours ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Tariffs threaten Asian beauty product boom in US
Agencies When Amrita Bhasin, 24, learned that products from South Korea might be subject to a new tax when they entered the United States, she decided to stock up on the sheet masks from Korean brands like U-Need and MediHeal she uses a few times a week. 'I did a recent haul to stockpile,' she said. 'I bought 50 in bulk, which should last me a few months.' South Korea is one of the countries that hopes to secure a trade deal before the Aug. 1 date President Donald Trump set for enforcing nation-specific tariffs. A not-insignificant slice of the U.S. population has skin in the game when it comes to Seoul avoiding a 25% duty on its exports. Asian skin care has been a booming global business for a more than a decade, with consumers in Europe, North and South America, and increasingly the Middle East, snapping up creams, serums and balms from South Korea, Japan and China. In the United States and elsewhere, Korean cosmetics, or K-beauty for short, have dominated the trend. A craze for all-in-one 'BB creams' — a combination of moisturizer, foundation and sunscreen — morphed into a fascination with 10-step rituals and ingredients like snail mucin, heartleaf and rice water. Vehicles and electronics may be South Korea's top exports to the U.S. by value, but the country shipped more skin care and cosmetics to the U.S. than any other last year, according to data from market research company Euromonitor. France, with storied beauty brands like L'Oreal and Chanel, was second, Euromonitor said. Statistics compiled by the U.S. International Trade Commission, an independent federal agency, show the U.S. imported $1.7 billion worth of South Korean cosmetics in 2024, a 54% increase from a year earlier. 'Korean beauty products not only add a lot of variety and choice for Americans, they really embraced them because they were offering something different for American consumers,' Mary Lovely, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said. Along with media offerings such as 'Parasite' and 'Squid Game,' and the popularity of K-pop bands like BTS, K-beauty has helped boost South Korea's profile globally, she said. 'It's all part and parcel really of the same thing,' Lovely said. 'And it can't be completely stopped by a 25% tariff, but it's hard to see how it won't influence how much is sold in the U.S. And I think what we're hearing from producers is that it also really decreases the number of products they want to offer in this market.' Senti Senti, a retailer that sells international beauty products at two New York boutiques and through an e-commerce site, saw a bit of 'panic buying' by customers when Trump first imposed punitive tariffs on goods from specific countries, manager Winnie Zhong said. The rush slowed down after the president paused the new duties for 90 days and hasn't picked up again, Zhong said, even with Trump saying on July 7 that a 25% tax on imports from Japan and South Korea would go into effect on Aug. 1. Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia subsequently reached agreements with the Trump administration that lowered the tariff rates their exported goods faced — in Japan's case, from 25% to 15% — still higher than the current baseline of 10% tariff. But South Korea has yet to clinch an agreement, despite having a free trade agreement since 2012 that allowed cosmetics and most other consumer goods to enter the U.S. tax-free. Since the first store owned by Senti Senti opened 16 years ago, beauty products from Japan and South Korea became more of a focus and now account for 90% the stock. The business hasn't had to pass on any tariff-related costs to customers yet, but that won't be possible if the products are subject to a 25% import tax, Zhong said. 'I'm not really sure where the direction of K-beauty will go to with the tariffs in place, because one of the things with K-beauty or Asian beauty is that it's supposed to be accessible pricing,' she said. Devoted fans of Asian cosmetics will often buy direct from Asia and wait weeks for their packages to arrive because the products typically cost less than they do in American stores. Rather than stocking up on their favorite sunscreens, lip tints and toners, some shoppers are taking a pause due to the tariff uncertainty.
