My must-knows for getting the Summer Fridays Glazed Donut balm to South Korea via international shipping

Why I had to have the 2026 Glazed Donut Edition

I’ve been tracking the 2026 beauty drops since January, and nothing has quite reached the viral status of the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in the limited 'Glazed Donut' edition. If you are like me and spend any time on Korean social media, you’ve seen the swatches. It has that perfect high-shine finish without being sticky, and it sold out at Sephora US almost immediately after launching this Spring.

Start Your Buy For Me Request for Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm (2026 'Glazed Donut' Edition)

Merchant Sephora US Summer Fridays Revolve

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The problem we face in South Korea is that these seasonal shades are often US exclusives. Resellers in the UK and Australia are already charging double the retail price. I knew I had to find a way to shop the US store directly if I wanted to save money and ensure I was getting a genuine product. That is when I started looking into how a freight forwarder could help me bridge the gap between New York and Seoul.

The struggle I faced buying from Sephora US

I initially tried to buy the balm myself using my Korean credit card. I thought I could just enter a tax-free US address and be done with it. However, I quickly realized that many major US retailers, including Sephora, Nike, and Apple, have very strict security filters. They often block international credit cards or automatically decline any orders sent to known parcel forwarding addresses.

My order was cancelled within minutes. It is incredibly frustrating when you have the item in your cart, but the payment system simply won't let you through because of your billing address. I realized that if I wanted this balm, I needed a more robust solution than just a standard freight forwarder service.

My secret weapon: The BuyForMe service

This is where I discovered proxy shopping through comGateway. They have a specific service called "BuyForMe" that is designed for exactly this situation. I simply told them what I wanted to buy, and they took care of the rest.

The Problem We All Face: Many US stores decline our local cards because they want to prevent international resale or simply have outdated payment processors. Even if you use a VPN, they can still flag the shipping address.

The Solution: We use the comGateway "BuyForMe" service. They use a US domestic credit card and a US residential-style billing address to purchase the item on our behalf. It essentially removes the barrier that prevents us from shopping at stores like Sephora or exclusive boutique brands.

The Main Benefit: For me, the biggest win was the peace of mind. It is the safest way to guarantee my order doesn't get cancelled. I didn't have to keep refreshing my email to see if my order was voided; comGateway handled the transaction and notified me once the Glazed Donut balm arrived at their warehouse.

How I handled the international shipping to South Korea

Once the balm arrived at my comGateway address in Oregon (which is great because there is no US sales tax), I had to decide on the best way to get it to Korea. I used the shipping calculator to see what my total costs would look like. Since a lip balm is very light, I actually waited until I had a few other items from different stores so I could combine them and save on international shipping rates.

When you choose an international shipping provider, you want someone who offers package forwarding that includes tracking. I chose a priority method because I didn't want my limited-edition balm sitting in a hot warehouse for weeks. We often forget that international shipping for cosmetics needs to be handled carefully to avoid melting or damage during transit.

Managing import tax and customs for Korean shoppers

One thing I always tell my friends in Seoul is to watch the de minimis threshold. For shipments from the USA to South Korea, you generally don't have to pay import tax as long as the total value of your shipment (including domestic US shipping) is under $200 USD. If you go over that, you will be hit with import duties and VAT.

I recommend checking the latest guides on import duties before you finalize your shipment. If you are buying more than just a lip balm—maybe some 2026 tech or luxury clothes—those fees can add up. For my Glazed Donut balm, I was well under the limit, so it cleared customs in Incheon without any extra charges.

I've found that using a professional international shipping service makes the customs declaration process much smoother. They provide the necessary paperwork so I don't have to worry about my package getting stuck at the border. If you are looking for more tips on shopping from the States, check our guide on buying US electronics from Korea.

I hope this helps you secure your Summer Fridays balm! It really is the highlight of my 2026 beauty collection so far. Happy shopping!