The ultimate guide to health & beauty cosmetic packaging

Chapter 1: Getting Started with Health & Beauty Packaging

What is health & beauty cosmetic packaging?

Health and Beauty cosmetic packaging is packaging designed specifically for Health and Beauty products and to target a specific audience base. Health and Beauty packaging can come in a variety of forms such as cardboard cosmetic packaging and cosmetic box packaging.

Health & Beauty cosmetic businesses are classed as businesses that sell; Health products, medicine, skincare, hair care, make-up, perfumes, toiletries and deodorants, and oral cosmetics. The target audience within this sector typically like to try different products, so when shopping they look for clear and aesthetically pleasing packaging.

Why is health & beauty cosmetic packaging important?

Health and beauty packaging is important to protect your products, to display the most important information clearly to your customers and to stand out within the market.

Health and beauty packaging is a vital part of marketing, how the items are packaged influences the consumer’s choices. Well designed packaging can make people expect high-quality products.

What are the different types of health & beauty cosmetic packaging?

There are a lot of options to choose from when it comes to health and beauty cosmetic packaging and we understand this can be overwhelming. But it is hugely important that you choose the right type of packaging for your business and products.

At Belmont Packaging, we sell a range of different types of beauty and cosmetic packaging fit for every business, product and location. It is important that you understand the difference between the packaging choices and which is the most suitable for you.
The first thing you need to think about when choosing health and beauty packaging is what is the purpose of your packaging? What kind of products are you creating? You need to choose product packaging that makes the most sense and works the best for each product. For example packaging you choose for a body spray, isn’t going to be the best packaging for multivitamins.

Your packaging should allow the consumer to be as close as possible to the actual products without risking damage to them.

• Health & beauty cosmetic retail packaging
  If your products are placed in a retail environment and appear on a shelf or display it is crucial your branding stands out. This environment can become extremely busy and without packaging that stands out your product may not get a second glance. Custom retail packaging is also important as it is specifically designed to be the correct shape for the environment it is positioned in, which means it is easy to grab off the shelf, easy to handle and a shape that stands out.
  
  
• Health & beauty e-commerce packaging
  The Health and Beauty industry has experienced a greater shift towards eCommerce in recent years as more consumers are now choosing to purchase their skincare, makeup and health & wellbeing products online. The nature of these products often creates challenges for retailers when it comes to shipping items safely and securely.
  
  
• Health & beauty transit packaging
  Protection is paramount when it comes to transit packaging, however there are many other factors which come into designing high-quality health & beauty transit packaging. Transit packaging can provide a great unboxing experience, we allow customers to personalise their transit packaging to make full use of our design capabilities, high- quality material, their branding and print.
  

What are health & beauty cosmetic packages made from?

There is a huge variety of packaging materials available which is suitable for health & beauty cosmetic packaging. This section will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular packaging materials.

• Corrugated Cardboard
  Corrugated is made up of three layers of paper that includes an inside liner, an outside liner, and fluting with a ruffled shape, which runs in between the two.

Advantages of corrugated cardboard

• Low cost
• Sustainable packaging option
• Strong
• Easy to customise
• Powerful marketing tool

Disadvantages of corrugated cardboard

• They are not as durable as boxes made from materials such as plastic or wood.
• Generally used for short-term purpose
  
  
• Paper
  

  Paper packaging is a packaging product made of paper material. This type of packaging is used to pack, store and transport goods, helping to store and protect the product inside due to the impact of transportation.

Advantages of paper packaging

• Recyclable and biodegradable
• Improves brand image
• Saves space when storing
• Can be used across all sectors
  

Disadvantages of paper packaging

• Poor water resistance
• Poor strength
• Consumers more energy in production process

• Glass
  Glass has an almost zero rate of chemical interactions, ensuring that the products inside a glass bottle keep their strength, aroma, and flavour.
  

Advantages of glass packaging

• 100% recyclable
• Adds a premium feel to your brand
• Glass Packaging is a hygienic material that, being nonporous and impermeable
  

Disadvantages of glass packaging

• Very fragile
• Heavy compared to other packaging materials
• Becomes hazardous if breaks

• Aluminium
  Aluminium's ability to form any shape and its protective qualities have made it the most versatile packaging material in the world.