Korea Herald
16 hours ago
- Health
- Korea Herald
How Koreans keep kids' heads fashionably round
In Korea, when a baby sleeps soundly, whether lying flat or with their head turned to one side, parents don't just admire the peaceful sight. They have a task at hand: gently repositioning the baby's head from side to side during sleep. It's a small but deliberate effort to prevent flat head syndrome and encourage a well-rounded head shape. While flat head syndrome is a real condition caused by constant pressure on the back or side of a baby's head, South Korean parents often have additional concerns. They believe the shape of the head forms the foundation of the face and that a flat head can interfere with the development of the baby's facial features. Since a baby's skull is still soft and developing, many Korean parents see infancy as a crucial window to shape a round, gently protruding back of the head, commonly called "jjanggu head," believing it will lead to a smaller, more sculpted face later in life. 'Jjanggu,' although best known as the Korean name for the popular Japanese animated character Shin-chan, is also a Korean word defined in dictionaries as a head shape characterized by a prominent forehead or occipital area. To prevent flat head, many parents make a habit of regularly alternating their baby's sleeping position from one side to the other. Some position their newborns to sleep on their sides or even on their stomachs, to avoid putting pressure on the back of the baby's head. There are even side-sleeping pillows on the market designed for newborns to lie on their side and wrap their little arms around the cushion. But many pediatricians in Korea and other countries strongly warn against putting babies to sleep on their stomachs or sides, as it has been directly linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. There have been numerous cases of infants dying while sleeping face-down. Just last year, a baby at a daycare center in Daegu died during a nap after being placed in a prone position following lunch. Some parents, unwilling to choose between safety and aesthetics, turn to head-shaping pillows featuring a dip in the middle. They are advertised as softly cradling the baby's head and preventing flattening. However, a local pediatrician surnamed Song says that those pillows are a product of Korea's beauty-obsessed parenting culture, calling them a form of "misleading marketing." "In most cases, a baby's head shape naturally corrects itself with growth. Sleeping face-down can block a baby's airway or interfere with body temperature regulation, so it requires special caution," he said. Next time you see a 'jjanggu' pillow online while shopping for a baby shower gift in Korea, remember that it's not about the anime character but about "K-beauty" starting in infancy. Instagram에서 이 게시물 보기 The Korea Herald 코리아헤럴드(@thekoreaherald)님의 공유 게시물
Buzz Feed
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Amazon Has A Hidden Section For Cult-Fave Products — Here Are 40 Of The Best Things On It
Fun fact: Amazon has an "Internet Famous" section curated with TikTok-viral products. Here are a few of the current ones so beloved by reviewers that they are *definitely* worth the hype: A holy grail 5-in-1 Edgelift Curl Brush to define curls, waves, and coils, help prevent frizz, and create precise parts and sections. Reviewers of all curl and wave types are just short of shouting in the comments about how they never found a brush that worked as well as this one, and parents are especially grateful for how easily this untangles their kiddo's hair! A "Birthday Cake Stick" lip balm that earned its place as a cult-fave — not only is this super nourishing on your lips, but it tastes like vanilla cake, buttercream icing, and rainbow sprinkles, so now you can have your cake and moisturize with it, too. A delightfully affordable instant foot peeling spray for anyone ready to go full YEEHAW!! on that at-home pedicure. This not only helps gently remove dead skin, but moisturizes dry and cracked heels, so you'll really get some refreshing bang for your buck. Lumify Eye Drops, a product so beloved by TikTok that despite being more $$ than other brands, it's the number one selling brand on Amazon right now. Reviewers swear by this for instant reduction in redness in their eyes, with visible differences within a minute of use. A set of cheerful Lego botanical "happy plants," aka your new favorite coworkers. How can capitalism bring you down when these two are smiling up at you all day long? All the joys of having an office plant without the shame of your coworkers being like, "Shouldn't you ... maybe ... water that??" Dr. Melaxin "Peel Shot," a K-beauty staple for serious exfoliation that buffs out dead skin and leaves your complexion looking glowy and refreshed. If you're looking for an effective way to kick dead skin cells, blackheads, and sebum to the curb, this deeply penetrating rice water extract formula is just the ticket. Eos Cashmere Body Oil — yes, that's right, the astronomically TikTok-famous Eos "cashmere" body lotion now comes in body oil form, so you can lock in that ridiculously compelling whipped vanilla, musk, and soft caramel scent *and* lock in that all-day moisture with a lightweight, velvety finish. An affordable, Lululemon-esque longline sports bra so comfy, supportive, and versatile that reviewers love it both for outdoor workouts, gym use, *and* errand running. This is designed to be supportive without being too compressive, with lightweight fabric that keeps you breezy in the heat. