Cosmetics and beauty products are quintessential items used to help consumers feel better about themselves and enhance their physical appearance. The result is packaging that must be and do the same. 

Almost all cosmetics and beauty products are purchased and used to help consumers feel and/or look better. From lipsticks, blushers and eyeliners, to moisturising facial creams, nourishing soaps and shampoos, and grooming products that conditions beards, each is designed to help support and enhance elements of our collective physical appearance.

The continued rise of the middle class around the world will see demand for these products increase, with the market for cosmetics and beauty products predicted to go from strength-to-strength over the coming years.

No wonder then that at London Packaging Week 2024, a plethora of exhibitors will showcase the latest trends to packaging professionals, with products and services galore to make packaging for cosmetic and beauty products look and feel its best.

Pick your packaging

Glass jars and bottles allow the product to be highly visible to the consumer, confirming the quality and luxury of the product within. Premium round glass jars offered by Richmond Containers (F20) are a great example of this. Carefully moulded in premium glass with a heavy base for a super-premium feel, jars are available in 3ml, 30ml, 50ml, 100ml, 200ml and 220ml volumes. Frosted and sprayed blue glass jar are other options available.

Beatson Clark (G54) has a wide range of glass bottles and jars on show, many available from stock, in both white flint and amber glass, with Rawlings Group (D64) having accredited pharmaceutical glass for use with fragrance and beauty products. For higher volumes, it can develop uniquely-shaped bottles to give brands greater impact and appeal.

While glass offers a premium feel to convey a high-end luxury appearance, there are drawback to its use, such as cost, wastage, breakages and colouring limitations. This is why there is working going onto create options that mimic the impact if glass with the performance of rigid plastic.

Ramson Packaging (E26) has developed glass-like PET bottles, offering the luxury of glass with the functionality of plastic. These are Ecocert-approved and made from renewable resources and manufactured using resource-efficient processes. This means they can be seen as a sustainable solution for cosmetic packaging. They are lighter in weight, safe to distribute and retail cosmetic products in, and the bottles can be easily coloured.

Spectra Packaging (E52) offers glass polymer packaging, developed to provide customers with an authentic alternative to glass with all the benefits of rigid plastics. These have the crystal clarity of normal glass combined with the performance and flexibility of conventional rigid plastic. Spectra’s glass polymer has been designed to replicate the clear thick walls of glass, benefiting from a slightly uneven chunky base that looks just like the real thing. The new products also feel like glass with a density that is heavier than conventional plastic, offering a rigidity that exudes quality and sophistication.

For all above, Kurz’s (H22) inLINE FOILING is a new process applicable for applying metallic decoration. Developed together with Isimat, this process creates revolutionary possibilities for cosmetics. inLINE FOILING creates brilliant metallic decoration on bottles and tubes without using pressure and temperature – inline and at high speed. This means such fantastic metallic effects – some previously not possible – can be created in a highly efficient and cost saving manner. 

Tins and metal packaging are another medium closely tied to cosmetics and beauty. Often serving as secondary packaging, they are nonetheless likely to be the primary interaction between a brand and consumers. Tinplate (G42) is exhibiting its capabilities in this area as well as showcasing examples of what it can and has achieved with tins, such as its work with renowned British perfume house Penhaligon’s. This saw the development of a unique, stand-out range in time for Christmas. This consisted of a miniature fragrance tin for “him” and “her”, a gift set tin with a choice of five different designs holding a selection of products, and a stunning and technically challenging musical box design. This range went on to win multiple awards but, more importantly, resulted in a 24% sales lift for the brand; an example of just how impactful tins can be. 

Eviosys (G10) has an extensive portfolio of creative metal packaging designs, which offer functionality and visual impact to help win the battle on the store shelf. Available in a range of shapes and sizes, with a plethora of decoration and embellishment techniques available, these are perfectly suited to the needs of cosmetics and beauty customers. 

Aluminium packaging options as offered up by Micro Delta Packaging (D36) allow beauty brands to achieve a seamless look. A fashion collar hides the ferrule to create a consistent luxury aesthetic for skincare, cosmetics, hair care and personal care products. Custom colours and insert options are available. 

Folding cartons and boxes are similarly able to be constructed into all shapes and sizes to increase the impact of cosmetics and beauty product packaging. ISGC Packaging (G74) has a number of solutions in this regard. Designed with both durability and convenience in mind, folding cartons offer exceptional protection and easy handling. They use a compact design and sturdy construction to deliver maximum efficiency in the supply chain, with options for branding and printing logos and product information increasing shelf appeal. Being made from recyclable materials, they support sustainability practices. Collapsible rigid boxes afford similar functionality. 

For those after a more natural look and feel, Impress Bg (D66) talks up uncoated and unbleached Kraft boxes for cosmetics, with the impact of a rough-touch feel complementing natural product lines.

If you’re after a more luxurious impact, the exquisite example of a presentation box by New Island Printing (G46) examples complex designs throughout and intricate laser cut details. Made for Maogeping Cosmetics, the award-winning design opens up to reveal inner compartments, drawers and lights. 

A gentle touch

Pollard Boxes (J60) has devised a packaging solution in close collaboration with Experimental Perfume Club. This was created to example how premium packaging can also demonstrate strong sustainability credentials. On the shelf, these boxes combine various uses decoration effects to create a striking image that reflects the quality of the brand while establishing a strong brand image.

To take into account environmental requirements, only FSC-accredited materials and uncoated and varnished finishes were considered in the selection of the papers at the start of the development process. Internally, all packs use white lined board, with unlined board and white Edixion 350gsm for the fitments in the individual product boxes, and foam and white tissue paper for the blending box.

Holmen Iggesund (D54) is working with and Yangi to explore sustainable packaging solutions that see rigid plastics replaced with alternative renewable materials. Beauty and cosmetics packaging fall into this project.

Another exhibitor at London Packaging Week 2024 innovating with sustainability of the cosmetics and beauty sector front of mind is Monro Cosmetics (F70). The company has developed a 100% recyclable cosmetic palette, a first-of-its-kind. This product features a cellulose acetate closure, water-based varnishes and integrated tear off paper sheet, this specification can be replicated in any cardboard palette size or layout and is fully recyclable.

This is a small sample of the solutions and innovations for cosmetics and beauty applications that will be seen at London Packaging Week 2024, which takes place 11 & 12 September at ExCeL. Registration is now open.