Guides for brands that make skincare in Korea.
Straight answers written by the team that quotes, formulates and exports. No sign-up, no sales call. Read, then ask us the questions that are left.
More answers in the blog: startup costs, low minimums, Korean manufacturers and the rules in Canada, the UK, Australia and the Gulf.
Planning tools: the budget planner, formula library, ingredient finder and packaging options.
Where to manufacture, side by side: Korea vs China vs the US, Korea vs China and Korea vs the US.
Setting up your brand: the printable starter checklist, guides to trademarks and GS1 barcodes, label design and retail-ready packaging.
Free downloads: the skincare brand launch kit (a 9-page PDF) and our K-beauty OEM report 2026, open data from our own quote requests.
Labels, export and import
Cosmetic label requirements by country
What a skincare label must show in the US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, China, Korea, the Gulf, India and Southeast Asia, in one table.
LabelsIngredient lists, PAO, expiry dates and claims
INCI names and order, the opened-jar symbol, net content, warnings, Made in Korea and the words that turn a cosmetic into a drug.
ExportHow to import skincare from Korea, step by step
Export documents, HS codes, the Certificate of Origin and FTA duty, FOB Incheon, LCL or FCL, customs brokers, EORI and ISF.
TestingSkincare product testing explained
Stability, challenge, microbiology, heavy metals, patch, HRIPT, efficacy and SPF tests: what each shows, when you need it and our prices.
MarketplacesSelling on Amazon and TikTok Shop
MoCRA, labels, expiration dates, barcodes, Brand Registry and the documents marketplaces ask for.
ClaimsVegan, cruelty-free and halal skincare
Three different claims: what each one means, the rules behind it and how certification works.
Services behind these guides: our label proof check, custom container and box sourcing and your My page for tracking and documents.
Brand and planning
How to Choose a Skincare Niche and Validate Demand
Pick a skincare niche (acne-prone, men's, baby, pets, clinical, clean, sensitive, SPF, scalp) and test demand step by step before you order stock.
BrandSkincare Brand Name Checks Before You Print
The full brand name check for a skincare line: language, trademark search, domains, social handles, Amazon and app stores, company registers and GS1...
BrandSet Up a Skincare Business by Country: LLC, EIN, VAT, EORI
Company, tax and import setup to sell skincare in the US, UK, EU, Canada and Australia: LLC or Ltd, EIN, sales tax, VAT, EORI, customs bond, GST and...
BrandHow to Write a Skincare Product Brief (Free Template)
Write a skincare product brief a manufacturer can quote and formulate from: every field with good and bad examples, a filled niacinamide serum brief...
BrandHero Product Strategy: How Many SKUs to Launch
Why one hero product beats ten SKUs for a new skincare brand: how to pick it, launch structures, cash math with real minimums, when to add, size and...
Product and formula
Skincare Active Ingredients: Levels, Limits and Claims
A table of 41 skincare actives, from retinol and niacinamide to PDRN and ceramides: what each does, documented use levels, the key rule per market...
ProductRetinol vs Retinal vs Bakuchiol: Levels and Limits
Retinol, retinal, retinyl esters, HPR and bakuchiol compared: how skin converts them, use levels, EU 2024/996 limits, Canada, Korea, US rules and...
ProductVitamin C Forms in Skincare: Stability, pH and Limits
L-ascorbic acid vs SAP, MAP, ascorbyl glucoside, ethyl ascorbic acid and THD ascorbate: pH, stability, use levels, Korea and Japan whitening rules...
ProductPDRN and Exosomes in Skincare: Evidence and Rules
PDRN (sodium DNA), plant PDRN and exosomes in cosmetics: evidence, drug vs cosmetic PDRN, EU human-origin ban, Korea culture fluid rules, FDA...
ProductPeptides in Skincare: Types, Evidence and Use Levels
Signal, carrier, enzyme-inhibitor and neurotransmitter peptides explained: Matrixyl, Argireline, copper peptide, evidence, supplier vs active levels...