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Cleansing Facial Oil to remove makeup oh-so-gently that anyone with sensitive or dry skin will say "yes, PLEASE." This gives you that fresh, clean-clean feeling without stripping or drying out your skin, thanks to the moisturizing cocoa butter, shea butter, and coconut oil. Lottabody's Coconut Oil Foaming Curl Mousse designed for all hair types to give you satisfyingly hydrated, volumized, frizz-free curls at a FRACTION of the price of its competitors. E.l.f's Lash Xtndr Tubing Mascara, a GODSEND for anyone with thin or fragile lashes. This uses lightweight ~tubing~ technology to wrap around lashes and give them a natural-looking, smudge-proof extension so good it almost looks fake. The real boon, though, is how easily the "tubes" slide off in clean, easy swipes at the end of the day when you're washing your face — absolutely no smudging, over-scrubbing, or special eye makeup removal products required. An air fryer cheat sheet that basically pays for itself on the first use — you can magnetize this right to your fridge and know precisely how to cook meats, veggies, and frozen food to perfection, helping eliminate food waste and save your budget from takeout. La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 40 Tinted Sunscreen, aka the "holy grail" of tinted sunscreens — reviewers love this lightweight, buildable formula so much that a lot of them replaced their foundation with it altogether. If you're in the market for some subtle but effective coverage that won't get goopy or settle in pores, this is your sunscreen match made in heaven. A set of lightweight, oh-so-dainty ruffled pajamas reviewers are in loooove with for summer, saying the fabric is so high quality that it feels like linen. If you're looking for breezy warm weather loungewear, this adorable set fits the bill! The Ordinary's Multi-Depth Hydration Serum to achieve that "glassy," plumped effect *without* breaking the whole bank. This delightfully affordable, super effective serum helps hydrate and protect your skin barrier so you wake up with firm, refreshed skin. A wildly beloved floral-forward vanilla perfume so deliciously perfect for summer that you'll be like, "Is it appropriate to bathe in this?" This sunny scent leans warm and tropical, with reviewers noting a hint of mango in the vanilla. It's all the bright happiness of summer in a soft, sophisticated, gourmand scent. A delightful little tool called the "Bug Bite Thing" — it suctions on all kinds of bug bites to reduce swelling, itchiness, and redness. L'Oreal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Spray Mist so darn phenomenal at its job that one reviewer calls it "hairspray for your face," and several compare it to the $34 One/Size setting spray at triple the price. This ultra-fine formula sprays on lightly and leaves a natural finish, but just one spray is designed to LOCK IN your look for 36 hours. Yankee Candle's Midsummer's Night, or what I like to call a "goth summer candle," as a perfectly moody way to usher in the warmer weather if you're not a big fan of sweetness and floral. Reviewers compare this alluring blend of musk, patchouli, sage, and mahogany to a soft cologne. Monday Haircare Dry Shampoo with all the oil-absorbing, refreshing power of its competitors, *plus* added keratin for protection against frizz and breakage. The subtle gardenia scent is just extra extra credit after all that. L'Oréal Paris Collagen Daily Face Moisturizer so intensely hydrating, plumping, and smoothing that reviewers compare it to the $92 Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream. 👀 Not only is this super effective and affordable, but its non-greasy formula makes it play super well with makeup. A suuuper thin, breathable Hanes slub knit hoodie as the ultimate "just in case" layer on days when the weather is having an existential crisis and taking you for the ride. Clinique Almost Lipstick Tinted Lip Balm in *PINK* Honey — aka, the sweet, subtle sister of the iconic "Black Honey" that has been so popular over the past few decades that it just about broke TikTok when it finally had its moment over there. The skin tone-matching, pH-adaptive pink version is every bit as buildable, polished, and decadent feeling as the original black honey, and perfect for everyday makeup looks. Color Wow Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer, a foam your can apply to your roots when you're styling to take