HS Code Category

HS Code Candidates for HS Code for Cosmetic Brushes — Common Candidates

Use this page to prepare candidate HS headings, product facts, material and function variants, invoice descriptions, ecommerce catalog fields, and risk flags before official review.

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Answer summary

Product facts to verify

Main material and fiber or chemical composition
Construction: knitted, woven, molded, assembled
Function and intended use
Whether it includes electronics, battery, magnets, leather, or textile
Country of origin and destination market

Use this tool

HS Code Finder Commercial Invoice CSV Catalog Checker

Source note

Candidates are preparation aids only. Verify final code in USITC HTS, EU TARIC, or the destination tariff database before filing.

Last reviewed

2026-07-07

Candidate headings table

Review candidates

The table below lists candidate HS headings for hs code for cosmetic brushes — common candidates. Each row is a starting point, not a final classification; verify in the destination tariff database before filing.

Code	Heading	Use when
`9603`	Brushes, articles of a kind normally used for personal toilet, cosmetic, or toilet use	The article is a soft cosmetic makeup brush (foundation, powder, blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner, lip, kabuki, fan, concealer) sold for personal cosmetic use. The primary candidate for ecommerce cosmetic brushes.
`9603.30`	Artists’ brushes and writing brushes	The brush is sold or labelled for artist or professional cosmetic-artist use. Some destinations split cosmetic brushes between subheadings based on the label.
`9601`	Brooms, brushes, paintbrushes, mops, and feather dusters	The brush is a hard paintbrush, wall brush, or industrial brush rather than a soft cosmetic brush. Not typically used for cosmetic makeup brushes.
`9602`	Toothbrushes and other brushes for personal toilet	The article is a toothbrush or a brush for personal toilet use. Cosmetic face brushes usually do not use 9602, but some destinations may treat a face-cleaning brush under 9602.
`3924 / 3926`	Other articles of plastics	The article is primarily a plastic cosmetic tool (sponge, beauty blender, plastic case) rather than a brush. The brush head still uses 9603 if it is a brush.

National extensions after the 6-digit heading vary by destination market. Verify the full national code in USITC HTS, EU TARIC, or UK Trade Tariff before filing.

Decision tree

How to classify hs code for cosmetic brushes — common candidates

Step 1: Identify the marketing context

Cosmetic, artist, or paintbrush marketing drives 9603 vs 9603.30 vs 9601.

Step 2: Confirm the bristle and handle material

Synthetic vs natural bristle and wood vs plastic handle do not change 9603 but should be on the invoice.

Step 3: List set components

A brush set is one line item; describe the brushes and the case together.

Step 4: Check destination rules

Some destinations split 9603 into cosmetic vs artist subheadings; verify the national extension.

Step 5: Check Section 301 for China origin

Verify the heading under Section 301 if origin is China.

Step 6: Write the invoice line

Use bristle + function + handle + packaging. Avoid generic "makeup brush" only.

Material variants

How material changes the code

Material	Typical heading	Notes
Synthetic bristle (nylon, taklon, polyester) with wooden or plastic handle	9603	Most common ecommerce cosmetic brush construction. The bristle and handle material should be described on the invoice.
Natural hair bristle (goat, pony, sable) with wooden handle	9603	Natural hair cosmetic brushes still fall under 9603. Some destinations require declaration of natural vs synthetic for CITES or environmental review.
Silicone bristle with plastic handle	9603	Silicone cleaning or facial brushes fall under 9603. The bristle material is described on the invoice.
Mixed brush set with case	9603 + component review	A brush set with a leather or PU case may require component review; the brushes themselves still drive 9603.
Artist brush (labelled for art, not cosmetic)	9603.30	Brushes labelled for art use use 9603.30; brushes labelled for cosmetic use use 9603 at the heading level.

