Skincare products come in different shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, not all products are created equally. You really have to examine each detail of your skincare product to make sure you get the most out of it. Yes, including skincare product packaging. The right packaging is a lot more than a pretty look, but it should at least be hygienic and keep active ingredients fresh. It really does matter and you might want to put that into consideration the next time you shop for a product.
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Skincare Product Packaging Types
- jar
- tube
- bottle
These packaging types are the most used packaging types in the beauty industry. Each type can still have different sub-categories. For instance, jar packaging comes in glass jar, plastic jar, and airtight jar. We are going to breakdown as many types of packing as we can in this article.
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Jar
- glass jar
- plastic jar
- airless jar
Commonly used for : moisturizer, overnight mask, body butter
First of all, let’s start with jar packaging. Glass jar is consider one of the most classic packagings for skincare products. Undeniably, jar packaging is easy to use and looks luxurious on your vanity table. You just need to scoop it out from the jar and use it. After that, seal it back with its cover and you are done.
It used to be widely accepted but time has changed. The truth is skincare products that come in jars have been received a lot of critiques lately. Everyone started questioning that if skincare companies should use less jar packaging. The main reason is products in a jar packaging is easily contaminated. Imagine you have to use this product twice daily for a couple of months, how many times you have to expose the product into the air? Not to mention that you are dabbing your finger into it every day. Besides, active ingredients might lose their potency when they were exposed to air continuously.
Due to the reasons above, no wonder consumers are thinking twice before they get a product in a jar. The good news is you really don’t have to overthink and over-worried in this case. Even though we agree that there are definitely other options, but all skincare products on the shelf contain preservatives. Preservatives prolong a product’s shelf life at the same time stop fungus, mold, and bacteria from growing in your product. The only thing you might have to worry about is the effectiveness of active ingredients.
What else? Most jar packaging is recyclable and it will really make a difference for the earth in the long run. Keep in mind that airless jar is not recyclable because it has a metal spring inside the pump.
Other exceptional examples of jar packaging is an airless jar or capsules. An airless jar contains a pump on top and it basically secures your product in the jar without exposing it into the air. For instance, Lala Retro Whipped Cream from Drunk Elephant. You only dispense the product you need for the day. Hence, your product still freshly sealed in the jar and disinfected. Product that is in capsules form in a jar shared the same idea. You only use a single capsule each time, therefore the outer packaging doesn’t really matter.
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Tube
- plastic tube
- aluminum tube
- tube with a pump
Commonly used for : moisturizer, sunscreen, hand cream
A tube packaging seems like a new favorite for the consumers. Well, it’s not hard to figure out why. It is lightweight, easy to carry and keep ingredients safe and hygiene. A plastic tube is so much lighter compared to a plastic jar. It’s easier to carry around when you are on the go. In addition, a product is better to store in a tube if they contain more than 60ml. Trust me, you don’t want to carry a bulky jar around with 100ml products in it.
Skincare products in tube packaging will save you a lot of troubles when you have long fingernails. You can squeeze your product exactly on the tip on your finger and not getting into your fingernails. Thus, you are no longer wasting some of your creams because it trapped in your nails.
There are 3 major types of tubes that beauty companies often use which are plastic tubes, aluminum tubes, and tubes with a pump. Tubes are good for storing product with a thicker texture such as moisturizer or cleanser. Aluminum tube is currently getting more and more popular because you get to use most of the product out of the tube. It is different from the plastic tube that some of your precious creams might stuck in the corner of the tube. Aluminium tubes make sure you get all of your products out from the tube and minimize the waste.
Another good alternative from plastic tube is to add a pump on top of the plastic tube just like this 5 in 1 makeup base from Klavuu. With a pump, it creates pressure and you will get all your product out before you throw it into the bin. Even though tube packaging is generally better in preserving the active ingredient, a plastic tube or aluminum tube still allows air to penetrate into the product. So, tube that comes with a pump will completely check this off.
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Bottle
- plastic bottle
- bottle with a dropper
- bottle with a pump
Commonly used for: toner, essence, serum, emulsion
Last but not least, the bottle packaging, which is widely used in the industry as well. Your favorite toner, serum or perfume are all in a bottle package. With that being said, bottle packaging is perfect for products with a liquidy, watery texture.
Just like the tube packaging, products in a bottle packaging preserve the ingredient and keep it clean better than the jars. This is exactly why your serum (contain the most active ingredients) is often found in bottle. The material can be varied from glass to plastic.
While products in a bottle preserve the ingredients well, it can be hard to use especially without a dropper or pump. I can’t tell you how many times toner dripped everywhere on my vanity table when I try to pour a little on my palm. It can be difficult to measure how much you really need.
However, a bottle with a pump or dropper will significantly improve this problem. With a pump or a dropper, you can get the product out without making a mess. When it comes to choosing a bottle with a pump or a dropper, both have good sides and bad sides.
First of all, a bottle with a pump is the best when it comes to preserving active ingredients. All the active ingredients are locked inside the bottle. However, it can be hard to measure especially if you have a small face or a big face. A pump can be too little or two pumps can be too much for your face, it really depends. On the other hand, a bottle with dropper solves this problem completely. You can add a drop or lessen a drop, it’s completely up to you. However, you’ll have to compromise because your product will be exposed to the air each time you use it.
Final Verdict
To be fair, each packaging does have its positive and negative side. Jar packaging might not sound best, but it is the most environmentally friendly. A product that comes with a pump or dropper works best keeping the ingredients fresh and potent, but it isn’t recyclable. As for now, we will not eliminate products with jar packaging entirely until we found something that is just as environmentally friendly.