your blowout to the next level, even when the humidity is doing its best to keep your locks down. Reviewers with fine hair especially swear by this for an immediate, long-lasting lift! Jergens Natural Glow Firming Self-Tanner Body Lotion to give you a gradually building, vacation-worthy ~sunkissed glow~ over the course of just a few days. Not only is this easy peasy to apply compared to other finickier, streaking lotions, but it's formulated with collagen and elastin to help your skin appear firmer *and* glowier. A reviewer-beloved basic crewneck tee that plays nice with ALL your jeans and skirts, since it's just the right amount of compressive and easily slides under waistbands. Also, at that price point, and in THIS MANY colors??? Seems like it's Restock Your Wardrobe O'Clock. A wildly popular hummingbird projection lantern to make your porch or backyard feel like you're stepping out of the real world and into a whimsical fairy tale. A pair of oversize subtle cat-eye sunglasses so cute that you'll want to snag 'em in every color, and so affordable that you won't weep dollar signs if you accidentally leave them at the coffee shop. Anua Heartleaf 77 Soothing Toner reviewers going for the "glass skin" look swear by — this underrated but impactful toner helps calm and refresh your complexion by balancing your skin's pH level and helping it better absorb all your lovely skincare products, no matter how hard the sun is trying to dry you out. A shockingly affordable "Glow Up!" Vitamin C Face Serum that packs a powerful punch — reviewers swear by this for reducing dark spots, brightening skin, restoring tone, and giving skin a more radiant, firm look. This particular serum's secret is the 3-O Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, which helps boost ~radiance~, in addition to the hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and vitamin E to help with hydration. A cult-favorite Flairisol Olivia, a continuous oil sprayer with built-in portion control that has won the allegiance of reviewers from professional chefs to at-home bakers. The ultra-fine spray makes it ridiculously easy to work with, especially for people tracking nutrition stats for their own sake or for a restaurant's — each spray is equivalent to one gram of oil for easy measuring. E.l.f.'s Holy Hydration! Thirst Burst Drops, another home run from the brand's moisturizing "Holy Hydration" line that reviewers are comparing to the $35 Watermelon Dew Drops from Glow Recipe. This lightweight formula is designed to brighten and plump skin for a dewy effect, whether you're wearing it alone, applying it under your makeup, or mixing it with your foundation. A set of golden tennis bracelets giving ~quiet luxury~ vibes at "I want to pay rent this month" prices. Reviewers especially love these mix-and-match sets because they look like expensive versions from iconic brands! A set of assorted pool floaties so cute it'll feel like you're accessorizing the whole pool when you throw them in. (It's all fun and games until I start fighting someone for that pink donut one.) Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum, aka humidity's WORST ENEMY. 😈 This super lightweight argan oil solution is designed for all hair types to help manage frizz and define waves and curls without weighing them down, and will be the MVP in your hair arsenal in the warmer temps. Differin Acne Treatment Gel for prescription-strength acne care *without* the hassle of paying to see a dermatologist. This not only helps clear breakouts by helping with skin cell turnover to clear out pores and calm inflammation, but helps prevent them over time. The key to this is patience, patience, patience — a lot of reviewers mention seeing excellent results after the first month of use! Neutrogena Dry-Touch SPF 70 Sunscreen designed specifically for people who get the "ick" from oily sunscreens but need all the sun protection they can get. This ultra-sheer, quick-absorbing formula leaves a matte finish that still packs a powerful sun-protective punch. And at this price point, this is the ultimate "everyday" sunscreen for face and body. A set of ridiculously realistic-looking faux fern plants for some instant serotonin in your backyard or living space. Plant parenthood is nice, but faux plant parenthood is every bit as chic and a whoooole lot less of a time commitment. 💅 Laura Geller's Balance-n-Brighten Color Correcting Powder Foundation so you can easily achieve that "no make-up make-up" look with some subtle, glowy coverage that is easily buildable on days you need a little extra ~oomph~. This stuff is so blendable and natural looking that it's a good reminder to us all not to sleep on good old-fashioned powder foundations!! Wikki Stix, the ultimate in mess-free, silent, distracting fidgets — you can take these little wax sticks and push them into any shape you please, and stick them on surfaces without worrying about residue or marks. Parents especially love these for when kids are waiting at restaurants or on flights!
