Whether you are launching an innovative new skincare line, sending samples to an overseas distributor, or fulfilling large B2B wholesale orders, shipping cosmetics abroad comes with unique logistical challenges. What appears to be harmless makeup can actually be subject to strict safety regulations by customs or aviation authorities. In this article, we explain exactly how to ship makeup, package liquids securely, and what you need to know about shipping perfume and navigating the complex FDA regulations when exporting to the United States.
Chantal has been writing about logistics topics for almost two decades and has worked for major international carriers.
Many shippers do not immediately realize it, but shipping perfume or shipping nail polish via air freight almost always falls under dangerous goods regulations.
Why? Because these products often contain a high percentage of alcohol or other flammable solvents. As a result, they are classified as Flammable Liquids (Class 3). This means you cannot simply drop them in a standard box. You need special labels (such as 'Limited Quantity' or 'Excepted Quantity' marks, depending on the volume), and the carrier must explicitly approve the transport of these substances. If you are a B2B supplier dealing with large volumes, providing a correct Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is strictly required by both customs and the carrier.
Nothing damages your brand image quite like a box full of ruined, leaking products. Properly packaging liquids is crucial when you ship makeup internationally. Changes in air pressure during a flight can cause pumps, tubes, and bottles to burst open.
Always adhere to this B2B packaging standard for liquid cosmetics:
Sealing: Ensure that caps and lids are tightly secured and use shrink wrap or tape to seal them.
Leak-proof barrier: Place liquid products in sealed, watertight plastic bags.
Absorbent material: Add sufficient absorbent material inside the plastic bag to completely soak up any potential leaks.
Shock absorption: Use bubble wrap around each individual product and pack the external box tightly with void fill so that nothing can shift during transit.
The United States is a massive market for beauty products, but shipping cosmetics to America (FDA rules) requires flawless preparation. Cosmetics in the US are strictly monitored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
With the introduction of the new MoCRA (Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act) legislation, regulations have been tightened. What does this mean for your B2B shipments?
Ingredient Approval: Ingredients must be FDA-compliant. Color additives, for example, are extremely strictly regulated in the US.
Labeling: Your labels must be in English, listing exact ingredients in descending order of predominance, net quantity, and include necessary warning statements.
Commercial Invoice: Your invoice must detail exactly what the product is, its composition, and its intended use. Clearly state the correct HS codes and manufacturer details. For more information on US requirements, read our guide on shipping to the US.
When sending commercial samples or wholesale orders, border delays are unacceptable. Through the ParcelParcel platform, you can easily book shipments with top-tier carriers like FedEx, UPS, DHL, or TNT. Our support specialists review your commercial invoice proactively, ensuring your international cosmetics expansion runs seamlessly.
Perfume contains a high percentage of alcohol, which is highly flammable. Because of this, international logistics and aviation authorities classify it as a dangerous good (Class 3: Flammable Liquids). Shipping it requires special packaging, specific labels, and documentation (such as an MSDS) to ensure safety during the flight.
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To ship cosmetics to the US, you need a detailed Commercial Invoice alongside your standard Air Waybill. The invoice must include the exact composition (ingredient list), intended use, country of origin, and the manufacturer's details. The shipment must also comply with current FDA regulations, including MoCRA compliancy.
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Tighten all caps and seal them with tape or shrink wrap to prevent them from opening due to air pressure changes. Place the products in a leak-proof plastic bag along with absorbent material. Then, wrap everything generously in bubble wrap and place it in a sturdy, double-corrugated cardboard box without any empty spaces.
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Like perfume, nail polish often contains flammable solvents and is considered a dangerous good. You can only ship this commercially via air freight if you are an approved dangerous goods shipper and follow the proper 'Limited Quantity' or dangerous goods procedures of carriers like DHL, FedEx, or UPS.
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This depends on the destination country and the declared value. Even commercial samples must have a realistic value stated on the customs invoice. If the value falls below the destination country's de minimis threshold, you often do not pay import duties. However, be aware that in the US, the FDA can hold cosmetics shipments for inspection regardless of their monetary value.
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You can instantly check the shipping costs through our rate calculator. Enter the weight, dimensions, and destination country of your shipment, and you will see all available shipping options along with their respective delivery times. The calculator can be used to compare shipping rates for both export and import shipments.
If you need help calculating a shipping rate, watch the video below. Click on the 
button to play the video and the 
icon to view the video in fullscreen.
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Shipping costs are calculated based on dimensions (LxWxH in cm), weight (in kg), and the destination country. Both the actual weight (as shown on the scale) and the volumetric weight are considered.
The volumetric weight is the weight calculated based on the space your shipment occupies in the plane. The higher of the two weights (volumetric or actual weight) is used to calculate the shipping rate. You don't need to calculate this yourself; our calculator does it for you.
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You can use the discount code PP10 for 10% discount on the transportation costs of your first shipment. You can apply the discount code during the checkout process (instructions).
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Whether additional costs apply depends on whether your shipment stays within the European Union or is sent to/from a country outside the European Union. Below, you can see the additional costs for each situation.
Within the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to Italy (within the EU), there will be an additional 21% VAT on the shipping costs.
Furthermore, if your shipment stays within the European Union, you won't have to deal with any import duties or customs clearance fees because your shipment doesn't go through customs. Please note that the European Union is not the same as Europe.
View here all the countries that are part of the European Union. For example, Switzerland is part of Europe but not part of the European Union.
Outside the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to the United States, there will be no VAT (0%) applied to the displayed shipping rates.
However, there might be import duties levied by customs in the destination country if you send a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union. Typically, customs costs are charged to the recipient. This is known as Delivered At Place (DAP) in logistics terminology.
Customs is a government agency that levies import duties in certain cases to protect the local market. As a company, you can also ship using Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), which means any customs costs will be charged to you as the sender.
If you have any questions about this topic, feel free to contact us. Additionally, you can read everything about import duties, VAT, and the customs clearance process in this blog.
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A customs invoice is a form where all the goods you want to ship are specified. This invoice includes an English description of the goods, along with their corresponding value and weight.
The contents of your shipment must be specified per type of product you're sending to avoid delays at customs. A customs invoice is always prepared in quadruplicate in accordance with customs guidelines.
When is a customs invoice required?
A customs invoice is only required for shipments to/from countries outside the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - United States). If your shipment stays within the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - Italy), your shipment will not go through customs, and therefore, a customs invoice is not required.
Additionally, document shipments are not subject to customs, so if you're sending a document to a country within/outside the European Union, no customs invoice is needed.
Please note that not all goods can be shipped to every country. You can find a list of goods that cannot be sent via ParcelParcel on this page.
Do I need to create a customs invoice myself?
If you're sending a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union, it's mandatory to include a customs invoice with the shipment. We provide free support in creating a customs invoice.
You can easily generate a customs invoice through our shipping platform. The customs invoice will be automatically generated based on the content you specified during your booking.
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You can import just as easily as export via ParcelParcel.
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You can find a list of goods that cannot be shipped via ParcelParcel on this page.
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