Importing korean skincare

What determines the rate

• 01Whether the product is a preparation for the care of the skin or a medicament with therapeutic claims
• 02Whether it contains a sunscreen or suntanning preparation — this can move the classification
• 03Whether it is a cleanser or soap rather than a care preparation
• 04Whether it is packaged for retail sale, and whether it is presented as a set
• 05Sheet masks and patches, where the substrate can affect treatment

Subheadings commonly involved

Illustrative only — these show how the schedule divides this category. ImportCost does not publish a rate here because the legal rate attaches to a specific 8-digit subheading and must be read from the current official schedule.

• 3304.99Other beauty, make-up and skin care preparations — where most serums, essences and creams sit
• 3304.10Lip make-up preparations, including lip masks and tinted balms
• 3401.30Organic surface-active products for washing the skin — many cleansers
• 3307.90Other perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations

Country considerations

• KORUS preference is claimed, not automatic. It requires that the goods originate under the agreement's rules and that the claim is supported by a valid certification. A personal parcel from a Korean retailer typically arrives without one.
• The applicable preferential rate is the Special column entry for KR on the specific subheading — not a blanket zero across the category.
• Being Korean-origin does not exempt goods from product-scoped programs. Those are evaluated against the classification independently of country.
• Many K-beauty orders are consolidated by a forwarder, which changes who files the entry and therefore which fee schedule applies to you.