ProductAHA, BHA and PHA Acids: pH, Levels and Legal Limits
Glycolic, lactic, mandelic, salicylic acid, gluconolactone and lactobionic acid: pH and free acid, use levels, FDA sunburn alert, EU, Canada and...
ProductNiacinamide, Tranexamic Acid and Brightening Rules
Niacinamide, tranexamic acid, arbutin, alpha-arbutin, kojic acid and licorice: evidence, use levels, EU 2024/996 limits, hydroquinone bans and...
ProductCeramides, Centella and Hyaluronic Acid: Barrier Guide
Ceramides (NP, AP, EOP), the lipid ratio, centella and madecassoside, hyaluronic acid forms and weights, panthenol, glycerin, squalane and barrier...
ProductSerum vs Ampoule vs Essence and Other Skincare Textures
Serum, ampoule, essence, toner, lotion, gel cream, cream, balm, oil and sleeping mask explained: emulsion type, use, cost, packaging and how to brief...
ProductFragrance-Free, Sensitive-Skin and Pregnancy-Safe Skincare
Fragrance-free vs unscented, the new EU and Canada fragrance allergen labels, formulating for sensitive skin, and why a pregnancy-safe claim needs...
ProductSkincare Shelf Life, PAO and Preservatives Explained
Shelf life vs PAO, when the EU needs a best-before date, US expiry rules for drugs, how stability data sets shelf life, preservative limits and...
ProductWho Owns Your Skincare Formula? NDAs and Exclusivity
Who owns a skincare formula under OEM, ODM and private label, what an NDA does and does not cover, exclusivity, formula transfer, and how to switch...
ProductReformulating Skincare for the US and EU Markets
Why a US skincare formula may be illegal in the EU and the reverse: Annexes II to VI, CMR bans, microplastics, allergens, OTC drugs, Prop 65, state...
ProductHow to Start a Men's Skincare Line: Products and Claims
Plan a men's skincare line: core products (cleanser, all-in-one, shave, SPF, scalp), texture and scent, claims that stay cosmetic, packaging and...
ProductBaby and Kids Skincare: EU and US Rules, Claims, Testing
Start a baby or kids skincare line: EU safety assessment for under 3s, Annex warnings, US rules and child-resistant packs, tear-free and pediatrician...
ProductPet Shampoo and Grooming Products: US, EU and UK Rules
Pet shampoos are not human cosmetics. When a grooming product becomes an animal drug or a pesticide in the US, how the EU and UK classify it, claims...
ProductIntimate Care Products: Cosmetic, Medical Device or Drug?
Intimate washes, wipes, sprays and lubricants: which are cosmetics and which are medical devices or drugs in the US and EU, pH, claims to avoid and...
Claims and compliance
Skincare Claims: What You Can Say and How to Prove It
What a skincare brand can claim in the US, EU and UK, claim by claim: clinically proven, dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic, anti-aging, clean...
ClaimsBefore-and-After Photos, Testimonials and Reviews: Rules
How skincare brands use before-and-after photos, testimonials and reviews legally: FTC rules, Amazon Vine, TikTok Shop, UK DMCC fake review ban, EU...
ClaimsFTC and ASA Skincare Advertising Rules, With Real Cases
Skincare advertising rules in the US (FTC Act, substantiation, influencer disclosure), UK (CAP Code, ASA rulings) and EU (UCPD), with real cases and...
ClaimsCosmetic Adverse Events and Recalls: A Plan for Brands
How skincare brands handle reactions and recalls: MoCRA serious adverse event reports in 15 business days, EU and UK SUE rules, Canada, and a...
ClaimsProduct Liability Insurance for Skincare Brands
What product liability insurance covers for a skincare brand, Amazon and Walmart requirements, additional insured, recall cover, liability when the...
