Buy Japanese Skincare Shipped to the USA, Duties Prepaid: How It Works

Japanese drugstore skincare has a loyal following in the United States, but the versions sold in Japan are not always easy to find at home, and since 2025 ordering from overseas has come with a new question: who pays the import duty, and when? This guide explains how ordering Japanese skincare from Tokyo works for a US address at Eurasia Japan, what you pay at checkout, what we cannot ship, and which products from Hada Labo, Curél, MINON, Sekkisei and Keana Nadeshiko are a good place to start.

How ordering from Tokyo works for a US address

Eurasia Japan ships original Japanese products to the United States directly from Tokyo. Every item is a single retail pack with a JAN code, the barcode used on the Japanese market. We buy from Japanese manufacturers, their distributors and Japanese retail stores, and ship from Japan.

The order flow is the same as for any online store, with a few details worth knowing in advance:

1. Pick products in the catalog. Each product page lists the manufacturer's description, ingredients and directions for use.
2. The cart groups your order into parcels within the weight limit the post accepts for your country and shows how much is left to reach the minimum order.
3. At checkout you sign in or create a free account and pay by card through Stripe (Visa, Mastercard, JCB and American Express). The order is confirmed instantly, without a manager review.
4. Once the parcel ships, a tracking number appears in your account.

All delivery details for the US are collected on one page: shipping to the United States.

US import duty is prepaid at checkout

Since 29 August 2025 there is no duty-free threshold for these parcels: US duty applies to every parcel, whatever its value. Japan Post now accepts goods for the United States only with the duty prepaid, so we use a duty-prepaid (DDP) shipping label processed through Zonos, a cross-border duty service.

For you this means one thing: there is nothing to pay on delivery. The US import duty (12.5% of the value of the goods) and the customs clearance fee are calculated at checkout and included in your payment. The cart already shows an estimate of the duty and fee before you check out, and the checkout lists them as a separate line, "US import duty (prepaid, DDP)". For example, on ¥10,000 of products the duty part is ¥1,250; the clearance fee is added on top of it in the same line. The duty is calculated on the amount you actually pay for the goods, after any cashback you apply.

Shipping is not part of the duty base, and the rate itself comes from the store's settings, so the checkout figure is always the one that counts.

Prices in US dollars, payment in yen

Visitors from the United States see prices in US dollars by default, and the currency switcher in the header can also show yen and a few other currencies. The card is always charged in Japanese yen, which is the store's base currency and the authoritative amount. Your bank converts the yen amount at its own rate, so the final figure on your statement can differ slightly from the dollar price you saw on the site.

Minimum order, shipping cost and insurance

The minimum order for the United States is ¥8,000 in products. Shipping is not counted towards the minimum, and the checkout button becomes active as soon as you reach it. Shipping is charged by the actual weight of the parcel, with no minimum weight, and a very large order is split into several parcels automatically. Every parcel is insured for the full value of the goods.

When your order leaves Tokyo

Items from our warehouse in Tokyo are usually dispatched within 3-5 business days of payment. Items sourced to order usually ship within 7-10 business days, because we buy them for your order first. Each product page shows which estimate applies. These are estimates, not guarantees: Japanese holiday periods (late December to early January, Golden Week in May, Obon in August) and supplier delays can add time. If the delay exceeds 14 business days, we let you know and offer to wait or to cancel with a full refund.

What cannot be shipped to the US

Some items cannot travel by international mail from Japan at all, for any country:

• aerosols, flammable liquids (including alcohol-based perfumes and nail polish) and oxidisers such as bleach-type products;
• loose lithium batteries and power banks (a device with a built-in battery can be shipped to the United States, no more than two per parcel);
• e-cigarettes and heated tobacco devices;
• plants, seeds and items made from CITES-protected species.

