Why I decided to ship a single lip balm from the US to Belgium this February

The mystery behind the Birthday Cake scent

I woke up one morning in February 2026 to see my entire TikTok feed flooded with the Summer Fridays Birthday Cake Lip Butter Balm. I was immediately curious. We all know the original Vanilla or Pink Sugar versions, but this limited-edition release for the brand’s anniversary seemed to have a different hold on everyone. It is described as a shimmering, iridescent finish with a nostalgic buttercream scent that actually tastes like a celebration.

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More about shipping to Belgium

I found myself wondering if the hype was real. After seeing hundreds of reviews, I realized this wasn't just another lip product; it was a collector's item for 2026. Since it keeps selling out within minutes on US sites, I knew I had to act fast if I wanted to bring a piece of that US trend to my vanity in Belgium. I often keep an eye on us trends to see what is worth the international effort.

Why I couldn't find it in local Belgian shops

My first instinct was to check the usual European retailers. However, I quickly discovered that the Birthday Cake edition is a US-exclusive anniversary launch. While we have great beauty boutiques in Brussels and Antwerp, they often lag behind these specific limited drops. I didn't want to wait months only to be told it wouldn't be stocked here at all.

I realized that if I wanted it, I had to shop like a local in New York or Los Angeles. This meant browsing US Sephora or the official Summer Fridays website directly. The problem, as many of us in Belgium know, is that these stores often don't offer direct international shipping to our doorsteps, or if they do, the costs are astronomical.

My strategy for using a tax-free US address

I decided to use a tax-free us address provided by comGateway. I have used this freight forwarder before for high-end tech, but I was curious to see if it was worth it for a small beauty item. By shipping to an address in Oregon, I avoided US sales tax entirely, which already saved me a few dollars on the initial purchase.

I also took a moment to check the prohibited items list just to be 100% sure that cosmetics like lip balms weren't restricted. Since it's a non-aerosol, wax-based product, it's perfectly safe for air travel. I always recommend doing this check before you shop us store sites for beauty products.

Shipping Estimates for Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm

If you are planning to follow my lead, I’ve put together a quick estimate of what you can expect in terms of logistics for this specific item. It is surprisingly light, which helps keep the international shipping rates manageable.

I used the shipping calculator to see how much it would cost to send this from my US suite to Belgium. To make it even more cost-effective, I actually waited until I had two other small items—a t-shirt and some skincare samples—to bundle them together. This is a great trick to lower the per-item shipping fees.

Handling Belgian customs and VAT

One thing I always prepare for is the Belgian VAT. Since 2021, all items entering the EU are subject to VAT, regardless of value. When my Summer Fridays balm arrived at the Belgian border, I was prepared for the local 21% VAT and the small administrative fee from the local carrier. It is a small price to pay for an item that is literally impossible to find anywhere else in Europe.

I found that using a professional international shipping service made the documentation much smoother. The customs forms were clearly labeled, which prevented my package from being held up in the sorting facility at Zaventem for weeks.

My step-by-step guide to the delivery process

I followed a very simple step-by-step guide to get my Birthday Cake balm delivered. First, I signed up for my US address. Then, I placed my order on the Summer Fridays website using that address as the delivery destination. Once the package arrived at the warehouse, I received a notification and was able to choose my preferred shipping speed to Belgium.

It’s a process that sounds complicated but is actually quite intuitive once you see how it works in practice. My package arrived in Antwerp just six days after it left the US warehouse. Opening that package and smelling the buttercream scent for the first time made the whole journey worth it. If you are a beauty enthusiast in Belgium, don't let the Atlantic Ocean stop you from getting the viral hits of 2026.