HS Code Category

HS Code Candidates for HS Code for Lip Balm — Candidate Preparation Guide

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
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Source note

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

Last reviewed

July 2026

Candidate headings table

Review candidates

The table below lists candidate HS headings for hs code for lip balm — candidate preparation guide. Each row is a starting point, not a final classification; verify in the destination tariff database before filing.

CodeHeadingUse when
3304.10Lip make-up preparationsNon-medicated and medicated lip balms; colored and tinted balms; lip plumpers; theatrical lip makeup. This is the primary candidate for most ecommerce lip balm products.
3304.99Other beauty or make-up preparationsLip products primarily marketed and classified as medicated skin care or therapeutic products. Verify with the destination tariff whether the product qualifies as a cosmetic or a drug.
9603.30Artists, writing and cosmetics brushesLip balm application brushes or spatulas only — not the lip balm itself. A lip balm container without the product falls under packaging classification.

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 lip balm — candidate preparation guide

Step 1

Is the product primarily a lip cosmetic or medicated treatment? If cosmetic or general moisturizing → 3304.10. If primarily marketed as a drug or therapeutic product → verify 3304.99.

Step 2

Is there a coloring or plumping agent? Any tint, color, or plumping ingredient confirms 3304.10.

Step 3

Is the article a lip balm applicator or empty container? If yes → packaging or brush heading, not 3304.

Step 4

What is the destination country? Verify the national tariff subheading and any additional tariffs (e.g., Section 301 for China-origin 3304 products to the US).

Step 5

Document the material, function, and formulation for the classification note.

Material variants

How material changes the code

MaterialTypical headingNotes
Standard lip balm (wax and oil base)3304.10Most common ecommerce lip balm products fall here.
Medicated lip balm (with active pharmaceutical ingredients)3304.10 or 3304.99US CBP classifies medicated lip balm under 3304.10. Other markets may require verification.
Tinted and colored lip balm3304.10Color-tinted lip balms are lip make-up preparations under 3304.10.
Lip plumpers (with active ingredients for plumping effect)3304.10Classified as lip make-up preparations; verify active ingredient list with destination tariff.
Theatrical and novelty lip balms3304.10CBP Customs Ruling NY L89629 confirms theatrical preparations fall under 3304.10.
Function and use-case variants

How function changes the code

FunctionTypical headingNotes
Daily moisturizing lip balm3304.10Primary cosmetic use case; classified under lip make-up preparations.
Medicated lip balm (SPF, cold sore treatment)3304.10 or 3304.99Check active ingredients and destination classification rules.
Colored or tinted lip balm3304.10Any coloring agent shifts the product into lip make-up preparations.
Lip balm with applicator brush3304.10The balm is 3304.10; the applicator brush, if separately packaged, may be 9603.30.
Risk flags

Source-check required

FlagImpact on classificationWhere to verify
China origin
Medicated claims
EU cosmetics regulation
Novelty or specialty lip products
Bulk or empty lip balm containers

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.

  • Write material + function + form. For example: "Lip balm, beeswax and shea butter, non-medicated, 4g tube" or "Medicated lip balm with SPF 30, 3g pot."
  • Avoid brand name alone as the product description; add material and function facts.
  • Do not write "cosmetics" as the description; specify the product type (lip balm, lip moisturizer, lip plumper).

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.

FieldWhy it matters
HS code candidate3304.10 for most lip balm products; verify in destination tariff.
Country of originRequired for customs value and additional tariff review; not the warehouse country.
Product descriptionMaterial + function + form: "beeswax lip balm, non-medicated, 4g tube."
Active ingredientsFor medicated or SPF products; may affect classification in some markets.
Net weight or volumeRequired on commercial invoice for duty calculation per unit.
Packaging typeTube, pot, or stick; does not affect classification but may affect origin verification.
Intended marketUS, EU, and UK each have different additional tariff rules for Chapter 33 cosmetics.

