US compliance · For K-beauty brands
Sell in the US without a compliance scare.
Before a US retailer's buyer — or the FDA — reads your label, run it through the same checks we do. The K·Beauty Plug's compliance checker flags the marketing claims that quietly turn your cosmetic into an unapproved "drug," rewrites them to stay compliant, and hands you a MoCRA and label-readiness checklist built for emerging Korean brands.
No pay-to-rank. Not legal advice — a fast first read so you know exactly what to fix.
Why claims are the risk
The trap isn't your formula. It's your wording.
US law sorts products by what you say about them. "Cleanses," "hydrates," "evens the look of skin" are cosmetic claims — fine. "Boosts collagen," "treats acne," "whitens skin," "anti-inflammatory" describe an effect on the body's structure or a disease — and that turns your cream into an unapproved new drug in the FDA's eyes. Korean brands get caught here constantly, because wording that's normal on a Korean or global label — "whitening," "anti-aging," "regeneration" — reads as a drug claim in the US. On top of that, MoCRA, the US cosmetics law in effect since 2023, now requires facility registration, product listing, a named responsible person, and safety records before you're truly shelf-ready.
What the checker does
Claim-risk flagger
Paste your product copy — hero claims, INCI callouts, packaging text. We flag every phrase that reads as a drug or OTC claim, explain why, and suggest a rewrite that keeps the marketing punch. In our live tests it caught 6 of 6 planted violations.
Compliant rewrites, not just red flags
Most tools tell you something's wrong. Ours rewrites it. 'Whitens dark spots' becomes 'visibly brightens the look of dark spots' — compliant, and it still sells.
MoCRA readiness checklist
A plain-English checklist for the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act: facility registration, product listing, responsible person, safety substantiation, and adverse-event records — plus whether the small-business exemption likely applies to you.
Label readiness checklist
Ingredient (INCI) declaration, net contents, responsible-party address, required warnings, and the US-specific label rules that trip up imported packaging.
Built for K-beauty specifically
Every example, flag, and rewrite is tuned to Korean beauty categories and the exact claims Korean labels tend to make. Not a generic global-compliance tool.
See it on a real claim.
The copy you wrote:
"A brightening ampoule that whitens dark spots and boosts collagen for younger-looking skin."
What we flag:
"whitens dark spots"
Drug claim. Implies altering skin pigmentation to treat hyperpigmentation. High risk.
"boosts collagen"
Structure/function (drug) claim. Implies changing the body's structure.
"younger-looking skin"
Borderline. Fine as a cosmetic appearance claim as long as it stays about the look.
Compliant rewrite:
"A brightening ampoule that visibly evens the look of dark spots for smoother, younger-looking skin."
Cosmetic-safe: it describes appearance, not a biological effect. This is a first read, not legal sign-off.
How it works
- 1
Paste your copy and pick your product category.
- 2
Get flags, plain-English reasons, and compliant rewrites in seconds.
- 3
Export your MoCRA + label checklist and fix what's left before you pitch.
A fast first read — not legal advice.
The checker is built on current FDA cosmetic-labeling guidance and MoCRA as of 2026, and it's designed to catch the obvious, expensive mistakes before a buyer or a regulator does. It doesn't replace a regulatory consultant or an attorney for your final label — it makes that conversation shorter and cheaper. We update the rules as they change, and we never take payment to soften a flag.
Common questions
What's the difference between a cosmetic claim and a drug claim?
A cosmetic claim describes cleansing, beautifying, or changing appearance — 'hydrates,' 'evens skin tone,' 'adds shine.' A drug claim says the product affects the body's structure or function, or treats a condition — 'boosts collagen,' 'treats acne,' 'reduces inflammation.' Drug claims require FDA drug approval, so the same formula can be legal or illegal based purely on wording. Our checker flags the wording.
Does 'whitening' or 'brightening' count as a drug claim in the US?
'Brightening,' used to describe the look of more even, radiant skin, is generally treated as a cosmetic claim. 'Whitening' or 'lightening' that implies changing skin pigmentation to treat dark spots or hyperpigmentation reads as a drug claim. Because 'whitening' is common on Korean and global labels, it's one of the most frequent flags for K-beauty brands entering the US.
What is MoCRA and does it apply to my brand?
MoCRA — the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022, in effect since 2023 — requires cosmetic facilities to register, products to be listed with the FDA, a named 'responsible person' on the label, and safety substantiation and adverse-event records. It applies to cosmetics sold in the US, including imported K-beauty. Some very small businesses qualify for a limited exemption from registration and GMP; the checklist tells you if you likely qualify.
Is this a replacement for a compliance consultant or lawyer?
No. It's a fast, first-pass read that catches the obvious, expensive mistakes — risky claims and missing MoCRA steps — before a retailer's buyer or the FDA sees them. Use it to clean up most issues yourself, then bring a consultant a much shorter, cheaper list.
Is this only for Korean beauty brands?
The rules are the same for any cosmetic sold in the US, but every example, flag, and rewrite is tuned to K-beauty categories and the specific claims Korean labels tend to make — so it's most useful for emerging Korean brands entering the US.
How much does it cost?
Checking your claims is free to start, as part of the Brand Hub. It's one of a suite of free tools for emerging K-beauty brands in our Ieum program — discovery, verification, and the toolkit are free, and we never take payment to rank.