Quick answer
Duty on imported cosmetics runs 131–183% of value. Once you know that number, a product selling far below the market rate explains itself.
Want the authentic one? Every product on TheSkinProof is invoice-verified.
How to buy authentic skincare →The number that explains the market
Total tax incidence on imported cosmetics runs roughly 131–183% of the declared value, with BSTI clearance required at port. A product that legitimately clears customs carries that cost. One sold at a third of the market price almost certainly did not pay it.
1. Duty is not optional for a legal importer
It is paid before the goods leave the port, and it is the single biggest reason authentic imported skincare is priced where it is.
2. "Too cheap" is an economic signal, not a bargain
There are only a few ways to sell below the honest floor: the product is counterfeit, it was smuggled past duty, it is expired or near-expiry, or it is a diverted tester.
3. Clearance runs in batches
Shipments clear in cycles of roughly 18–25 days, which is why a genuine importer sometimes has gaps in stock — and why "always available, always cheapest" is worth a second look.
4. A discount is not the same as a low floor
A real seller discounts from a real price during a sale. A smuggled seller is simply below the floor all year.
5. What you are paying for
With duty comes the paper trail — invoice, entry, clearance — which is what makes verification possible at all.
Also read
What BSTI clearance means · why too-cheap skincare is fake
Shop verified
Check a batch code · how verification works
Frequently asked questions
What packaging differences separate duty-evaded products from legally imported ones?
Legally imported products usually carry a clear Bangla label, the importer's name, and a readable batch code. Duty-evaded products often lack this information or show it unclearly.
Where can I buy skincare that has gone through legal import duty in Bangladesh?
Buy from a seller who can show the import invoice and batch number for the product. TheSkinProof is an invoice-verified skincare marketplace where products are checked against that paperwork before being listed.
What should I do if two sellers sell the same product at a very different price?
A large price gap on the same product usually means at least one side skipped duty or proper import steps, or the cheaper one may be expired or fake. Ask for batch code and invoice proof before buying the cheaper option.