ClaimsProp 65 and US State Cosmetic Ingredient Bans
California Prop 65 warnings, the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, PFAS bans in more than 10 states, Washington, Vermont and New York rules, and one formula...
ClaimsCosmetic vs Drug: When Skincare Claims Make It a Drug
Where skincare becomes a drug: acne, dandruff, hair regrowth, skin lightening, antiperspirant and sunscreen rules in the US, EU, Canada, Japan, Korea...
ClaimsSunscreen Regulation and SPF Testing by Market
Sunscreen rules in the US (OTC drug, M020, Drug Facts), EU, UK, Australia, Canada, Korea and Japan: permitted filters, SPF and UVA tests, labels and...
Regulation per market
MoCRA Compliance for Skincare Brands, Step by Step (2026)
MoCRA in depth: facility registration vs product listing, US agent, responsible person, adverse events, safety records, small business limits and...
Regulation per marketEU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 for Skincare Brands
EU Cosmetics Regulation in depth: Responsible Person, CPSR, PIF, CPNP, Annexes II to VI, and the 2024 to 2026 ingredient changes, allergens, nano and...
Regulation per marketUK Cosmetics Regulation: UK RP, SCPN and GB Rules
UK cosmetics law in depth: UK Responsible Person, safety report, PIF, SCPN, GB label, Northern Ireland, enforcement, and where GB rules differ from...
Regulation per marketCanada Cosmetics Regulation: CNF, Hotlist, Labels
Canada cosmetics rules in depth: Cosmetic Notification Form within 10 days, the Hotlist, English and French labels, 2026 fragrance allergens, and...
Regulation per marketAustralia and NZ Cosmetics Regulation: AICIS, TGA, EPA
Australian cosmetics rules in depth: AICIS registration and categorization, the cosmetics labeling standard, TGA sunscreens and claims, plus New...
Regulation per marketJapan Cosmetics Regulation: PMD Act, Quasi-Drugs, Labels
Japan cosmetics rules in depth: marketing license holder, foreign manufacturer and product notifications, Standards for Cosmetics, quasi-drugs, the...
Regulation per marketChina Cosmetics Regulation (CSAR, NMPA) for Skincare
China CSAR explained: NMPA filing vs registration, the domestic responsible person, animal testing exemptions, claims, Chinese labels and...
Regulation per marketIndia Cosmetics Rules 2020: CDSCO Import Registration
How to import skincare into India: CDSCO Form COS-1 on SUGAM, the COS-2 certificate, fees per category, site and variant, labels, animal testing ban.
Regulation per marketSaudi SFDA and GCC Cosmetics Regulation for Skincare
How to sell skincare in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf: SFDA eCosma listing, the Saudi importer, GSO 1943, Arabic labels, halal, G-Mark and SABER...
Regulation per marketUAE Cosmetics Regulation: Montaji, MoIAT and GSO 1943
How to sell skincare legally in the UAE: Dubai Municipality Montaji registration, MoIAT conformity under ECAS, GSO 1943 labels, halal, fees and...
Regulation per marketASEAN Cosmetics Regulation, Country by Country
ASEAN Cosmetic Directive explained: notification in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam, local holder, PIF, labels...
Regulation per marketBrazil ANVISA and Mexico COFEPRIS Cosmetics Rules
How to sell skincare in Brazil and Mexico: ANVISA Grade 1 and 2, notification vs registration, the AFE holder, COFEPRIS, NOM-141 labels and NOM-259...
Regulation per marketTurkey and Israel Cosmetics Regulation for Skincare Brands
How to sell skincare in Turkey (TITCK, ÜTS notification, Turkish responsible person) and Israel (Ministry of Health notification, responsible...
Money and operations
Skincare Pricing: Wholesale, Retail, DTC and Keystone
How to price skincare: the full cost stack, margin vs markup, keystone, wholesale at 50% of retail, distributor, Amazon and TikTok Shop fees, MAP and...
