Why some Americans have stockpiled Korean sunscreen
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The “tariff bomb” unleashed by U.S. President Donald Trump continues to send shockwaves across the globe. As nations scramble to respond, anxiety is also growing within the U.S. itself. Americans concerned about rising prices have begun stockpiling certain imported products — and among the items is Korean sunscreen.
The Washington Post on Thursday published a list of eight products seeing increased demand in the U.S., based on trends from social media and online communities. Korean sunscreen made the list thanks to its perceived superiority to American-made sunblocks in blocking UV rays, pleasant texture and ability to layer well with makeup and other cosmetics.
According to the Post, unlike Europe and Asia — where sunscreens are regulated as cosmetics — the United States classifies them as drugs. This restricts the inclusion of skin-tone-enhancing ingredients and limits the number of UV filters American scientists can use. As a result, Korean sunscreens offer a wider range of cosmetic benefits, making them a popular alternative.
One Reddit user wrote she bought a year’s worth of her favorite Korean sunscreen. “I truly can’t go back to US sunscreens.”
The other seven items on the Post’s “surprising” stockpile list include dried seaweed, hair bundles for wigs, cat food, instant coffee, board games, perfume and wedding gowns.
Dried seaweed, mostly imported from Asia, is now being stockpiled by Japanese restaurants in the U.S., while synthetic hair used in wigs — mainly imported from China — is expected to see a sharp price increase.
Demand for cat food is also surging, not just due to ingredient costs but also the rising price of tin used in packaging. People caring for cats with food allergies, who must feed them specific imported brands, are reportedly buying in bulk, the Post article said.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.