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

Worked example

Ecommerce seller importing lip balm from China to the US

Scenario: An ecommerce seller imports lip balm tubes from China to the US. Product facts: beeswax and shea butter base, non-medicated, 4g tubes, 10 varieties with different flavors.

  1. Candidate heading: 3304.10.0000 — Lip make-up preparations.
  2. Material variants: all are wax-and-oil base, so all share the same heading 3304.10.
  3. Origin: CN (China) — Section 301 additional tariffs may apply; check the USTR list for current rates.
  4. Invoice description: "Lip balm, beeswax and shea butter, non-medicated, 4g tube."
  5. Catalog fields: HS code = 3304.10.0000, COO = CN, description = beeswax lip balm.

All 10 flavor variants share the same heading 3304.10 since they share the same material and function. Variants with different active ingredients (e.g., SPF, medicated) should be reviewed separately.

Common mistakes

What to avoid

  • Classifying lip balm under a skin care or food heading instead of 3304.10.
  • Skipping the Section 301 check for China-origin cosmetics.
  • Using brand name alone as the customs description instead of material and function.
  • Treating medicated lip balm as a non-cosmetic product in some markets.
  • Omitting active ingredients for products marketed as medicated.
  • Classifying the empty container under 3304 instead of packaging.
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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.

MethodologySourcesReport 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.

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 lip balm?

The primary HS code candidate for lip balm is 3304.10 (lip make-up preparations) under US HTS. The first six digits, 3304.10, are internationally harmonized. The full 10-digit US code is 3304.10.0000. Verify the destination-specific subheading in the national tariff database before filing.

Is lip balm classified as a cosmetic or a drug?

Most lip balms are classified as cosmetics under 3304.10. If the product makes therapeutic or drug claims (such as medicated, SPF, or treatment), some markets may classify it differently. US CBP classifies both medicated and non-medicated lip balm under 3304.10. Verify with the destination tariff for non-US markets.

Does Section 301 apply to China-origin lip balm?

Yes. Section 301 additional tariffs have applied to cosmetics under Chapter 33 from China. Check the current USTR Section 301 tariff list to confirm whether 3304 products from China are currently subject to additional duties, and at what rate. The Import Duty Calculator can be used to enter the base duty rate and Section 301 rate separately.

What should I put on the commercial invoice for lip balm?

Write material + function + form + active ingredients if applicable. For example: "Non-medicated lip balm, beeswax and shea butter, 4g tube" or "Medicated lip balm with SPF 30, 3g pot." Include HS code 3304.10, country of origin, and quantity on the commercial invoice.

What about tinted and colored lip balms?

Yes. Tinted and colored lip balms are explicitly covered under 3304.10 as lip make-up preparations. The presence of any coloring agent confirms the 3304.10 classification.

Are empty lip balm containers classified the same way?

No. Empty lip balm containers (tubes, pots, sticks without product) are classified separately, typically under packaging headings (such as 3926 for plastic or 4016 for rubber). The classification applies to the product inside, not the container.

What about lip plumpers?

Lip plumpers are classified under 3304.10 as lip make-up preparations. This has been confirmed by CBP Customs Ruling NY L89629, which explicitly covers lip balm and theatrical lip makeup preparations under 3304.10.0000.

Do I need special documentation for medicated lip balm?

Medicated lip balm may require additional documentation in some markets, including ingredient disclosure, country-specific formulation compliance, and in some cases, drug or quasi-drug registration. This is a regulatory compliance issue separate from customs classification. Verify with the destination market authority for regulated product requirements.

Can I use the same HS code for all lip balm variants?

Yes, when variants share the same formulation type and intended use. All standard wax-and-oil-based lip balms (plain, tinted, medicated) typically share 3304.10 as the candidate. When active ingredients, formulation type, or intended use changes significantly, the classification may shift and each variant should be reviewed separately.

Last reviewed: July 2026

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.