Selling skincare made in Korea on Amazon and TikTok Shop
What the marketplaces check before your listing goes live and while it sells: FDA and MoCRA duties, the label, expiration dates, barcodes, trademarks and the documents to keep ready.
Marketplace rules change oftenThis guide is based on public seller help pages and US rules as of October 2026. Check the current policy in Amazon Seller Central and TikTok Shop Seller Center before you list.
To sell private label skincare on Amazon or TikTok Shop in the US, you need a product that meets FDA cosmetic rules (a compliant label and a MoCRA listing, made in an FDA registered facility), a GS1 barcode, an expiration date on each unit for Amazon's fulfillment centers, and documents such as the COA, SDS and ingredient list ready for the platform's reviews. A trademark opens Amazon Brand Registry.
What both platforms check
- FDA and MoCRA: the facility that makes the product is FDA registered, and the brand on the label lists each product with FDA. We file the MoCRA product listing for USD 150 per SKU.
- A compliant label: identity, net content in US units, the ingredient list, the "Distributed by" name and address, "Made in Korea", warnings, and a US contact for adverse event reports.
- Cosmetic claims only: claims such as "treats acne" or SPF make the product a drug, with stricter rules and documents.
- Documents: the COA, SDS and ingredient list, and the facility registration details, which marketplaces may ask for in a category or listing review.
- Shelf life: both platforms have rules on the remaining shelf life of beauty products when they are received or shipped.
Amazon
- Expiration-dated products: Amazon treats topical products, such as skin creams and cosmetics, as expiration-dated in its fulfillment centers. Each unit needs an expiration date in MM-DD-YYYY or MM-YYYY format, and cartons show it in large print.
- Remaining shelf life: at check-in a product needs enough shelf life left to be used up, plus 90 days, and units close to their date are removed for disposal. Long shelf life from a stable formula matters.
- Barcodes: Amazon checks product codes against the GS1 database, so buy your barcodes from GS1. See our GS1 barcode guide.
- Brand Registry: needs a pending or registered trademark. See how to trademark a brand name.
- FBA prep: liquids need leak-proof closures and often bagging, and every unit needs a scannable barcode. See retail-ready packaging.
A full launch plan is in our article on launching a K-beauty brand on Amazon.
TikTok Shop
- Category approval: beauty and personal care listings can need category approval, with documents that depend on whether you are the brand owner, importer or reseller.
- Product documents: labels and, for some roles and products, FDA-related documents, such as the facility registration or the MoCRA listing, checked against the label.
- Shelf life: TikTok Shop added shelf-life and expiration rules for beauty products in 2026; check the minimum remaining shelf life for your category in Seller Center.
- Claims in videos: what creators say counts as a claim too. Keep it to how the product looks and feels, not what it treats.
What we prepare for marketplace sellers
| Item | With us |
|---|---|
| Production in an FDA registered, ISO 22716 GMP facility | Every order |
| MoCRA product listing | USD 150 per SKU |
| Batch number and expiration date printed on every unit | Every order, in the format your marketplace asks for |
| COA, SDS and ingredient list (INCI) | Included; the full INCI list after the mutual NDA |
| Label proof check, including US rules | Before printing |
| Your GS1 barcode printed on the label or box | From the barcode you supply |
| Patch, HRIPT or efficacy tests for claims | From USD 1,000 (patch), USD 3,000 (HRIPT 50 people) |
Launching on a marketplace?Tell us the platform, the products and your launch date. We plan the label, dates and documents with you from the first sample. Start with a sample box or a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need FDA approval to sell skincare on Amazon?
No. Cosmetics do not need FDA approval in the US. The product must be made in a registered facility, listed with FDA under MoCRA by the brand on the label, and labeled correctly. Sunscreens and acne products are drugs and follow other rules.
What expiration date format does Amazon use?
Amazon asks for MM-DD-YYYY or MM-YYYY on each unit of an expiration-dated product, and in large print on the cartons. We print the batch number and the expiration date on every unit in the format you need.
Can I sell on TikTok Shop with products made in Korea?
Yes. Imported skincare can be sold once the label meets US rules, the product is listed under MoCRA and the category approval documents are in place. Check the current requirements for your seller role in TikTok Shop Seller Center.
Do I need a trademark to sell on Amazon?
Not to sell, but Amazon Brand Registry, which protects your listings and unlocks brand tools, needs a pending or registered trademark.