Cosmetics Box Production - From Box Types by Purpose to Design Concepts

Design by. Shuang Zhan

Producing lotion boxes, ampoule boxes, essence boxes, sunscreen boxes, mask pack boxes, body care packaging, hair product packaging, and more — the cosmetics industry is one of the categories best suited to building a strong base of loyal customers among countless product segments. Whether on bathroom shelves or in front of a vanity, cosmetics are part of the beginning and end of the day for countless women and men. That includes everything from simple creams, cleansers, and sunscreens to vivid color cosmetics for avant-garde stage makeup.

The Importance of Cosmetic Boxes and Package Design

A product’s packaging is the first thing your future loyal customers encounter when they see your brand. If the packaging catches the consumer’s eye and speaks to them as if to say, “This is exactly what you’ve been looking for!”, they are far more likely to buy and try the product.

But how exactly can you design packaging that makes your ideal future loyal customer think, “I want that blush I saw yesterday!”? Don’t worry — Packative is here to help you design packaging that consumers won’t be able to resist putting in their shopping bags.

Check out the 2021 package design trends

Introduction to Cosmetic Box Shapes and Types

Folding Box

Design by Tao Studio

This is the most basic paper box format and is suitable for display and storage in retail shops such as drugstores and brand stores.

Design by. Shuang Zhan

It is ideal for packaging compact and lightweight products such as tints and lipsticks. It also works well for soap products that are opened and used easily.

Click here if you want to produce a folding box with Packative

Integrated Mailer Box

by. Design studio B.O.B

This box format is made as a single integrated piece without separate adhesive, and it is one of the packaging types many people favor. It is also often produced in paper or corrugated paper lamination form. It has a simple design, and another advantage is that there is no additional adhesive cost.

If you want to custom-produce an integrated mailer box

Slide Box

It is more suitable for packaging soap, cleansers, perfumes, and similar items than typical cosmetics. Because it opens and closes by sliding, like a matchbox, it is also well suited for gift packaging.

If you want to produce a slide box

Rigid Box

It is suitable for gift sets that combine skincare lines and for premium product sets. However, because the unit cost is very high and production is complicated, packaging costs can rise significantly unless the product itself is positioned at a high price point.

If you want to produce a rigid box

Cosmetic Box Design

Key Point in Cosmetic Box Design: Color

Design by Kana Studios

A brand identity color is essentially a brand’s first impression. Color combinations are more important than anything else. Just as Etude makes you think of pink and Innisfree brings to mind deep green, a brand’s image should immediately call a specific color to mind. If you do not want to be limited to just one color, you still need at least one set color for each product category. Apply that same color logic to your packaging so it becomes associated with the brand or product.

If you want to use different colors by product line or category, choose black as the base color instead of white. Black has always been associated with luxury, elegance, and a strong impression. It also serves as a backdrop that beautifully offsets vivid color cosmetics and makes their colors stand out even more. So if you want to create a memorable image, black boxes are also a great choice.

Learn more about package color

The Most Important Design Element in Cosmetic Packaging: Fonts

Text in package design is an important communication tool for conveying the message you want to market to consumers, and it is also the information consumers decode first on a product package. Therefore, fonts and font size are very important for effectively communicating the logo, ingredients, and product name.

To organize the information in your package design — such as the brand name, product name, and ingredients — in a way that is easy to grasp at a glance, you need to establish a typographic hierarchy. Use different font weights so the most important information stands out, and vary font sizes as well to create emphasis and contrast.

Learn more about typography, the flower of packaging design

Cosmetic Box Post-Processing

The finishing touch of cosmetic box design is, of course, post-processing.

Cosmetic boxes often use post-processing such as embossing, spot coating, and foil stamping. Post-processing adds dimension to flat surfaces, allowing the elements you want to emphasize to stand out more vividly.

So, let’s take a look at the different kinds of post-processing!

Embossing and Debossing

Have you ever seen a package where a certain part is slightly raised or recessed? These effects can be created through embossing or debossing, and they help create emphasis through a three-dimensional feel.

Spot Coating

Design by PG brand reforming

Spot coating, as the name suggests, is used to apply coating to specific areas for emphasis. By adding a glossy finish to parts of the design such as the logo or brand name, you can convey a more premium feel.

Foil Stamping

Design by Alejandro Gavancho

Foil stamping refers to using heat to transfer a thin aluminum layer onto paper. Although it can be produced in various colors, gold foil, silver foil, and holographic foil are the most commonly used. Since this process involves pressure, slight misalignment can occur, and it is also worth noting that very small foil details are difficult to reproduce cleanly!

Learn more about packaging finishing and the production process

Closing Thoughts

Today we looked at cosmetic packaging. Since packaging is the first impression customers have of a product, it is important to consider the product’s characteristics and the brand image.