Canada is often one of the first international markets U.S. beauty and skincare brands consider. It is close to the United States, has strong ecommerce demand, and gives brands access to customers who are already familiar with many U.S. products.
But shipping cosmetics to Canada is not as simple as sending a domestic package across the border. Cosmetics and personal care products may be subject to Health Canada rules, ingredient restrictions, labeling requirements, customs documentation, duties, taxes, and product classification requirements.
For ecommerce brands, the biggest question is not just “Can we ship cosmetics to Canada?” It is “Can we ship this specific product to Canada compliantly, profitably, and without creating delivery issues for the customer?”
This guide explains what beauty brands should know before selling or shipping cosmetics to Canada.
What counts as a cosmetic in Canada?
Many cosmetics and personal care products can be shipped to Canada. However, brands need to confirm that the product is correctly classified, does not contain prohibited or restricted ingredients, meets applicable safety and labeling requirements, and is supported by accurate customs documentation.
Canada defines a cosmetic as a product used for cleansing, improving, or altering the complexion, skin, hair, nails, or teeth. This can include products such as makeup, perfume, skin cream, nail polish, shampoo, shaving cream, deodorant, and similar personal care products.
However, not every beauty or personal care product is regulated as a cosmetic. Health Canada’s classification guidance explains that some products sit at the cosmetic-drug interface, meaning they may be regulated as cosmetics, drugs, or natural health products depending on their ingredients, claims, and intended use.
For example, a moisturizer that claims to hydrate skin may be treated differently from a topical product that claims to treat acne, prevent infection, or provide therapeutic benefits. The product’s marketing claims can affect how it is classified.
Cosmetics vs. drugs vs. natural health products in Canada
One of the most important steps before shipping cosmetics to Canada is confirming the product classification.
A product may be regulated as a:
Cosmetic if it is intended to cleanse, improve, or alter appearance.
Drug if it makes therapeutic claims, such as treating or preventing disease.
Natural health product if it contains certain naturally occurring substances and is used to restore or maintain health.
Health Canada’s classification guidance is designed to help determine whether a product falls under the Cosmetic Regulations, Food and Drug Regulations, or Natural Health Products Regulations.
This matters because each category has different requirements. A product that is easy to sell as a cosmetic in the U.S. may require a different compliance path in Canada if its claims, ingredients, or format cause it to be classified differently.
Ingredient restrictions: check the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Canada maintains the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist, which identifies substances that may be prohibited or restricted in cosmetics. Health Canada describes the Hotlist as an administrative tool used to communicate to manufacturers and others that certain substances may be prohibited or restricted for use in cosmetics.
This is one of the most important checks for beauty brands shipping to Canada.
A prohibited ingredient generally cannot be used in a cosmetic. A restricted ingredient may be allowed only under certain conditions, such as concentration limits, product-type limits, warnings, or usage restrictions.
Before selling in Canada, brands should review:
- Ingredient list
- Concentration levels
- Product format
- Intended use
- Warnings and directions
- Marketing claims
- Any ingredients listed on the Hotlist
If a cosmetic notification includes an ingredient that appears on the Hotlist, Health Canada says the notifier may be contacted for more information and may be subject to compliance action.
Do cosmetics need to be registered in Canada?
Cosmetics are not “approved” by Health Canada before sale in the same way that some regulated products are. However, manufacturers and importers must submit a Cosmetic Notification Form, often called a CNF, within 10 days after first selling a cosmetic in Canada.
A Cosmetic Notification Form is the form used to notify Health Canada that a cosmetic has been sold in Canada. The CNF includes product and formulation details, including ingredients and concentration ranges.
Health Canada states that CNF submission is required within 10 days of first sale, and failure to notify may result in a product being denied entry into Canada or removed from sale.
Health Canada also clarifies that submitting a Cosmetic Notification Form is not the same as product approval. The notification includes formulation information, such as ingredients and concentrations, but it does not mean Health Canada has approved the cosmetic.
For ecommerce brands, this distinction is important. Notification is a compliance requirement, but it does not eliminate the need to confirm product safety, ingredient compliance, labeling, and classification.
Canada cosmetic labeling requirements
Cosmetics sold in Canada may be subject to labeling requirements under the Cosmetic Regulations and other applicable Canadian laws. Health Canada’s regulatory information for cosmetics includes guidance on cosmetic labeling, ingredient labeling, pressurized containers, non-therapeutic advertising claims, heavy metals, good manufacturing practices, and related legislation.
Cosmetic labeling considerations may include:
- Product identity
- Net quantity
- Dealer or responsible business information
- Warnings or caution statements
- Ingredient list
- Bilingual English and French requirements where applicable
- Directions for safe use
- Claims that do not cause the product to be classified as a drug or natural health product
For DTC brands, labeling requirements can become especially important as order volume grows, products move from occasional cross-border shipments to ongoing commercial sales, or the brand begins selling through retail, marketplaces, wholesale partners, or Canadian fulfillment centers.
Duties, taxes, and de minimis rules for cosmetics shipped to Canada
Compliance is only one part of shipping cosmetics to Canada. Brands also need to understand duties, taxes, and landed cost.
Under CUSMA, Canada maintains higher de minimis thresholds for eligible courier shipments from the U.S. or Mexico. CBSA states that Canada has agreed to maintain a de minimis threshold of at least CA$150 for customs duties and CA$40 for taxes for courier shipments from the U.S. or Mexico.
This matters for DTC ecommerce brands because duties and taxes can affect customer experience. If customers are surprised by additional charges at delivery, they may refuse the package or contact customer support.
Brands should decide whether to ship:
DDP, or Delivered Duty Paid: duties and taxes are calculated and collected upfront.
DDU, or Delivery Duty Unpaid: the customer may need to pay duties and taxes when the shipment arrives.
