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Why I’m obsessed with the Summer Fridays Birthday Cake balm
I still remember the first time I saw the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Birthday Cake on my social feed. It felt like everyone in the US was flaunting that iridescent sparkle and sweet vanilla scent while we in Malaysia were left refreshing local store pages only to find it out of stock—again. In early 2026, the hype hasn't slowed down. It is that perfect mix of a deep hydration treatment and a subtle, celebratory shimmer that works for a night out in KL or just a casual coffee run.
See more about shipping to Malaysia
The problem is that these limited edition flavors often stay US-exclusives for months. By the time they officially arrive on our shores, the trend has moved on, or the prices have been inflated by third-party sellers to a level that just feels wrong. I decided I wasn't going to wait around or pay double the price for a product that retails for a fraction of that in the States.
The massive price gap between the US and Malaysia
I did some quick math and the results were eye-opening. In the US, the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm retails for about $24. At current 2026 exchange rates, that is roughly RM 110. However, when I looked at local luxury resellers or specialty boutiques in Malaysia, I was seeing prices as high as RM 185 to RM 210. That is nearly a 100% markup!
I realized that even after paying for international shipping, I could save a significant amount of money—especially if I bundled a few other US-exclusive beauty items into one package. By using comGateway as my **freight forwarder**, I was able to access a **tax-free us address**, which meant I didn't even have to pay US sales tax on my purchase. This small win made the price gap even more favorable for my wallet.
How I bypassed credit card blocks with BuyForMe
I hit a major snag when I first tried to check out at a major US beauty retailer. My Malaysian credit card was declined instantly. I found out the hard way that many US stores, including big names like Sephora, Nike, and Apple, often block international credit cards or refuse to ship to addresses they flag as forwarders. It was incredibly frustrating to have the Birthday Cake balm in my cart only to have the order cancelled minutes later.
This is where I discovered the **proxy shopping service** known as BuyForMe. Instead of me struggling with my local card, I asked comGateway to buy the item on my behalf. They used a US domestic payment method, which the store accepted without any issues. I found this to be the safest way to guarantee my order didn't get cancelled by picky automated systems. If you are tired of seeing "Order Cancelled" emails, this service is a total lifesaver for those difficult-to-buy US brands.
My step-by-step guide to shipping from the US
I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to be surprised by the final bill, so I used a **shipping calculator** to estimate shipping cost before I placed my order. Once I had my items ready at my US address, I followed the step-by-step guide on **how it works** to get my package ready for its journey to Malaysia.
The process was smoother than I expected. I received a notification when my Birthday Cake balm arrived at the warehouse, and I was able to manage everything from my phone. I also made sure to check the list of prohibited items to ensure that my beauty products didn't fall under any **restricted goods** categories. Luckily, lip balms are perfectly fine to ship!
What I learned about Malaysian import duties in 2026
I was initially worried about **customs tax** once my package arrived in Malaysia. I spent some time reading up on import duties and how **GST/VAT** or SST might apply to my haul. In 2026, Malaysia has specific de minimis values—basically a price threshold below which you don't have to pay extra taxes on imported goods.
Because I was only shipping a few tubes of the Summer Fridays balm and some other small skincare treats, my total value stayed within the safe zone. This meant my **shipping from US to Malaysia** was not only fast but also tax-efficient. If you are planning a massive haul, I definitely recommend checking the current thresholds to see if you'll be hit with an **import tax** at the border. My package arrived at my door in Kuala Lumpur just a week after it left the US warehouse, perfectly intact and ready for my first application of that sweet Birthday Cake goodness.
Check our guide on the latest 2026 shipping trends if you want to see what else is worth grabbing from the States right now. For me, I am just happy to finally have my favorite lip balm without the local markup!
