Everything I learned while shipping the Summer Fridays Birthday Cake balm to the UAE

Why I think everyone is obsessed with the Birthday Cake flavor

I woke up last week to my TikTok feed being absolutely flooded with the new Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in 'Birthday Cake'. Since it is their anniversary limited edition release for May 2026, the hype is real. I’ve always been a fan of their vanilla and cherry tints, but this one has a subtle shimmer and a scent that actually smells like a fresh bakery. I love keeping up with the latest us trends, and it was clear this was the must-have item of the season.

Start Your Buy For Me Request for Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm 'Birthday Cake' (Limited Edition)

Merchant Summer Fridays Sephora US Kohl's

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The problem I ran into immediately was that it is currently unavailable here in the United Arab Emirates. Even the local Sephora branches don't have a date for it. I knew if I wanted to get my hands on it before it sold out forever, I had to shop us store sites like the official Summer Fridays website or Sephora US directly.

My struggle with buying from US Sephora

I’ve tried ordering from big US retailers before, and it can be a headache. Many stores, including Sephora and Nike, are notorious for blocking international credit cards or simply cancelling orders if they see a known freight forwarder address. I tried using my local UAE card on the Sephora US site, and my order was cancelled within minutes. It is incredibly frustrating when you just want a limited-edition lip balm.

How I used BuyForMe to avoid order cancellations

To get around this, I turned to the comGateway BuyForMe service. This is basically an assisted purchase service where they buy the item on my behalf. Because they use a US domestic credit card and a residential-style processing system, the stores don't flag the order. I found this to be the safest way to guarantee my Birthday Cake balm didn't get cancelled again. I simply sent them the link, and they handled the rest. It saved me so much time and stress, especially since these limited drops sell out so fast in 2026.

My shipping estimates for the UAE

I know many of you are worried about the cost of shipping a single small item across the world. I used the shipping calculator to get a better idea of what I would be paying. Here is the breakdown of what I found for a single tube of Summer Fridays balm:

I usually suggest waiting to buy a few more things to bundle together. I've used package forwarding to combine this balm with a few other US-exclusive snacks and clothes. This way, I maximize my shipping fees using a single international shipping service.

What I learned about UAE import duties

When I wanted to ship to United Arab Emirates, I had to keep our local customs rules in mind. As of 2026, the UAE typically has a de minimis threshold for imports. I made sure to check the latest guide on import duties to see if I would owe anything extra. Usually, for a small cosmetic order under 300 AED, you might only be looking at 5% VAT and minimal handling fees, but it's always good to be prepared so there are no surprises at my door in Dubai.

I am so glad I went through the effort. The 'Birthday Cake' flavor is everything the TikTok reviews promised it would be. If you are looking to grab one before they disappear, using a proxy service and a reliable forwarder is definitely the way to go.