For beauty brands, DDP can often create a smoother customer experience because the customer sees the full landed cost before checkout.
For a deeper breakdown of how these shipping models affect global ecommerce, see Passport’s guide to DDP vs. DDU for ecommerce brands.
Should DTC beauty brands register as a non-resident importer in Canada?
Some U.S. brands consider becoming a non-resident importer, or NRI, when expanding into Canada. This can make sense in certain situations. However, NRI status is not automatically the best choice for every DTC brand. For direct-to-consumer shipments, brands should evaluate how NRI status affects customs processes, duties, taxes, customer experience, and eligibility for low-value shipment treatment. NRIs cannot take advantage of the increased duty de minimis of $150CAD.
Before choosing an NRI model, brands should compare the operational and cost implications against their shipping strategy, delivery promise, and checkout experience.
For more detail, see Passport’s guide to Canada NRI shipping considerations for DTC merchants.
How Passport Can Help
For beauty brands, the goal isn’t just to ship to Canada—it’s to do it compliantly, with predictable landed cost, and with a smooth DTC customer experience. Passport helps make that possible by:
- Reducing compliance guesswork by helping brands navigate common Canada-specific considerations (like product classification at the cosmetic–drug–natural health product interface, ingredient restrictions, and labeling requirements).
- Supporting accurate cross-border documentation and product data, so shipments are less likely to be delayed or questioned at the border.
- Improving the checkout and delivery experience by enabling brands to present clearer landed-cost expectations (including duties and taxes) and reduce “surprise fees” that can lead to refused deliveries and support tickets.
- Advising on go-to-market and customs strategy choices, including when certain approaches (like NRI status) may—or may not—make sense for a DTC model.
Contact our team to set up an exploratory call so we can understand your international expansion goals and recommend a go-to-market approach.Our trusted advisors can help you seamlessly enter the Canadian market — let’s get started!
For more information, go to our FAQ article about shipping cosmetics to Canada
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ship cosmetics to Canada?
Yes, many cosmetics and personal care products can be shipped to Canada. However, brands should confirm that each product is correctly classified, does not contain prohibited or restricted ingredients, meets applicable labeling and safety requirements, and is supported by accurate customs documentation.
What counts as a cosmetic in Canada?
In Canada, a cosmetic is generally a product used to cleanse, improve, or alter the complexion, skin, hair, nails, or teeth. This may include makeup, perfume, skin cream, shampoo, nail polish, deodorant, shaving cream, and similar personal care products.
Some products may fall outside the cosmetic category depending on their ingredients, claims, or intended use. For example, products that claim to treat acne, prevent disease, or provide therapeutic benefits may be regulated differently.
Do cosmetics need to be approved by Health Canada before sale?
Cosmetics are not approved by Health Canada before sale in the same way that some other regulated products are. However, manufacturers and importers must submit a Cosmetic Notification Form, or CNF, within 10 days after first selling the cosmetic in Canada.
Submitting a CNF does not mean Health Canada has approved the product. Brands are still responsible for confirming product safety, ingredient compliance, labeling, classification, and documentation.
What is a Cosmetic Notification Form?
A Cosmetic Notification Form is the form used to notify Health Canada that a cosmetic has been sold in Canada. It includes product and formulation details, including ingredients and concentration ranges.
Brands should make sure product information is accurate before selling in Canada and update the notification if required information changes.
What is the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist?
The Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist is Health Canada’s list of substances that may be prohibited or restricted in cosmetics. A prohibited ingredient generally cannot be used in a cosmetic, while a restricted ingredient may only be allowed under specific conditions, such as concentration limits, warning requirements, or product-type restrictions.
Beauty brands should review the Hotlist before enabling Canada at checkout, especially for products with active ingredients, fragrance, SPF claims, acne claims, whitening claims, or other higher-risk formulations.
What labeling requirements apply to cosmetics sold in Canada?
Cosmetics sold in Canada may need to include product identity, net quantity, dealer or responsible business information, ingredient lists, warnings or caution statements, directions for safe use, and bilingual English and French labeling where applicable.
Claims are also important. A product marketed with therapeutic claims may be classified as a drug or natural health product instead of a cosmetic.
Do U.S. beauty brands need to translate labels into French?
Many consumer products sold in Canada require bilingual English and French labeling. Requirements can vary depending on the product, claim, packaging, and sales model, so brands should review Canadian labeling requirements before selling cosmetics into Canada at scale.
Do duties and taxes apply to cosmetics shipped to Canada?
They may. Duties and taxes depend on the product classification, country of origin, shipment value, shipping method, and whether the shipment qualifies for low-value treatment. Under CUSMA, eligible courier shipments from the U.S. or Mexico may benefit from Canada’s higher de minimis thresholds: at least CA$150 for customs duties and CA$40 for taxes.
Should beauty brands ship DDP or DDU to Canada?
For many DTC beauty brands, DDP can create a smoother customer experience because duties and taxes are calculated and collected upfront. DDU, or Delivered Duty Unpaid, may require the customer to pay duties, taxes, and fees at delivery, which can increase the risk of refused packages and support tickets.
Should a U.S. beauty brand become a non-resident importer in Canada?
NRI status can make sense for some brands, but it is not automatically the best choice for every DTC business. Brands should consider how NRI status affects customs processes, duties, taxes, customer experience, and eligibility for low-value shipment treatment. One important consideration is that NRIs cannot take advantage of Canada’s increased CA$150 duty de minimis threshold for eligible courier shipments.
What product data should beauty brands review before shipping to Canada?
Brands should review product classification, ingredient lists, concentration levels, intended use, marketing claims, product format, labeling, country of origin, HS classification, and customs descriptions. Accurate product data helps reduce the risk of customs delays, compliance issues, and unexpected landed costs.