MoneySkincare Cash Flow, Inventory and Reorder Planning
Cash flow for a skincare brand: deposit to cash back, weeks of cover, safety stock, reorder points, lead times from Korea, financing, and a 13-week...
MoneySkincare 3PL and Fulfillment: FBA, WFS, FBT by Country
How to fulfill skincare orders: self-fulfillment, 3PL, Amazon FBA, Walmart WFS, TikTok FBT and MCF, what a cosmetics 3PL needs, fee structure, and...
MoneyHow to Pay a Skincare Manufacturer Abroad Safely
Paying a cosmetics manufacturer abroad: deposits and milestones, wire vs PayPal vs card vs escrow vs letter of credit, verifying a Korean company...
MoneyHS Codes and Import Duties for Skincare: 3304, 3305, 3401
HS codes for skincare, duty rates in the US, EU, UK, Canada and Australia, Korea FTAs, de minimis, import VAT and US tariffs on Korean goods (October...
MoneyIncoterms, LCL vs FCL and Customs Brokers for Skincare
Incoterms 2020 for skincare imports (EXW, FCA, FOB, CFR, CIF, DAP, DDP), why FOB Incheon, air vs sea, LCL vs FCL and CBM math, customs bonds, ISF and...
MoneyShipping Alcohol-Based and Aerosol Cosmetics: Hazmat Rules
Hazmat rules for cosmetics: flash point, UN1266, UN1950 aerosols, IATA limited quantities, IMDG, SDS section 14, couriers, USPS and Amazon FBA review.
MoneyTrademarks Abroad for Skincare Brands: The Madrid System
Protect a skincare brand abroad: how the Madrid System works, dependency and central attack, EUIPO and national filings, which markets first, costs...
Selling platforms
Selling Skincare on Shopify: Setup, Payments, Tax
Set up a Shopify store for a skincare brand: plan, theme, apps, product page rules, payments, duties at checkout, sales tax and VAT, reviews, email...
Selling platformsSelling Skincare on TikTok Shop: Approval, Creators, Fees
TikTok Shop for skincare brands: who can sell from Korea, beauty category documents, shelf-life rules, creators and affiliates, LIVE, GMV Max ads...
Selling platformsSkincare Influencer Marketing: Vetting, Pay, Contracts
How skincare brands find, vet, pay and contract influencers: gifting, paid, affiliate and ambassador deals, usage rights, Spark Ads, FTC and ASA...
Selling platformsSkincare Brand Collabs, Co-Branding and Clinic Lines
How skincare collaborations work: co-branded products, artist and cafe collabs, salon, spa and clinic partnerships, collab agreements, legal roles...
Selling platformsSelling Skincare on Amazon: Approval, FBA, Insurance
Skincare on Amazon step by step: Brand Registry, restricted products, listings, FBA expiry and prep, hazmat review, insurance, Vine and importing...
Selling platformsAmazon PPC for Skincare: Campaigns, ACoS, TACoS, Plan
Amazon ads for a skincare brand: Sponsored Products, Brands and display ads, keyword research, match types, bids, ACoS and TACoS math, and a 30/60/90...
Selling platformsSelling Skincare on Walmart Marketplace: Approval, Fees
How to sell skincare on Walmart Marketplace in 2026: who is approved for beauty, the documents Walmart asks for, Brand Portal, WFS, referral fees and...
Selling platformsCan You Sell Skincare on Etsy? Rules, Fees and Claims
Can you sell skincare on Etsy in 2026? Handmade and production partner rules, banned ingredients and medical claims, EU and UK buyer rules, fees and...
Selling platformsGoogle Shopping for Skincare: Merchant Center and Fixes
Google Shopping for skincare brands: Merchant Center setup, product data for cosmetics, health claim policies, free listings vs Shopping ads vs...
