Liz Song 10/21/26 Liz Song 10/21/26

Will Korea-Made Skincare Survive US Parcel Shipping? Drop & Leak Tests

Test filled droppers, pumps and jars before mass production: what ISTA 3A checks, USPS rules for liquids, and Amazon's end of US FBA prep in 2026.

Liz Song 10/20/26 Liz Song 10/20/26

Product Liability Insurance for Beauty Brands on Amazon and in Retail

What insurance Amazon and retailers require from beauty brands: CGL with products cover, an additional insured certificate, and Amazon's Nov 2, 2026 rule.

Liz Song 10/19/26 Liz Song 10/19/26

Why FDA Detains Korea-Made Cosmetics: Import Alerts for Founders

FDA holds Korea-made cosmetics over color additives, microbes and drug claims. How import alerts work, and a pre-PO checklist to keep shipments moving.

Liz Song 10/18/26 Liz Song 10/18/26

There Is No FDA Cosmetics Certificate: How to Prove MoCRA Compliance

FDA issues no certificate for cosmetic registration or listing. What to send a retailer instead, and how to read paid FDA certificate offers.

Liz Song 10/17/26 Liz Song 10/17/26

With De Minimis Suspended, How Do K-Beauty Samples Clear US Customs?

De minimis is suspended, so Korean ODM samples need a customs entry and pay duty. How courier and mail sample boxes clear, who pays, and where FDA fits.

Liz Song 10/16/26 Liz Song 10/16/26

7 US Label and MoCRA Checks Before You Approve a Final Formula

Close seven US checks before you sign off a Korean ODM formula: ingredient list, colors, state bans, Prop 65, origin marking, MoCRA data and drug status.

Liz Song 10/15/26 Liz Song 10/15/26

EXW, FOB or DDP From Korea: Who Clears US Customs on Your Cosmetics?

EXW and FOB make your brand the US importer of record that pays duty and clears customs. DDP moves that to the supplier. Here is what changes for cosmetics.

Liz Song 10/14/26 Liz Song 10/14/26

The Korean Derma Cosmetics Trend: A Founder's Guide to the Segment

Why pharma- and clinic-born derma brands lead K-beauty growth, how Korean ODMs build them, and where derma claims turn into drug claims in Korea and the US.

Liz Song 10/13/26 Liz Song 10/13/26

Vitamin C Derivatives Compared: A K-Beauty Serum Ingredient Guide

L-ascorbic acid vs ethyl ascorbic acid, MAP, SAP, ascorbyl glucoside and THD: pH, stability, MFDS brightening status and US claims for founders.

Liz Song 10/12/26 Liz Song 10/12/26

PHA in K-Beauty: Gluconolactone and Lactobionic Acid Ingredient Guide

PHAs like gluconolactone and lactobionic acid power gentle K-beauty toners and pads. What founders need on pH, preservation, labels and claims.

Liz Song 10/11/26 Liz Song 10/11/26

How to Develop a K-Beauty Lip Treatment: Format, Actives, Tint, SPF

A 7-step protocol for developing a K-beauty lip treatment: pick the format and base, choose actives, clear tint colors and SPF rules, then test.

Liz Song 10/10/26 Liz Song 10/10/26

PFAS Banned in Cosmetics: State Laws, MoCRA and K-Beauty Formulas

Seven US states ban intentionally added PFAS in cosmetics. See where PFAS hide in K-beauty formulas and what to ask your Korean factory before a PO.

Liz Song 10/9/26 Liz Song 10/9/26

Kids and Tween Skincare From Korea: Safe-Formula Rules Compared

Korea regulates cosmetics for kids up to age 13 with a safety file. The EU and US use different rules. Compare all three before you brief a factory.

Liz Song 10/8/26 Liz Song 10/8/26

Zinc Pyrithione Shampoo From Korea: EU Ban, FDA Drug Rules

Korea sells zinc pyrithione shampoo as a cosmetic. The EU bans it, and the FDA treats dandruff and hair-loss claims as drug claims. Plan before your PO.

Liz Song 10/7/26 Liz Song 10/7/26

Salicylic Acid Acne Products From Korea: FDA OTC Rules, Step by Step

A Korean acne cleanser can be a cosmetic in Seoul and an OTC drug in the US. Seven steps from salicylic acid limits to Drug Facts, before your first PO.

Liz Song 10/6/26 Liz Song 10/6/26

Who Owns Your K-Beauty Formula? IP Rules Before an ODM Deal

Your Korean ODM may keep the formula you paid to develop. Trademark filing order, formula clauses and trade secret steps to settle before your first PO.