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- Health
- Buzz Feed
26 TikTok Products So Good It Should Be Illegal
A neck-and-shoulder relaxer that may look a at first glance, but it's here to help soothe neck stiffness and shoulder tension in as little as 10 minutes. If you find yourself hunched over your laptop and your neck and shoulders are practically screaming for relief, this was made for you. A retractable remote control tether, or in other words, a gift sent from the bed rotting heavens. You'll never have to tear apart the couch cushions or yell at your roommate again because the remote will always be right there where it belongs. This little wonder attaches to any flat surface with its trusty adhesive pad and stretches up to seven and a half glorious feet. A genius cup catcher that hooks right onto high chairs, car seats, or strollers, because I've never met a toddler who doesn't throw things (and if there is one out there, let's trade). You can finally retire from your part-time job of picking up cups off the nasty restaurant floor or every five steps in the grocery store. A "Birria Bomb" because as someone who cooks birria tacos at least once a week, it's truly a labor of love, and these are about to make meal prep so much easier. These babies are packed with all the chiles, herbs, and spices, so all you need to do is mix one of these bombs with water and your fave meat, toss everything into your pressure cooker, slow cooker, or on the stovetop, and boom — Taco Tuesday is served! Dr. Melaxin "Peel Shot," a K-beauty staple ready to buff away dead skin and send blackheads and excess sebum packing. This exfoliating ampoule (basically a super concentrated serum) contains black rice extract, which promotes gentle peeling to help clear pores and refine your texture without irritation (sensitive skin folks, rejoice). On top of that, your skin is nourished with niacinamide so you're left with a glowy and perfectly smooth complexion — and the *perfect* canvas for makeup if you choose to wear it. A mind-blowing 2-in-1 knife and cutting board for when you need to slice up some toppings for your salad, but you're too lazy to pull out a cutting board (or it's already in the dishwasher). This scissor-like contraption allows you to slice up your veggies right against its flat surface, so your toppings can slide directly into a bowl or onto your plate in one step. A jar of all-in-one decor paint to bring your HGTV vision to life in under an hour. There's no prep needed — it's already formulated with a primer and dries in just 30 minutes to a chalky matte finish, making it the ultimate time-saver for both indoor and outdoor projects. You can revamp anything from tired wooden chairs to drab metal planters, and even give that old upholstered chair a new lease on life. Oxo's compact Rapid Brewer if you're always on the go and know it's not going to be a good day until that caffeine is in your system. This whips up delicious cold brew in just five short minutes, and some reviewers even consider it a step above their old, trusty Aeropress — bonus points for the fact that it's entirely portable and doesn't need to be charged or plugged in! A cruelty-free Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener making waves for its ability to hide and brighten dark circles. Your old concealers might start to feel a bit jealous of this one's color-adapting formula, lightweight feel, and seamless blending. A sandwich cutter, aka your new hack for whipping up school lunches *fast* and saving some coins while you're at it. This allows you to make homemade versions of those beloved (but pricey) Uncrustables, and since you can customize the fillings, the possibilities are truly limitless (imagine lil' ham and cheese sandwiches or mini fruit pies!). A holy grail 5-in-1 Edgelift Curl Brush made for all curl types, from soft waves to tight coils, featuring a unique side edge design that enhances curl definition with every stroke. With a combination of boar and regular bristles, it helps detangle while taming frizz, minimizing breakage, and adding shine to your luscious locks. And! If you're a parent, you'll love how it effortlessly untangles your little one's hair without the drama. Lumify eye drops that can help reduce redness and make a visible difference within a *minute* of use. Reviewers are basically writing love letters about how these drops have transformed their eyes from red and tired to bright and clear in no time. Imagine waking up after pulling an all-nighter and looking like you got a full eight hours of beauty sleep! A handy dandy dual-sided deshedding brush I promise you'll want in your grooming arsenal whether you're the proud owner of a super fluffy fur baby or a sleek, short-haired companion. This painless brush is capable of thinning out excess fur while also detangling and getting rid of any mats. A bottle of Miss Mouth's Messy Eater Stain Treater spray that can save your clothing from the inevitable little (and sometimes not so little) stains caused by food spills, muddy paw prints from your furry friend, or, you know, those monthly Mother Nature accidents — this spray tackles it all without the nasties like chlorine or sulfates. A moisturizing hair serum ready to give your locks the intense hydration and nourishment they've