Function and use-case variants

How function changes the code

Function	Typical heading	Notes
Foundation or concealer brush	9603	Common ecommerce SKU. The brush is sold for personal cosmetic use.
Powder, blush, or kabuki brush	9603	Soft cosmetic brush for face powder application.
Eyeshadow blending brush	9603	Soft brush for eye makeup. The marketing and packaging should confirm cosmetic use.
Lip or eyeliner brush	9603	Small precision brush for lip colour or eyeliner. The body material still drives 9603.
Fan brush (decorative cosmetic use)	9603	Fan-shaped cosmetic brush; same heading as other cosmetic brushes.
Brush set with multiple functions	9603	Brush sets are reviewed as a set; the function of the set (cosmetic brush kit) drives the heading.

Risk flags

Source-check required

Flag	Impact on classification	Where to verify
Cosmetic vs artist vs paintbrush
Bristle material declaration
Brush + case kits
China origin
Sets vs single brush

Risk flags signal the need for official review before the candidate code is used on customs documents.

Invoice description examples

Strong descriptions

Strong invoice descriptions include material, function, product type, and key components (battery, electronics, magnet, leather, textile). Avoid generic words such as gift, sample, accessory, or product. The descriptions below are examples only, not final classifications.

Synthetic bristle cosmetic makeup brush, plastic handle, foundation application
Natural goat hair powder brush, wooden handle, soft cosmetic face brush
Cosmetic brush set, 10 pieces, synthetic bristle, PU leather case, retail packaged
Eyeshadow blending brush, taklon bristle, wooden handle, cosmetic use
Kabuki brush, synthetic bristle, plastic handle, foundation or face powder use
Silicone facial cleansing brush, plastic handle, cosmetic personal care tool

Use these descriptions on the commercial invoice line item, with the candidate HS code and country of origin declared per line.

Ecommerce catalog fields

Shopify, WooCommerce, and CSV fields to check

Before labels and invoices are generated, prepare these fields in your ecommerce catalog. The CSV Catalog Checker scans Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, or custom CSV exports for missing customs fields locally in your browser.

Field	Why it matters
HS code candidate	9603 for cosmetic brushes; 9603.30 for artist brushes in some destinations.
Bristle material	Synthetic, natural hair, or silicone. May affect destination environmental declarations.
Handle material	Wood, plastic, metal, or mixed. Should be described on the invoice.
Function	Foundation, powder, eyeshadow, lip, eyeliner, concealer, or set. Drives the marketing context and the heading.
Set components	A brush set with a case or pouch should list all components on the invoice.
Country of origin	Drives Section 301 review for China-origin cosmetic brushes.
Packaging type	Retail blister, gift box, or set box. Supports shipping but does not change the heading.

Pair this with the Commercial Invoice Generator, the HS Code Finder, and the CSV Catalog Checker.

Worked example

Ecommerce seller importing a 10-piece synthetic bristle cosmetic brush set from China to the US

Scenario: A Shopify seller imports 1,000 cosmetic brush sets from a Chinese supplier. Each set contains 10 synthetic bristle brushes (foundation, powder, eyeshadow, eyeliner, lip, etc.) with wooden handles, packaged in a PU leather case for retail sale.

Step 1: identify the function and material. The brushes are synthetic bristle with wooden handles. Function: personal cosmetic use, sold as a 10-piece set with a case.
Step 2: select the candidate heading. A cosmetic makeup brush set used for personal cosmetic application falls under 9603 (brushes of a kind normally used for personal toilet, cosmetic, or toilet use).
Step 3: confirm the marketing context. The product label and retail packaging say "cosmetic makeup brush set for personal use," supporting 9603 rather than 9601 (paintbrush) or 9603.30 (artist brush).
Step 4: describe the set components. The set is one customs line item. The invoice line should describe the brushes and the case together (e.g., "10-piece synthetic bristle cosmetic brush set, wooden handles, PU leather case, retail packaged").
Step 5: confirm origin and additional tariff. Origin: CN (China). Section 301 review may apply under 9603 from China.
Step 6: write the invoice line. Use "synthetic bristle cosmetic brush set, 10 pieces, wooden handles, PU leather case, retail packaged, for personal cosmetic use."
Step 7: catalog fields. HS code = 9603, COO = CN, function = cosmetic brush set, bristle = synthetic, handle = wood, packaging = PU case.

The candidate is preparation aid only. The cosmetic vs artist vs paintbrush split varies by destination, and the case is a description fact, not the heading driver. Verify in the destination tariff before filing.