Advantages of Aluminium packaging

• Recyclable
• Thermal conductor
• Light-weight
• Impermeable
  

Disadvantages of Aluminium packaging

• Risk of damage to the environment
• Responsible for a lot of waste
• Potential for injury with sharp edges
• Opening some aluminium packaging can be a challenge

• Bamboo packaging
  Bamboo packaging is made from the bamboo plant. Contrary to popular belief, bamboo plants aren’t trees. They’re actually a member of the grass family. There are over 1,000 different species of bamboo that grow in various parts of the world but mainly Asia.
  
  Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world.
  

Advantages of Bamboo packaging

• Easily composted after use
• Bamboo grows quickly
• Highly durable
• Helps reduce carbon footprint
  

Disadvantages of Bamboo packaging

• Can be costly
• Some Bamboo contains BPA’s, PVC, and phthalates.

Chapter 2: How to package your health & beauty cosmetic product

Choosing the right type of packaging for health & beauty cosmetic products

Packaging plays an important role in a number of sectors and there are a lot of packaging opportunities to choose from. However, choosing the right packaging for your business and products is crucial.

In this section we will discuss the different types of packaging, the key considerations when choosing each packaging and what the advantages this type of packaging can bring to your business.

• Shelf ready retail packaging for health & beauty products
  

  Shelf- Ready Packaging ( SRP) and Retail-ready Packaging ( RRP) refers to the packaging of a product that is delivered to a retailer. SRP is delivered to a retailer as a merchandising unit, which is ready to be placed directly onto the shelves.

  RRP packaging is also optimised for efficient stocking and sale.
  Custom shelf-ready packaging and retail-ready packaging can showcase your products in a convenient and unmistakable way.

  We produce custom packaging, designed by experts to ensure your high-value health and beauty products remain protected and stand out on and off the shelf.

  Take a look at the custom packaging we produced for Mamma Hug. A subscription service for new mothers filled with pamper products, health and beauty products and gifts to make them feel amazing.

  Read the full case study to find out more.

• E-commerce packaging for health & beauty cosmetic products
  

  The health and beauty industry have always been leaders and at the forefront when it comes to the eCommerce industry. From innovation, reinvention, clean beauty to AI cosmetic solutions. Health and Beauty retailers are always looking for new opportunities to enhance their customers' experience.

  Royal Mail forecast the value of the subscription box market to grow 72% by 2022. Therefore, it is important that businesses within this industry choose the right packaging in order to maximise their opportunities for success.

Key considerations when choosing E-commerce packaging

• Does it ensure protection for your products?
• Does it increase productivity ?
• Does it align with and boost your customer experience?
• Is it sustainable?
  
  We recently helped Nudi, a skincare e-commerce business create custom packaging. We were very proud to help Nudi realise their vision and see for yourself how Nudi unveils their products to their customers.

View our case study to find out more.

• Transit packaging for health & beauty cosmetic products
  Due to growth in the health and beauty industry, businesses want to be able to future-proof their supply chain and packaging plays a huge part in this.
  
  Here are some important factors to consider when choosing transit packaging for health and beauty products…
  
  
• Does the size and shape of your packaging protect your products?
• Does your packaging stand out in a competitive market?
• Is your packaging material sustainable?
• How strong is your packaging?

Are you looking for eco-friendly or sustainable health & beauty cosmetic packaging?

Consumers are actively searching for sustainable packaging before purchasing health and beauty products. That’s why companies who do not offer sustainable packaging options are falling behind within the industry
Younger consumers, those 44 years and younger — are leading the way, with 83% reporting that they are willing to pay more for it, compared to 70% of all consumers.

We make it easy for businesses to have access to sustainable packaging at a cost-effective price. We manufacture cardboard that is made from a minimum of 70% recycled materials and 100% recyclable. We are FSC certified and source our raw materials from sustainable forests.

As well as corrugated cardboard, there are a number of other eco-friendly packaging materials which can be used for cosmetics.

• Paper packaging
• Bamboo packaging
• Mushroom packaging
• Cornstarch packaging

What about custom health & beauty packaging?