probably been craving. This dreamy concoction is derived from seven incredible oils: argan, olive, coconut, apricot, marula, jojoba, and camellia. Reviewers say it's perfect for dealing with dryness or brittleness, and they absolutely love the scent! A Bissell multipurpose portable cleaner because this little wizard is capable of handling all the messes life throws at you, from the spilled coffee stain on your car seat to the mark your potty-training pup left on your new rug. It's portable and has a large tank, which = more cleans in between refills. It's like watching a spell unfold, turning that mess into a memory. A nifty gadget called the Bug Bite Thing, a suction tool designed to extract the insect saliva or venom that is left behind under the skin when you're bitten or stung and provide relief from itching. A convenient, no-scrub Wet & Forget cleaner you only have to use ONCE a week to maintain a squeaky clean shower. This bleach-free cleaner removes soap scum, mildew, and hard water deposits from glass or tile surfaces without any overpowering odors. Just spray it on, walk away, and rinse it off the next day — easy peasy. An undetectable mouse jiggler that'll keep your online status active in Slack or Teams without giving away that you've stepped away for a "extended" bathroom break after that questionable breakfast burrito. A bagless, touchless stationary vacuum so you can say goodbye to struggling with a dustpan that NEVER seems to get those last few lingering pieces of debris on the floor. A subtle and easy-to-install carpet scratch stopper that's like a frustrating slip 'n' slide for the cats who love to claw your carpets. This genius mat slides right under your door and forces your cat to lose interest in scratching because their paws simply slide against the plastic, protecting your floors *and* peace of mind. A rechargeable heated ice cream scoop if you've ever found yourself struggling to dig into a freshly opened tub of Ben & Jerry's. This curved tool heats up to glide smoothly through even the toughest of ice cream so you can enjoy your favorite frozen treat without breaking a sweat. The Pink Stuff's new "Sqeezy" set taking their legendary cleaning paste to new heights with the help of a versatile cleaning sponge. The stubborn layer of grease on your pans from last night's dinner — gone! The mildew on your shower walls that's been mocking your scrubbing efforts for weeks — history! The Pink Stuff is so good at its job, reviewers have called it everything from "a miracle" to "witchcraft." A RobeCurls heatless hair curler capable of creating dreamy curls while you catch some Z's. Imagine going to bed with your hair wrapped up in a super soft rod, only to wake up with curls that are nothing short of fabulous. And here's the kicker: It's all done without an ounce of heat. Levi's Cinch Baggy Jeans to solve the age-old problem with denim shopping: that ANNOYING waist gap. These have a built-in cinch band, letting you bring in the waist for a customized fit that feels tailored just for you. And they offer just the right amount of stretch, moving with you so you can enjoy both style and comfort without feeling restricted. A set of bedsheet fasteners if it feels like fixing your shifting sheets every hour has become a part of your nightly routine. These'll keep them locked neatly in place, giving you the peaceful and uninterrupted sleep you deserve.
Asahi Shimbun
a day ago
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Tariffs on South Korea's products threaten the ‘K-beauty' boom in the U.S.
Customers and influencers try on new Korean perfume during a workshop at Senti Senti in New York on July 25, 2025. (AP Photo) NEW YORK--When Amrita Bhasin, 24, learned that products from South Korea might be subject to a new tax when they entered the United States, she decided to stock up on the sheet masks from Korean brands like U-Need and MediHeal she uses a few times a week. 'I did a recent haul to stockpile,' she said. 'I bought 50 in bulk, which should last me a few months.' South Korea is one of the countries that hopes to secure a trade deal before the Aug. 1 date President Donald Trump set for enforcing nation-specific tariffs. A not-insignificant slice of the U.S. population has skin in the game when it comes to Seoul avoiding a 25% duty on its exports. Asian skin care has been a booming global business for a more than a decade, with consumers in Europe, North and South America, and increasingly the Middle East, snapping up creams, serums and balms from South Korea, Japan and China. In the United States and elsewhere, Korean cosmetics, or K-beauty for short, have dominated the trend. A craze for all-in-one 'BB creams' — a combination of moisturizer, foundation and sunscreen — morphed into a fascination with 10-step rituals and ingredients like snail mucin, heartleaf and rice water. Vehicles and electronics may be South Korea's top exports to the U.S. by value, but the country shipped more skin care and cosmetics to the U.S. than any other last year, according to data from market research company Euromonitor. France, with storied beauty brands like L'Oreal and Chanel, was second, Euromonitor said. Statistics compiled by the U.S. International Trade Commission, an independent federal agency, show the U.S. imported $1.7 billion worth of South Korean cosmetics in 2024, a 54% increase from a year earlier. 