Plastic, Metal or Glass? How to Choose Cosmetic Packaging Materials?
When customers buy cosmetics, they pay not only for the functions of cosmetics but also for the packaging of cosmetics. In the process of purchasing and using cosmetics, people often see a variety of packaging methods and different production lines. Common cosmetic packaging materials include plastic, glass, and metal. Different materials have different advantages and disadvantages. When choosing cosmetic packaging materials, you should consider the advantages and disadvantages of these materials and whether they can be applied to your products.
Types of cosmetic packaging materials
Glass
Glass usually has a charming and gorgeous appearance. Most luxury or high-end cosmetics will choose glass materials as the best choice.
Advantages
One of the advantages of using glass is that it has a decorative appearance. They have transparent, frosted, or colored finishes to choose from. It is especially suitable for packaging perfume, but it is also suitable for essential oils, skin care products, and cream products. In addition, due to the chemical inertia of glass, glass is extremely tolerant of almost any formula of cosmetics or skincare products. This means that most cosmetics can be stably stored in glass packaging without fear of chemical reaction with packaging materials. For example, pure essential oils interact with plastics and rubber, so they are usually stored in glass bottles. And the amber glass containers can also prevent the lotion from being decomposed by ultraviolet light and ensure its stability.
Disadvantages
The biggest disadvantage of glass materials is that they are easy to break. This material is not durable and is very fragile in terms of impact. The price of glass packaging materials is also relatively expensive. Therefore, for cosmetic packaging suppliers, the vulnerability of glass packaging needs to be considered in the process of storage and transportation.
Plastic
With the continuous updating of plastic production technology, plastic can be produced on a large scale and at a low cost. Therefore, plastic cosmetic packaging has become one of the most commonly used materials in the cosmetics packaging material industry.
Advantages
The reason why plastic materials are widely used as cosmetic packaging solutions is the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of plastic packaging materials. The cost of plastic materials is significantly lower than that of any other available materials. And plastic materials also have the flexibility and can be made into a variety of packaging designs, making them more attractive. In addition, the weight of plastic materials is also lighter than other materials.
Disadvantages
With the improvement of people’s concept of environmental protection, people increasingly consider the sustainability and recycling of packaging materials. Therefore, the problem with the extensive use of plastic cosmetic containers is that plastic materials may have a serious impact on the environment.
Metal
Metal materials are also a very common solution as cosmetic packaging materials. And Metal packaging materials usually can provide a fashionable and elegant appearance.
Advantages
Among metal materials, aluminum is a popular choice because it is easy to operate. And aluminum is a metal that has one of the highest recovery rates on earth. Aluminum is also a budget-friendly option for cosmetic suppliers. Unlike glass materials, metal materials are more durable and can withstand more severe transportation and storage conditions.
Disadvantages
There are usually some restrictions on the appearance of metal materials because metals lack transparency. For plastic and glass cosmetic packaging, they can have a certain degree of transparency, which can help consumers check the use degree of products in the cosmetics containers in real-time, which can enhance the user experience.
By reading the advantages and disadvantages of the above packaging materials, you can never really choose a fixed material to apply to the packaging of all cosmetics. Different products are suitable for different packaging materials. Therefore, you need to determine your product first and fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of packaging materials to choose the right cosmetics packaging materials. If you still have doubts about the choice of cosmetic packaging materials, you can contact us, and our professionals can help you find the most suitable solution for your products.