What is custom health & beauty packaging?
Custom health & beauty packaging as you might have guessed is packaging designed specifically around your product. Instead of an off the shelf cardboard box, custom packaging allows you to be creative and provide your customers with something unique and memorable. Cardboard packaging can be customised to whatever specifications you need, so why settle for a plain old box?

What are the advantages of custom health & beauty packaging?

• Increases brand awareness
• Creates a memorable unboxing experience
• Creates a valuable touchpoint for your customers
• Protects your products more
• Reduce your shipping costs

Vit-Plan approached us on their search for a subscription packaging supplier. Each postal subscription box was to hold a four week supply of vitamin supplements; a total of 84 capsules and 28 tablets.

Find out more about our work with Vit-Plan here on our case studies page.

Chapter 3: Designing Health & Beauty Packaging Your Customers Will Love

1. What makes the best health & beauty cosmetic packaging design?
   

   The Health and Beauty Industry is an extremely competitive but lucrative business, therefore it is important that companies are able to cut through the noise and stand out from the competition. One way to do this is to design high-quality packaging which unmistakably highlights your brand wherever it is placed.

   The health and beauty industry operates heavily on brand recognition and consumers within this industry are very loyal to the brand they choose which helps retain loyal customers. As a result of this consumer behaviour, health and beauty packaging need to make sure their packaging design is instantly recognisable and that the design aligns with the brand values.

   The quality of the packaging material also plays an important role in purchasing behaviour. When a consumer views well designed and high quality packaging this makes them more likely to trust the company and want to purchase from them.

   Keeping up to date with the latest trends within the health and beauty industry matters and can give you the competitive edge you need to stand out. Once you know what’s currently trending, you can create packaging that you know your customers are looking for. However, it is important to make sure the branding aligns with your company identity.

2. What are the main considerations when designing health & beauty cosmetic packaging?

• Functionality
  Packaging design is meant to be hassle-free and provide as much convenience to the buyer as possible. That’s why functionality is one of the main considerations when it comes to designing packaging. Especially health and beauty cosmetic packaging, as these products often contain liquid so the packaging needs to be functional and protective.
  
  
• Keeping up with the current trends
  The Health and Beauty industry is all about keeping up with the latest trends and looking your best. Therefore, this rule should be applied when it comes to designing packaging for this industry. Once you know what’s currently trending, you can create packaging that caters to what’s important to your customers now. However, it is important to remember to pick a timeless and universal design so your packaging design looks up-to-date for as long as possible.
  
  
• Material
  One of the key considerations when designing packaging is to make sure you are using the right material. The main purpose of packaging is to protect your products and this all comes down to the material you use, choosing the wrong material can lead to damaged products, damaged brand reputation and unhappy customers. It is also important to consider whether your material is sustainable, a large number of consumers are now avoiding companies that do not provide sustainable packaging.

3. Where to find health & beauty cosmetic packaging ideas
So, now you understand the benefits of health and beauty packaging it is important to know where to look for new packaging ideas.
Just like a number of industries, trends change quickly across the health & beauty packaging sector. But we have collated a number of sources which you can visit to stay up to date with the latest trends and create unforgettable packaging.

• Pinterest- Search for health and beauty, sustainable beauty packaging design, cosmetic packaging ideas
• Canva
• Behance
• 99designs
• Instagram- #packaging #creative packaging #packaging design
• Belmont Packaging Gallery and Case study page
  

4. How to turn your health & beauty packaging idea into a reality
Our experienced team of designers will consider all your requirements from concept to completion. We use state-of-the-art equipment and software, we can work with you to create an innovative and functional subscription box, shelf-ready, retail-ready or transit packaging solution for your product.

We provide corrugated packaging solutions for many different sectors, including but not limited to, footwear and fashion, food and drink and health and beauty.

How it works

Typically, customers send samples of products required to be packaged or a picture with full measurements.

We'll provide a quote based on the quantity required with a breakdown of costs. Supply your artwork and or work with our skilled design team to create imaginative and innovative packaging, unique to your products!

We'll pop you over a plain sample of your packaging for you to approve. Once you've approved your packaging, we'll manufacture and deliver your beautifully finished packaging