'Korean beauty products not only add a lot of variety and choice for Americans, they really embraced them because they were offering something different for American consumers,' Mary Lovely, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said. Along with media offerings such as 'Parasite' and 'Squid Games,' and the popularity of K-pop bands like BTS, K-beauty has helped boost South Korea's profile globally, she said. 'It's all part and parcel really of the same thing,' Lovely said. 'And it can't be completely stopped by a 25% tariff, but it's hard to see how it won't influence how much is sold in the U.S. And I think what we're hearing from producers is that it also really decreases the number of products they want to offer in this market.' Senti Senti, a retailer that sells international beauty products at two New York boutiques and through an e-commerce site, saw a bit of 'panic buying' by customers when Trump first imposed punitive tariffs on goods from specific countries, manager Winnie Zhong said. The rush slowed down after the president paused the new duties for 90 days and hasn't picked up again, Zhong said, even with Trump saying on July 7 that a 25% tax on imports from Japan and South Korea would go into effect on Aug. 1. Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia subsequently reached agreements with the Trump administration that lowered the tariff rates their exported goods faced — in Japan's case, from 25% to 15% — still higher than the current baseline of 10% tariff. But South Korea has yet to clinch an agreement, despite having a free trade agreement since 2012 that allowed cosmetics and most other consumer goods to enter the U.S. tax-free. Since the first store owned by Senti Senti opened 16 years ago, beauty products from Japan and South Korea became more of a focus and now account for 90% of the stock. The business hasn't had to pass on any tariff-related costs to customers yet, but that won't be possible if the products are subject to a 25% import tax, Zhong said. 'I'm not really sure where the direction of K-beauty will go to with the tariffs in place, because one of the things with K-beauty or Asian beauty is that it's supposed to be accessible pricing,' she said. Devoted fans of Asian cosmetics will often buy direct from Asia and wait weeks for their packages to arrive because the products typically cost less than they do in American stores. Rather than stocking up on their favorite sunscreens, lip tints and toners, some shoppers are taking a pause due to the tariff uncertainty. Los Angeles resident Jen Chae, a content creator with over 1.2 million YouTube subscribers, has explored Korean and Japanese beauty products and became personally intrigued by Chinese beauty brands over the last year. When the tariffs were first announced, Chae temporarily paused ordering from sites such as a shopping platform owned by an e-commerce company based in Hong Kong. She did not know if she would have to pay customs duties on the products she bought or the ones brands sent to her as a creator. 'I wasn't sure if those would automatically charge the entire package with a blanket tariff cost, or if it was just on certain items,' Chae said. On its website, YesStyle says it will give customers store credit to reimburse them for import charges. At Ohlolly, an online store focused on Korean products, owners Sue Greene and Herra Namhie are taking a similar pause. They purchase direct from South Korea and from licensed wholesalers in the U.S., and store their inventory in a warehouse in Ontario, California. After years of no duties, a 25% import tax would create a 'huge increase in costs to us,' Namhie said. She and Greene made two recent orders to replenish their stock when the tariffs were at 10%. But they have put further restocks on hold 'because I don't think we can handle 25%,' Namhie said. They'd have to raise prices, and then shoppers might go elsewhere. The business owners and sisters are holding out on hope the U.S. and Korea settle on a lower tariff or carve out exceptions for smaller ticket items like beauty products. But they only have two to four months of inventory in their warehouse. They say that in a month they'll have to make a decision on what products to order, what to discontinue and what prices will have to increase. Rachel Weingarten, a former makeup artist who writes a daily beauty newsletter called 'Hello Gorgeous!' said while she's devoted to K-beauty products like lip masks and toner pads, she doesn't think stockpiling is a sound practice. 'Maybe one or two products, but natural oils, vulnerable packaging and expiration dates mean that your products could go rancid before you can get to them,' she said. Weingarten said she'll still buy Korean products if prices go up, but that the beauty world is bigger than one country. 'I'd still indulge in my favorites, but am always looking for great products in general,' she said. Bhasin, in Menlo Park, California, plans to keep buying her face masks too, even if the price goes up, because she likes the quality of Korean masks. 'If prices will go up, I will not shift to U.S. products,' she said. 'For face masks, I feel there are not a ton of solid and reliable substitutes in the U.S.'