Common mistakes

What to avoid

Classifying a cosmetic brush under 9601 (paintbrushes) because of the physical form rather than the marketing context.
Classifying an artist brush under 9603 (cosmetic) when the packaging and label clearly say "for art."
Forgetting to describe natural vs synthetic bristle for destinations that require environmental declaration.
Using generic words such as "makeup brush" on the invoice without bristle and handle facts.
Skipping origin and Section 301 review for China-origin cosmetic brushes.

Related Tools

Continue the workflow

Editorial

About this category page

Written by the TariffCatalog Editorial Team. Maintained by Ryan Cole and reviewed for candidate-only customs-data workflow clarity.

This page follows TariffCatalog's methodology for candidate-only classification, estimate-only calculators, and document draft workflows. Candidates are preparation aids, not binding classifications.

Methodology Sources Report an error

Maintainer

Reviewed by Ryan Cole

Ryan Cole maintains TariffCatalog from the perspective of a long-time ecommerce operator with 15+ years of experience in product catalog, international shipping, and pre-shipment data workflows. This page is reviewed for candidate-only HS code preparation, source-check clarity, and estimate-only or candidate-only wording.

TariffCatalog is a preparation aid, not a customs broker, legal, tax, or freight-forwarding service. Verify final classifications, rates, documents, and filing treatment with official sources or qualified professionals.

Last reviewed: July 2026 · Maintainer entity: Ryan Cole · Source policy: verified against official customs and tariff sources

Official Source Note

Check final codes

USITC HTS

Verify candidate headings and destination-specific extensions.

CBP

Verify candidate headings and destination-specific extensions.

EU TARIC

Verify candidate headings and destination-specific extensions.

UK Trade Tariff

Verify candidate headings and destination-specific extensions.

FAQ

Common questions

What is the HS code for cosmetic brushes?

Cosmetic makeup brushes (foundation, powder, blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner, lip, kabuki, fan, concealer) are commonly classified under heading 9603 (brushes being articles of a kind normally used for personal toilet, cosmetic, or toilet use). The bristle and handle material do not change the heading by themselves.

What is the HS code for a makeup brush set?

A cosmetic brush set (multiple brushes packaged together with a case) is also classified under 9603. The set is one customs line item; each brush is not assigned its own HS code.

Are cosmetic brushes under 9603?

Yes, in most cases. Heading 9603 covers brushes of a kind normally used for personal toilet, cosmetic, or toilet use. Cosmetic makeup brushes, face brushes, and similar personal-care brushes are the primary candidates for 9603.

Are artist brushes and cosmetic brushes classified the same?

Not always. The same physical brush can fall under different subheadings depending on marketing. Cosmetic brushes are 9603 at the heading level. Artist or writing brushes may use subheading 9603.30 in some destinations. Paintbrushes typically use 9601.

Do cosmetic brushes from China face Section 301 tariffs?

Yes. Section 301 additional tariffs may apply to cosmetic brushes from China depending on the heading and the current USTR list. Check heading 9603 against the USTR Section 301 list before filing.

How should I describe a cosmetic brush set on the commercial invoice?

Write bristle + function + handle + packaging. For example: "synthetic bristle cosmetic brush set, 10 pieces, wooden handles, PU leather case, retail packaged, for personal cosmetic use."

Does natural vs synthetic bristle change the HS code?

Bristle material (synthetic vs natural) does not change 9603 by itself, but it affects destination environmental declarations. Some destinations require declaration of natural vs synthetic bristle for CITES or similar review.

When should I ask for professional review?

Ask for review when the marketing context is unclear (cosmetic vs artist vs paintbrush), when the brush set has separable components or accessories, when the shipment is high value, or when destination tariff rules for brushes vs brushes for industrial use conflict.

Last reviewed: 2026-07-07

Disclaimer

TariffCatalog provides candidate HS code suggestions, estimate-only calculators, and document drafts. Verify final classifications, duty rates, document requirements, and filing obligations with official sources, carriers, brokers, or destination authorities before filing or shipping.

Candidate headings on this page are preparation aids, not binding classifications. Final classification depends on exact product facts and the destination tariff rules in effect on the entry date.