Tariff Rates
Tariff on Cosmetics & Personal Care: The Beauty Tax You Didn't Know About
U.S. tariffs on imported cosmetics and personal care products add 5-20% to retail prices. The average household pays $80-200 per year in hidden tariff costs on skincare, makeup, and personal care items. These duties are eligible for refund through the CBP CAPE program.
5-20%
tariff rate range
$80-200/year
avg. household impact
$20 billion
total U.S. imports
How Much Do Tariffs Add to Cosmetics & Personal Care Prices?
Here's what tariffs actually cost you on common cosmetics & personal care purchases.
| Product | Tariff Rate | Price Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Skincare Products | 5-15% | $3-15 per product |
| Hair Care | 5-10% | $2-8 per product |
| Makeup/Cosmetics | 5-20% | $3-20 per item |
| Fragrances | 5-10% | $5-15 per bottle |
| Beauty Tools (brushes, etc.) | 15-25% | $3-15 per item |
The bigger picture: According to the Yale Budget Lab, U.S. tariffs cost the average American household $3,800 per year across all product categories. Cosmetics & Personal Care accounts for an estimated $80-200/year of that total.
Which Cosmetics & Personal Care Products Are Most Affected?
Skincare Products
Low impact5-15%
tariff rate
This adds $3-15 per product to the price you pay.
Hair Care
Low impact5-10%
tariff rate
This adds $2-8 per product to the price you pay.
Makeup/Cosmetics
Low impact5-20%
tariff rate
This adds $3-20 per item to the price you pay.
Fragrances
Low impact5-10%
tariff rate
This adds $5-15 per bottle to the price you pay.
Beauty Tools (brushes, etc.)
Medium impact15-25%
tariff rate
This adds $3-15 per item to the price you pay.
Where Does Cosmetics & Personal Care Come From?
Tariff rates vary by country of origin. Here are the top countries exporting cosmetics & personal care to the United States.
China faces the highest tariff rates (up to 145% on some goods) due to Section 301 and IEEPA tariffs. Other countries face varying rates under IEEPA “reciprocal” tariffs.
Can You Get This Money Back?
For Importers
CAPE Tariff Refund Recovery
If you import cosmetics & personal care, your entries may qualify for refund through the CBP CAPE program. Tariffi prepares your declaration data; your licensed customs broker partner files it.
Start your claimFor Consumers
B2B2C Refund Distribution
Individual consumers can't file CAPE declarations directly, but Tariffi's distribution program connects you with importers recovering refunds — so a portion of those savings can flow back to you.
Calculate your impactFrequently Asked Questions
- Are Korean skincare products tariffed?
- Yes. K-beauty products from South Korea face tariffs of 5-15% depending on the product type. Popular products like sheet masks, serums, and essences all include tariff costs in their U.S. retail prices.
- Why are beauty brushes so expensive?
- Makeup brushes and beauty tools from China face 15-25% tariffs — the highest in the cosmetics category. A $30 brush set includes roughly $5-8 in tariff costs.
- Do tariffs affect drugstore brands too?
- Yes. Whether premium or drugstore, cosmetics and personal care products that are imported face the same tariff rates. The impact is proportionally larger on budget products where tariffs represent a bigger share of the retail price.
Related resources
- All tariff rates by product & country — browse tariff impacts across all categories
- Tariff recovery by industry — refund pools for 30+ import sectors
- IEEPA & Section 301 refund guides — step-by-step recovery guides
- Tariff impact calculator — estimate your overpayment and potential refund
Calculate your tariff impact on cosmetics & personal care
See exactly how much tariffs add to the cosmetics & personal care you import or buy — and how much you could recover.
Calculate Your Tariff ImpactQuestions? support@tariffi.io