Selling platformsInstagram and Facebook Shops and Meta Ads for Skincare
Instagram and Facebook Shops and Meta ads for skincare in 2026: Shops by country, Commerce Manager, ad policies on before and after and claims...
Selling platformsYouTube for Skincare Brands: Shorts, Shopping and Ads
YouTube for skincare brands: channel strategy, Shorts vs long form, creator deals and paid promotion disclosure, YouTube Shopping eligibility, video...
Selling platformsPinterest for Skincare Brands: Catalogs, Pins and Ads
Pinterest for skincare brands: business account, catalogs and product Pins, Pinterest ad rules for beauty, keywords and boards, video Pins...
Selling platformsSkincare Launch Playbook: First 90 Days, Channel Margins
A week-by-week skincare launch plan from 60 days before stock lands to day 90: waitlist, seeding, reviews, KPIs, and margins on DTC, Amazon, TikTok...
Growth
Instagram Reels for Skincare Brands: Formats, Hooks, Rules
Organic Instagram for skincare brands: content pillars, Reels formats, hooks, cadence, captions, Broadcast channels, collabs, DMs, claim rules and...
GrowthUGC Creators for Skincare Ads: Briefs, Rights, Pricing
How skincare brands use UGC creators for ads: UGC vs influencers, finding creators, claim-safe briefs and scripts, usage rights, whitelisting...
GrowthSkincare Email and SMS Flows: Timing, Content, Consent
The email and SMS flows a skincare brand needs (welcome, cart, routine, reviews, refill reminders, win-back), with CAN-SPAM, TCPA, GDPR, PECR and...
Export, documents and agreements
What Marketplaces Ask a Skincare Brand to Prove (2026)
Amazon, TikTok Shop, Walmart, Etsy, Shopify, Shopee, Lazada, Qoo10, Noon, Nykaa, Ulta, Sephora and Target Plus: who can sell and which cosmetic...
ExportEU Cosmetics Ingredient Rule Changes 2024 to 2028
Dated tracker of EU cosmetics ingredient changes 2024 to 2028: vitamin A, arbutin, kojic acid, TPO, allergens, nano, microplastics, with UK status.
ExportCosmetic Export Documents: COA, SDS, CFS, GMP and COO
Every document importers, customs, marketplaces and regulators ask for when you export skincare: what it is, who issues it, who needs it and how long...
ExportSkincare Manufacturing Agreement: Clause by Clause
What a skincare manufacturing and supply agreement should cover, clause by clause: specs, formula ownership, MOQ, payment, AQL defects, recalls...
ExportISO 22716 Cosmetics GMP Explained: What It Proves
What ISO 22716 covers, what a GMP certificate proves and does not, how to check one, MoCRA and EU GMP rules, and a factory audit checklist for...
ExportEU GPSR, PPWR and EPR Packaging Rules for Cosmetics
How the EU GPSR, the PPWR packaging regulation and EPR registration in France, Germany, Spain and Italy apply to skincare sold online, with dates and...
ExportDo I Need a License to Sell Skincare? US, UK, EU, Canada
Do you need a license to sell skincare? Clear yes or no answers for the US, UK, EU, Canada and Australia, selling from home, and making it yourself...
What Korean skincare OEM really costs: MOQ, unit price and the fees nobody lists
How a unit price is built, what changes it, what a first run of 500 or 1,000 units realistically costs and where quotes hide money.
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OEM vs ODM vs private label vs white label
Four words that get mixed up in every first email. What each one means for ownership, speed, cost and exclusivity, and which one fits your launch.
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12 questions to ask any Korean skincare manufacturer before you pay a deposit
The questions that separate a reliable partner from an expensive lesson, and the answers you should expect.
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Exporting Korean-made skincare: FDA MoCRA, EU CPNP and the documents you actually need
What each market requires, who must be the responsible person, and the file your customs broker expects.
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How to start a skincare brand with a Korean OEM, week by week
A week-by-week plan from brief to delivery, including what you must decide and when.
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