I hate to be the bearer of bad news: The ripple effects of Trump’s tariffs will undoubtedly hit your beauty routine (even with a newly announced 90-day pause). But if during your recent financial spirals, you found yourself wondering where is Botox made as well as other injectables, you’re in good company.
“This would be tragic for my bank account,” says Alex Wollman, a publicist in New York. She gets “60 units to the face” every three months—a habit that, as of now, costs a couple thousand dollars a year. “I have to get Botox more often because my body metabolizes it faster,” she explains. “But I’d still go broke for it.”
Going broke for Botox may sound like a sitcom plot, but it soon may be a reality. And although we usually think of Botox for its aesthetic purposes (not that there’s anything wrong with that), it’s also a medical treatment that’s FDA-approved to treat chronic migraine, overactive bladder, hyperhidrosis, and more. In other words, it’s important that those who need it have access to it.
Then there are other injectables such as filler, which Wollman does twice a year in her lips. “I’ve also done other treatments like Sculptra, and I’ll probably wanna do another session. So this tariff will really not be ideal for me,” she says.
So just how much will these treatments be affected? No matter where Botox planning is on your priority list, if getting needles in your face (or body) is something you budget for, the tariffs are something to consider. Keep reading for everything to know.
Where is Botox made?
Quick refresher: Although often used as shorthand for the neuromodulator category, Botox Cosmetic is actually a specific brand manufactured by AbbVie. All Botox is made in the town of Westport, Ireland.
Other neuromodulators are also manufactured outside of the U.S.: Jeuveau is made in South Korea, while Dysport is manufactured in England, and Xeomin in Germany. Daxxify, on the other hand, is made in California, and is “the only prescription frown line treatment made in the United States.”
Fillers are imported as well: Juvéderm, Restylane, and Sculptra are all manufactured in the European Union, and are therefore all subject to a 20% tariff.
Will the tariffs affect Botox?
Officially, no—at least, not yet. Botox and other neuromodulators fall under pharmaceuticals, which are exempt from the reciprocal tariffs. “This classification appears on Annex II of the recent tariff announcement, which are all exceptions to the tariffs being imposed,” explains Christine Abely, Assistant Professor at New England Law | Boston. “Botox can therefore continue to be imported duty-free.”
That being said, on April 8, President Trump threatened a “major” tariff on pharmaceuticals is on the way as well. If that is put into effect, Botox and friends would no longer be exempt. (AbbVie, the maker of Botox Cosmetic, did not return Glamour’s request for comment.)
What about other fillers?
Juvéderm and other fillers are not exempt from the tariffs. “This heading does not appear in the list of exemptions from the reciprocal tariffs,” explains Abely. “In the past, when imported from France, this product has entered the U.S. duty-free. However, imports from Member States of the European Union (such as France) will now be subject to a 20% reciprocal tariff as of April 9, which will apply to imports of Juvéderm.”
Will the price of Botox and fillers increase?
It remains to be seen. Although the tariffs do not apply to neuromodulators as I write this, you simply never know—say it with me—in this economy.