Some cosmetics, including sunscreens, liquid and cream deodorants and foundations, are accepted by the post only with a composition document from the manufacturer; if the manufacturer does not provide one, we cannot ship the item. For that reason this guide does not feature sunscreens or SPF products. If it turns out after payment that an item cannot be sent to your country, we cancel that item and refund its price in full.

One more thing to keep in mind: these products are made for the Japanese market. Packaging, labels and instructions are in Japanese, the English text on our site is a translation of the manufacturer's information, and the products have not been assessed by the FDA.

Eight Japanese skincare picks that ship to the US

These products are in the catalog now and none of them is an SPF product. Descriptions follow the manufacturers' own information.

• Hada Labo Gokujun Premium Hyaluronic Acid Lotion, 170 ml. A hydrating lotion with eight types of hyaluronic acid; the maker lists it as mildly acidic and free of fragrance, coloring, oil, ethanol and parabens.
• Hada Labo Gokujyun Perfect Gel, 100 g. An all-in-one moisturizing gel with five types of hyaluronic acid, squalane, ceramide and sacran, for people who prefer a single step.
• Curél Intensive Moisture Care Face Lotion II (Moist), 150 ml. A Kao lotion from the ceramide-care line for dry, sensitive skin; type II is the middle, moist texture.
• Curél Intensive Moisture Care Moisture Face Cream, 40 g. The cream from the same line, described by the maker as very moisturizing yet light to the touch.
• MINON Amino Moist Moist Charge Lotion II, Extra Moist Type, 150 mL. A rich lotion with nine moisturizing amino acids and glycerin, made by a pharmaceutical company for sensitive skin.
• MINON Amino Moist Moist Creamy Wash, 100 g. A paste cleanser with a dense, creamy foam; fragrance-free, colorant-free and weakly acidic according to the maker.
• Sekkisei Clear Wellness Moist Repair Milk, Fragrance-Free, 100mL. A low-irritant milk the maker positions for sensitive skin, also comfortable on the body.
• Keana Nadeshiko Rice Sheet Mask, 10 sheets. Ten thick sheet masks in a resealable pouch with rice-derived ingredients, left on for about five minutes.

You can browse each brand's full lineup on the Hada Labo, Curél, MINON, Sekkisei and Keana Nadeshiko pages, or by step on the face lotions, creams and milks and cleansers pages. The whole category is on the face care catalog page.

How to build an order over the ¥8,000 minimum

The simplest way is to think in routines rather than single items. A cleanser, a lotion and a cream from the same line usually work as a set, and refill packs (Hada Labo, Curél and MINON all sell them) are a practical second item because they are lighter than a full bottle. Sheet masks are another easy add: they weigh little and are used up regularly. Skincare also combines well with hair and body care in one parcel, so a shampoo or hand cream can round out an order without a second shipment.

5% of every order comes back to your account as cashback in yen once the order is delivered, and you can spend it on the next order at checkout.

Returns and cancellations

An order can be cancelled within 48 hours of payment while it has not shipped; after that we are already buying the goods for your order. Unopened items in their original sealed packaging can be returned within 14 days of delivery: email info@eurasiajp.com with your order number first and we send you the return address in Japan. Return shipping is paid by the customer, and opened cosmetics cannot be returned for hygiene reasons. Full terms are on the Returns & Claims page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay customs or duty when the parcel arrives in the US? No. The US import duty (12.5% of the goods value) and the customs clearance fee are calculated at checkout and included in your payment, so there is nothing to pay on delivery.

Is there a minimum order for the United States? Yes, ¥8,000 in products. Shipping is not counted towards it, and the cart shows how much is left to add.

Can I order Japanese sunscreen to the US? Sunscreens are accepted by the post only with a composition document from the manufacturer, so not every sunscreen can be shipped. This guide sticks to products without SPF; if an item cannot be sent after you pay, we cancel it and refund its price in full.

Are prices charged in dollars? Prices are shown in US dollars for convenience, but the card is charged in Japanese yen. Your bank converts the amount at its own rate.