Small Skincare Brand Grapples with U.S. Tariff Shake-Up

bareLUXE Skincare, a niche, Canadian skincare brand is preparing for changes in U.S. import policy that could heavily impact its business and loyal American customers.

Starting this August, the United States will eliminate the longstanding “de minimis” exemption—meaning even low-value personal care items will now be subject to duties and formal customs processing. This shift could add up to $80 in extra costs per order, in some cases exceeding the value of the products themselves.

Dr, Heather Smith, founder of bareLUXE Skincare, acknowledges the business’s modest scale: “We’re a small fish in a big pond,” she said. “We don’t sway the U.S. economy, but we’ve built something personal. Our customers stick with us because we deliver care—and I deliver back to them.”

With 40% of the brand’s customers based in the U.S., the impact is significant. Tariffs and administrative hurdles will make it difficult to serve those orders at a fair price. “Every single order matters,” Dr. Smith said. “I know who I’m sending it to, and I want to keep sending it—with integrity.”

However, the brand has decided that once the new rules take effect, it will pause all shipments to the United States. Dr. Smith says the added costs, administrative burden, and regulatory requirements are simply too high for a company of its size to absorb. “It breaks my heart to step back from serving my U.S. customers,” she said, “but when the cost to ship is higher than what’s in the box, the numbers just don’t work. I hope this is temporary, and that we can find a path back in the future.”

About bareLUXE Skincare
bareLUXE Skincare is a Canadian indie beauty brand specializing in elevated oil serums powered by high-performance botanicals. Founded by Dr. Heather Smith, bareLUXE creates sustainable, vegan formulations that deliver visible results without compromising ethics or the planet.