A good formula can be let down by poor packaging. Cosmetic packaging suppliers supply the bottles, jars, tubes, pumps and boxes that hold skincare, hair products, makeup, perfumes and lashes, in sizes that suit a small brand as well as a factory. Tell us the product, the volume and the quantity, and suppliers who deliver to your area quote you directly. The request is free and there is no obligation to order.
Choosing the right container for the formula
Match the pack to the product. Dropper bottles in glass suit oils and serums, and amber or dark glass protects ingredients that break down in light. Airless pumps push the product up from the base with a piston, so there is no dip tube, little air contact and almost no waste, which suits vitamin C, retinol and natural formulas. Squeeze tubes in plastic or aluminium work for hand cream, sunscreen and masks, and jars suit thick balms and body butters. Plain plastic bottles with lotion pumps are the economical choice for shampoo and body lotion.
Compatibility with oils, actives and fragrance
Some ingredients attack some plastics. Essential oils, high levels of fragrance and solvents can soften PP or crack certain acrylics, and strong acids can affect metal parts in pumps. Ask the supplier which material is compatible with your formula and request samples to fill and test for a few weeks at room temperature and in warm conditions before you order thousands. Leaks usually come from a mismatched neck finish or an unsuitable liner, so quote the neck size, such as 18/415, with the pump or cap.
- Oil-based serums: glass with a rubber teat dropper, or a lined cap.
- Water-based lotions: PET or HDPE with a lotion pump.
- Sensitive actives: airless pump or aluminium tube.
Boxes, labels and presentation
Many brands add a folding carton for shelf presence and protection. Lash boxes, perfume boxes and serum boxes are normally made from coated board, folded flat, and printed in full colour. Short runs are possible with digital printing, while litho gives better value above a few thousand. Our guide to custom printed boxes explains artwork, dielines and plate costs. Labels must be readable and durable on curved glass, so ask for waterproof, oil-resistant label stock, and check your label carries the ingredients, volume and contact details the regulations expect.
Small brand minimums and lead times
Stock containers can be bought by the carton, from 50 or 100 pieces, which suits a new brand testing a range. Stock items in common finishes such as white, clear and amber are the cheapest route. Custom colours, logos pressed into the glass or your own shape need a minimum run of 3,000 to 10,000 pieces and take eight to sixteen weeks if imported. Ask whether the supplier offers decoration like hot-stamping or a single colour print on stock bottles, because that gives a branded look without a mould cost.
What to include in your request
- Product type and volume per pack
- Container style: dropper, pump, tube or jar
- What the formula contains, oils or actives
- Boxes and labels needed as well
- Quantity per item and delivery address
Cosmetic Packaging for different businesses
- Online shops and ecommerce: small droppers, pumps and tubes plus mailer boxes for skincare sold online
- Restaurants, takeaways and food producers: small jars and bottles for infused oils, honey and gourmet extracts sold as gifts
- Shops and retail stores: boxed serums, creams and perfumes with matching containers for shelf display
- Factories and manufacturers: bulk tubes, pumps and jars filled on a contract-manufacturing line
- Warehouses, distributors and exporters: cartons of empty containers stored on pallets for fillers and brand owners
- Households and offices moving: leak-proof travel bottles and jars for toiletries and cosmetics when relocating
- Farms, packhouses and nurseries: bottles and jars for aloe, rooibos and marula oil products made on farms
- Cosmetics, candles and health products: airless pumps, droppers, jars and lash and perfume boxes for skincare and makeup brands
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order for cosmetic packaging?
Which packaging is best for serums and oils?
Can I get samples before ordering?
Do I need special labelling on cosmetic packaging?
Cosmetic Packaging by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg