Save $22 on the Summer Fridays Iced Coffee balm by grabbing it from the US via a freight forwarder

February 05, 2026
Save $22 on the Summer Fridays Iced Coffee balm by grabbing it from the US via a freight forwarder

Why the Iced Coffee flavor is basically gold in 2026

If you have been scrolling through your feed lately, you’ve probably seen the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Iced Coffee. It’s that perfect neutral tint with a scent that reminds everyone of a chilled vanilla latte. In Australia, trying to find this at local retailers like MECCA has become a bit of a sport—and not the fun kind. It is chronically sold out, and the restock alerts are gone before you can even click the link.

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Because the demand is so high in 2026, many Aussie beauty lovers are looking toward the source. Buying directly from the US isn't just about availability anymore; it’s about making sure you actually get the product before the resellers mark it up by 300% on marketplace sites. When you shop US store sites directly, you’re looking at the full inventory rather than the leftovers sent to the Southern Hemisphere.

The lazy method for buying from US stores

Look, we all want the balm, but nobody wants to spend three hours filling out customs forms or worrying about whether a US shop even ships to Sydney or Melbourne. The most straightforward way to handle this is to use a freight forwarder. This gives you a tax-free US address (usually in Oregon) that you can type into the checkout page of Summer Fridays or Sephora US.

Once your Iced Coffee balm hits that US warehouse, the freight forwarder handles the heavy lifting. They’ll notify you, and then you just tell them to send it home. It’s the easiest way to bypass those annoying "We don't ship to your country" pop-ups that ruin a good shopping session.

The fix for stores that hate international cards

Here is a situation many of us have faced: you find the balm in stock at Sephora US or a big department store, you get all the way to checkout, and then—denied. Some major US retailers have a habit of blocking international credit cards or instantly cancelling orders that use a known shipping warehouse address. It’s incredibly frustrating when you just want to spend your money.

This is where the buy for me or proxy shopping service becomes a total lifesaver. Instead of fighting with the checkout page, you can use comGateway's "BuyForMe" service. You simply tell them what you want, and they buy the item on your behalf using a US domestic credit card. This is the safest way to guarantee your order doesn't get flagged and cancelled by picky US fraud filters. It takes the stress out of the process because someone else is dealing with the store's payment quirks for you.

Getting your package to Australia without the stress

Once your goods are secured, the next step is the international shipping part. You don’t want your lip balm sitting in a warehouse forever. Most people prefer a reliable FedEx international shipping or DHL international shipping option because you get real-time tracking and it usually arrives at your door in Australia within 5 to 8 business days.

If you're worried about how much it’s going to cost to move a few lip balms across the Pacific, you should check the international shipping rates before you commit. A pro tip for the lazy shopper: try to buy 2 or 3 balms at once, or shop for some other US-only goodies. Shipping one tiny tube can be pricey, but when you bundle a few items together, the cost per item drops significantly.

Using a shipping calculator

Before you hit pay, always use a shipping calculator to get an idea of the total landed cost. You just put in the weight and dimensions, and it gives you an estimate. If you have more questions about how the process works, the FAQ section is usually pretty helpful for first-timers.

The number crunch: Is it actually cheaper?

Let's look at the actual math for February 2026. In Australia, if you can even find a reseller with stock, you might be looking at $65 to $80 AUD for a single tube.

Item/Service US Price (Approx AUD)
Summer Fridays Lip Balm (US Retail) $38.00
Shipping & Handling (Bundled) $15.00
Total $53.00

By using a freight forwarder and avoiding the local price gouging, you can easily save $22 or more per tube, especially if you are grabbing a few extras for friends or adding other viral US beauty products to your box. It turns a luxury splurge into a much more reasonable purchase.

Import tax and GST for Australian shoppers

The good news for us in Australia is that the import tax rules are fairly straightforward for low-value goods. As of 2026, most items under $1,000 AUD don't incur heavy customs duties, though you will still need to account for the 10% GST. Usually, your parcel forwarding service or the carrier will handle the GST collection at the point of shipping, so you don't have to deal with any confusing paperwork when the package arrives at the border. It stays true to the lazy method: pay once, and wait for the doorbell to ring.

So, if you’re tired of checking the MECCA app every morning only to see "Out of Stock," just go the US route. It’s faster, often cheaper when you bundle, and with a buy for me service, you won't have to deal with the headache of cancelled orders.

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