New York City — The skincare boutique Senti Senti located in Brooklyn offers products that are not commonly available at other U.S. retailers.
Nearly all serums, face masks, and creams at Senti Senti are sourced from South Korea and Japan.
South Korea holds the top spot for cosmetics imports, but it may encounter a 25% tariff if President Trump’s proposal is enacted after a 90-day pause on his new reciprocal tariffs. This pause was announced last week.
A delegation from Japan met at the White House this Wednesday to seek to avert new 24% tariffs on its imports after the end of that 90-day pause.
“They are panic-buying,” stated Marie Del Rosario, manager of Senti Senti. “They are aware that changes are coming. They know everything is about to shift. So, they are purchasing multiple units of their favorite products.”
According to the U.S. International Trade Commission, last year, the U.S. imported over $7.5 billion in cosmetics, with around $1.7 billion coming from South Korea. Recently, retailers have experienced a surge in Korean skincare sales, partly due to the influence of social media figures.
“Our customers come here with intention,” Rosario mentioned. “…Often it’s because they discovered us on social media.”
Carrie Kuiken shared with CBS News that she is shopping for herself and her sister, who resides in Seattle.
“She sends me an entire list of items she desires, and then I ship them to her,” Kuiken explained.
Rosario highlighted that their best-selling item is sunscreen, priced at $17.99. She mentioned that tariffs could likely push the cost over $20.
This situation has raised concerns for the Personal Care Products Council, a trade association representing over 600 brands, including L’Oréal, Neutrogena, Estee Lauder, and Procter & Gamble.
They stated that they are particularly “worried about trade policies that could lead to increased prices for personal care products,” adding that U.S. consumers utilize “about six to 12 products routinely, including sunscreen, toothpaste, shampoo, moisturizer, and fragrance.”
Michelle Ranavat, CEO and founder of her own beauty brand Ranavat, remarked that the cosmetics industry depends on a “rather intricate ecosystem.”
“The prolonged uncertainty makes it increasingly challenging for small businesses to strategize,” Ranavat told CBS News.
Although her products are packaged in the U.S., their ingredients are sourced from India.
“I anticipate the impact will be quite significant,” she assessed regarding the tariffs.
For now, establishments like Senti Senti are bracing for potential challenges.
“We expect to see price increases either by the end of April or in the first week of May,” Rosario said.
