According to US Department of Commerce Q1 2026 import figures, the value of Korean cosmetics imports passed France’s for the first time — a structural shift roughly two years after the 2024 global K-beauty boom.
The numbers
In Q1 2026, US imports of Korean cosmetics rose 28% year over year, while French imports grew just 4%. Skincare led the Korean surge.
France has long been the home of luxury fragrance and cosmetics and the #1 source of US imports. Korea passing it reflects a mix of price competitiveness and the pull of K-content — K-pop and K-dramas.
What drove the growth
Three forces stand out. First, reasonable pricing. Second, fast trend cycles and product innovation — cushions, sheet masks, snail mucin. Third, sharply better access as Olive Young expanded globally and listings grew on Amazon and Sephora.
The outlook
Analysts expect the trend to hold for now, though shifts in US tariff policy and the rise of China’s C-beauty are variables. Korean brands are responding by strengthening premium lines and adding local production.
Reaching #1 means more than a number. It marks K-beauty’s move from the edge of the global beauty industry to its center — and opens a new window of opportunity for Korean brands.