Korean beauty products have exploded in popularity in the U.S. thanks to their high quality formulas and affordable prices. Brands like Laneige, Cosrx, and Innisfree are now household names, especially for their sunscreens and serums that use cutting-edge ingredients not available in American-made skincare. In 2024, the U.S. imported $1.7 billion worth of cosmetics from South Korea—more than even France. But that could change fast. Under a new trade plan, these imports could be hit with a 25% tariff. Business owners are already scrambling. For example, one Korean skincare shop owner said she spent $40,000 in one weekend stocking up on products to sell ahead of any potential price hike.
Rising prices aren’t the only changes that could be on the horizon. Some Korean beauty companies plan to move production to the U.S. to avoid the tariffs—but that comes with trade-offs. American manufacturers must follow FDA guidelines, which ban certain UV filters commonly used in Korean sunscreens. This has already led to altered formulas and, in some cases, discontinued products. As a result, the same brand name on the bottle doesn’t guarantee the same product will be inside for American consumers. As Andrew Yeo of the Brookings Institution put it, “If it’s not made the same way and it doesn’t have the same effect, then people are not going to buy these products.”
This situation highlights how deeply global trade shapes everyday goods. Tariffs meant to protect U.S. industries can create ripple effects that alter what’s made, how it’s made, and what it costs. Even online orders could be affected: starting May 2, the U.S. is removing the exemption for packages under $800 from China and Hong Kong, where many Korean products ship from. What began as a policy in Washington D.C. is now reshaping entire product lines, supply chains, and what ends up on American bathroom shelves.
Questions:
- How are some South Korean skincare companies responding to the possibility of rising tariffs?
- Do you think rising tariffs could hurt the economy as a whole? Why or why not?
Source: Ramishah Maruf, “Your 10-Step Korean Skincare Routine Could Change with Tariffs,” CNN, April 9, 2025.