I realized the Iced Matcha Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm is nearly impossible to get in New Zealand without this specific fix

The urgent demand for Iced Matcha Summer Fridays

I have never seen a lip product cause this much chaos in the beauty community. As of May 2026, the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in 'Iced Matcha' has become the most sought-after limited edition release of the year. My social media feeds, especially Little Red Book in Hong Kong and TikTok in New Zealand, are flooded with people desperate to find a single tube. This shade is a viral sensation because it perfectly balances a sheer green tint that adapts to the lips with that signature marshmallow-vanilla scent we all love.

I noticed that stock levels across Asian Sephora outlets hit zero weeks ago. The scarcity has driven prices up on secondary markets, but I refuse to pay three times the retail price. I spent the last few days researching us trends to see if the US market still had available units, and the good news is that limited drops are still occurring on US-based platforms.

I am correcting the myth that New Zealand Sephora will restock

I need to address a common misconception I see in local Auckland beauty groups. Many shoppers believe that if we just wait a few more weeks, Sephora New Zealand or Australia will receive a massive restock of the Iced Matcha balm. I have looked into the supply chain data for 2026, and this is simply not the case. This specific shade was designated as a regional exclusive for certain Tier 1 markets, and New Zealand's allocation was exhausted during the pre-order phase.

I realized that waiting for a local restock is a losing strategy. If you want this balm, you have to look toward the United States. Many of my friends were hesitant because they thought the shipping would be too complex, but I found that using a freight forwarder is the only reliable way to bridge the gap between US inventory and our doorsteps in New Zealand.

My strategy to buy from the US today

I decided to take matters into my own hands by shopping directly from US retailers like Sephora US and the official Summer Fridays website. My first step was to secure a tax-free us address. This is vital because it allows me to avoid US sales tax, which can add an extra 7-10% to the cost depending on the state. By using a warehouse in Oregon provided by comGateway, I kept my initial purchase price as low as possible.

I followed a step-by-step guide to set up my account. Once I had my US address, I could browse popular products that are currently trending in the states but are completely unavailable here. The process of using a parcel forwarding service transformed my shopping experience from being restricted to local stock to having access to the entire US market.

Why I used the BuyForMe service to prevent order cancellation

I encountered a significant problem that many New Zealand shoppers face when trying to shop us store websites. Even with a US shipping address, stores like Sephora often block international credit cards or automatically decline orders that they flag as going to a forwarding address. I tried to use my New Zealand Visa card, and my order was cancelled within minutes. This is a frustrating reality for many of us trying to get limited edition items.

I found the solution in comGateway's "BuyForMe" service. This is an assisted purchase program where the comGateway team buys the item on my behalf using a US domestic credit card. I simply sent them the link to the Iced Matcha Lip Butter Balm, and they handled the transaction. This is the safest way to guarantee your order doesn't get cancelled by strict US retailers. I highly recommend this for any store that is known for being difficult with international buyers, such as Nike or Apple, in addition to Sephora.

I calculated the logistics for New Zealand delivery

I was concerned about the final cost of getting the balm to my house. I used a shipping calculator to estimate shipping cost before I committed to the purchase. Because the lip balm is small and lightweight, I found it was much more cost-effective to bundle it with a few other items I had been eyeing. We often forget that shipping one tiny item can be expensive, but package forwarding allows for consolidation.

I was impressed with the speed of New Zealand delivery. Once the package reached the US warehouse, the transit time to my door in Wellington was surprisingly fast. I monitored the tracking daily, and I felt confident knowing my ship to New Zealand was being handled by experts who understand our local customs requirements, including the GST regulations that apply to low-value imported goods.

My final advice for Kiwi beauty collectors in 2026

I am urging you to act quickly if you want the Iced Matcha shade. The hype on Xiaohongshu has created a global vacuum where stock is disappearing faster than retailers can update their websites. My experience taught me that we cannot rely on local distributors for viral limited editions. We have to be proactive.

I suggest you buy from US ship to New Zealand using the methods I described. If you are worried about the technicalities, just follow the how it works section on the comGateway site. I have already secured my backup tubes, and I am relieved I didn't wait for a local restock that was never going to happen. In 2026, the global marketplace is your best friend, provided you have the right tools to access it.