🗞️SKINCARE NEWS

A New Trade Agreement Secures the Future of K-Beauty in the U.S.📜

A new trade agreement between the United States and South Korea has been reached ahead of the new 25% tariff proposed to start on August 1st. Here’s a quick summary:

• K-beauty has become a major market in the U.S., with imports of Korean cosmetics reaching $1.7 billion in 2024, a 54% increase from the previous year📈

• South Korea has surpassed France to become the leading exporter of skincare and beauty products to the U.S.✨

• Before the new deal, South Korean goods were facing a potential 25% import tax, which would have ended their previous duty-free status💸

• The looming tariff deadline caused market uncertainty, leading retailers to pause orders and consumers to engage in "panic buying."📦

• On July 30, 2025, a new trade agreement was announced, establishing a 15% tariff on South Korean goods, including beauty products📆

• This new 15% tariff is on par with similar deals negotiated by other major trading partners like Japan and the European Union⚖️

• While prices may still increase due to the new 15% tariff, the deal has averted the worst-case scenario of a 25% tax that could have made many K-beauty products prohibitively expensive✅

"OPI Nail Drama" Exposes Deeper Industry Debates💅

A recent viral TikTok video about OPI's new at-home gel nail kit sparked a heated online debate. Here’s a quick summary:

• A TikTok video by nail technician Bethany Benigno, criticizing OPI's new $60 Gelement Gel Essentials Gel Nail Kit for at-home use, went viral🔥

• The kit includes nail prep materials, gel base and top coats, and an LED curing lamp, making professional-style gel manicures accessible to consumers💡

• Benigno's primary frustration was not with DIY manicures, but that OPI's at-home gel polishes are cheaper for consumers than the professional-only polishes sold to licensed techs, despite being smaller⚖️

• This sparked a wider online debate, with consumers criticizing high nail technician prices and limited availability🗣️

• The discussion highlights that the rising cost of professional nail services is largely due to significantly increased operating costs for nail technicians, including supplies, rent, licensing, and continued education⬆️

• There is a shared concern among nail technicians about the potential health risks, like contact dermatitis (allergies to acrylates and methacrylates), if consumers improperly use gel products at home without proper precautions⚠️

📲SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS

Instagram Chief Debunks "Link in Bio" Reach Myth🔗

Instagram's head, Adam Mosseri, has directly addressed and debunked the persistent rumor that using "link in bio" in captions negatively impacts a post's reach. Here’s a quick summary:

• Instagram chief Adam Mosseri addressed speculation that using "link in bio" in captions decreases post reach📉

• Mosseri explicitly stated that this is a myth and that saying "link in bio" does not affect a post's reach🚫

• The rumor likely stemmed from the idea that Instagram might restrict posts encouraging users to leave the platform or due to the term's association with scammers🔒

• Despite Mosseri's clarification, some users have anecdotally reported decreased reach when using the term💬

• Mosseri confirmed that creators are "more than welcome to say 'link in bio'" as much as they like✅

• Instagram's algorithm prioritizes factors like retention time, shares, comments, saves, and content relevance for determining reach⏰

🔥TRENDING TIKTOK & INSTAGRAM SOUNDS

Here are some trending sounds on Instagram that can be used with “text on screen” videos or as background music for educational content🔥

📈SKINCARE BESTSELLERS

^{*The bestseller lists are dynamic and can change in real-time. The bestseller lists are compiled on Monday mornings.}

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Thanks for reading the DermFriends Newsletter. Stay tuned for more updates, tips, and trends next week!