Summer Fridays Iced Coffee vs Buying Locally in Korea: The lazy way to shop the US release

The Hype behind Summer Fridays Iced Coffee

If you have been scrolling through social media lately, you have probably seen the aesthetic brown tube everywhere. The Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in 'Iced Coffee' has officially become the must-have accessory for 2026. It is not just about the tint; it is that specific creamy, caffeinated scent that seems to sell out the moment it hits the shelves in the United States.

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See more about shipping to South Korea

For those of us living in South Korea, the struggle is real. While K-beauty is world-class, sometimes you just want that specific US-exclusive glow. The Iced Coffee shade was launched as a seasonal US-first release, meaning it is not sitting on the shelves of your local Olive Young. This has led to a massive surge in people looking to shop US store options directly to get the authentic product before it disappears.

US Pricing vs Korean Reseller Markups

Why bother with international shipping? It mostly comes down to your wallet. When a trend this big hits, local personal shoppers and gray-market resellers in Korea often slap a 40% to 50% markup on the price. You are essentially paying a massive premium just for someone else to click 'order' for you.

By using a freight forwarder, you can buy the balm at its actual US retail price. Even when you add the cost of shipping, it usually ends up being significantly cheaper than buying from a local reseller who is just profiting off the scarcity. Plus, you get the peace of mind knowing the product is 100% genuine and fresh from the warehouse.

The BuyForMe Solution for Difficult US Stores

Here is the part where most people get stuck. You find the balm on Sephora US or the official Summer Fridays website, you add it to your cart, but then—transaction declined. Many major US retailers have a habit of blocking international credit cards or automatically cancelling orders that are being sent to known shipping hubs.

This is where the BuyForMe service becomes your best friend. Instead of you struggling with a card that the store won't accept, comGateway acts as your personal shopper in the US. They use a domestic US credit card to purchase the items on your behalf, which virtually guarantees that your order won't be flagged or cancelled. It is the easiest way to bypass those annoying 'US-only' payment restrictions and ensures your Iced Coffee balm actually starts its journey to your doorstep.

If you have ever had a Sephora order cancelled at 2 AM, you know how frustrating it is. Using an assisted purchase method takes the guesswork out of the process, making it the most reliable path for high-demand beauty drops.

Sephora US vs Summer Fridays Direct

When deciding where to shop, consider that Sephora often has better rewards points, but the Summer Fridays official site might have exclusive bundles. Whichever you choose, proxy shopping works for both, so you can pick the store that currently has the Iced Coffee flavor in stock.

Getting Your Package to South Korea in 2026

Once your balm arrives at your tax-free US address in Oregon, you have full control. Since Oregon has no sales tax, you are already saving money compared to shipping to other US states. From there, you just need to decide how fast you want it.

You can check the international shipping rates to see which courier fits your budget. Most packages to Seoul or Busan take just a few business days once they leave the warehouse. If you are worried about the cost of shipping just one small lip balm, a pro tip is to 'consolidate' your orders. Buy a few more items from different stores and ship them all together in one box to lower the per-item cost.

To get a clear idea of the total spend before you commit, I recommend using the shipping calculator. It helps you estimate shipping cost based on weight and dimensions, so there are no surprises when the bill arrives.

Customs Tax and Import Rules for Beauty Products

South Korea has specific rules about what can come into the country. For most beauty products, you want to stay under the de minimis threshold to avoid extra fees. Currently, for goods coming from the US, you can generally import up to $200 USD (including the cost of the item and domestic US shipping) without paying import duties.

However, keep in mind that this threshold can change or depend on the specific type of product. If you go over the limit, you might be hit with customs tax or a 10% VAT. It is always a good idea to keep your total order value slightly below the limit just to be safe. You might also like to check our guide on prohibited items to ensure you aren't trying to ship something restricted, like certain pressurized aerosols or flammable liquids, though lip balms are generally perfectly fine.

Your Quick Shipping Checklist

Ready to grab that Iced Coffee glow? Here is the 'lazy method' summary for 2026:

• Step 1: Get your tax-free US address.
• Step 2: Use the BuyForMe service if the US store won't accept your Korean card.
• Step 3: Once it hits the warehouse, check the shipping calculator.
• Step 4: Ship it to Korea and keep your total under $200 to avoid import tax.

If you run into any snags, the FAQ section has a ton of info on how to handle specific Korean customs requirements. Happy shopping, and enjoy the best-smelling lip balm of the year!