If you’re launching a lip gloss brand or expanding your cosmetic company to include gorgeous glosses, it’s important to source high-quality cosmetic containers that protect and show off the quality inside. Lip gloss tubes are more than just a functional necessity – they are the core of your customer’s first impression. Cheap-looking lip gloss packaging or a messy, leaking tube can instantly ruin a buyer’s experience, regardless of whether or not they like the gloss itself.
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This comprehensive guide is filled with essential questions and insider tips to help you determine your brand’s unique style and find the right packaging partner.
Tubes are the most common packaging choice, but it’s not the only option. If you’re creating a thicker, more balm-like lip gloss formula with firm beeswax or shea butter, you might want to consider a jar! Jars are also an option for highly-pigmented glosses that need to be applied with a specialized makeup brush. For the rest of the guide, let’s assume that you’re choosing traditional tube packaging.
Some wholesale suppliers of lip gloss containers offer a wide range of size options, but 3ml is standard for empty lip gloss tubes. Also, you should consider if you need tester and sample-sized tubes. Ask your packaging partner if they can do both.
Both style options have their perks! Pigmented and iridescent lip gloss formulas typically look best in clear tubes because it makes it easier to compare colors and see shimmer. Frosted tubes add a level of luxurious sophistication and look stunning with lighter or non-pigmented glosses.
The packaging that you choose should reflect the core personality of your brand. The classic tube is designed that way for a reason – it allows customers to access the maximum amount of product and offers a compact, travel-friendly design. However, if you’re launching an off-beat, avant-garde lip gloss brand, you might prefer to break away from the norm with a uniquely molded bottle shape.
Most lip gloss brands choose neutral colors like black, silver, and gold to support the unique color and shine of the formula inside. A matte cap adds a modern sense of contrast, whereas a shiny cap reinforces the reflective, glossy finish!
A ‘doe foot’ applicator is the industry standard for lip gloss containers, and it has an easy-to-use contoured shape that your customers are already used to. Some suppliers offer different kinds of applicator shapes and styles, but the material quality is often most important to consumers. For clean application, look for a durable applicator that is made with synthetic hytrel and natural fibers.
If convenience is your top priority, you may want to find a supplier that offers in-house design and printing for a one-stop-shop, but it will come at a price. You are more likely to find better wholesale prices by working with separate tube suppliers and printers. Enjoy both affordable packaging and convenience by asking your supplier if they can ship directly to the label silk-screen company!
This one is a no-brainer, but it shouldn’t be overlooked. Unfortunately, some cheap suppliers cut costs too low to support quality. Run tests before launch with a variety of different formulas and tubes at different temperatures to make sure that your products never leak, spill, or risk contamination once they’re in the hands of your customers.
Minimum order quantities (MOQ) are fairly common in the industry, but it’s more difficult to make packaging changes, fulfill last-minute orders, and boost stock in small batches. Look for a supplier with no MOQ so that you have flexibility to purchase what you need, when you need it. This also allows you to purchase low-cost samples for testing before committing to a large order.
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Fast shipping times and clear communication are essential, especially during the launch phase of your lip gloss brand! While comparing cost-effective, high-quality packaging options that fit your brand style, you should also consider the supplier’s native language, time zone, and shipping speed. For domestic suppliers, you shouldn’t accept anything longer than 24-48-hour order fulfillment!
In a previous post I wrote about How To Create Your Own Hair or Skin Care Line. I talk about getting very clear on what you want and asking yourself questions to help you to have focus and clarity.
One of the questions is, Are you making the product or a private manufacturer? Over the years, I have heard several horror stories of clients that have gone with private manufacturers and didn’t read the fine print of the contract. The relationship with the manufacturer went bad and my clients did not own their formula. My clients wanted to move their business to another manufacturer but they would have to start over as they did not own the formula for their product/s. It would cost them a lot of money. They said they wish they would have consulted with me first or taken one of my Pro Courses to have knowledge on formulating and developing products and before signing the contract. They would have saved money in the long run. I also have students that have come back and told me they learned so much from taking the pro course and they decided to go with a private manufacturer and knew exactly what to ask for developing the product and the contracted terms.
There are Private Label Manufacturers and Contract Manufacturers. Some do both functions and include custom formulating services.
Private Label Manufacturers
Private label manufacturers have stock formulas and you choose from their stock bases for the cosmetic product and scent and the container. The stock bases can usually be slightly modified. They fill the container, label it with your custom label and ship the product.
Pros: This is the fastest way for product development and to bring your product to market. There are no product development costs. There are low minimums on your product and you can see how your product does on the market without putting a lot of money into it.
Cons: You have no control over the ownership of your product. If the manufacturer decides to discontinue a stock base you are using, you have to use another base of theirs and change your label with the listing of ingredients, plus it will be a different formulation that you may not like as much. The manufacturer may go out of business or you may not like their business practices but you are unable to take your business elsewhere since they own the formula. They will not give you the formula. All of these problems have happened to clients of mine that came to me very frustrated.
Contract Manufacturer
Contract manufacturers manufacture from a formula you own, fill and ship your product. You own the formula. You can contract a cosmetic formulator to create the formula, create the formula yourself or go through the manufacturer if they offer the service. Some manufacturers have a cosmetic formulator on staff and they work with you to customize a formulation for you and then at this same facility it is manufactured, filled and shipped to you.
Pros: You own the formula. If you are not happy with the manufacturer you can go to another manufacturer with your formula.
Cons: It is more expensive to have a custom formula developed and it takes more time for product development and longer to market. High minimums are usually required.
If you are thinking about a private label or contract manufacturer here are some questions to assist you to have a clear collaborative relationship with the manufacturer and hopefully save you from heartache and loss of finances.
Questions To Ask Cosmetic Manufacturing Labs
You should know if they are a private label or contract manufacturer or both and then ask the questions below that relate to them.
1. How long have they been in business?
2. Are they a cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) facility? FDA compliant?
Water used? Is it purified to USP standards?
3. Lab Testing-What types of lab testing do they perform?: Do they do CTFA Challenge Testing? Do they do stability testing? or Does the formula need to already passed testing at a lab before coming to them? What tests do they recommend? Do they do microbial testing of every completed batch?
4. Can they produce ___________ (your product ex: lotion)?
5. Do they work with the ingredients in your formula? Can they handle your formula procedures?
6. What other cosmetic products can they manufacture?
7. What are their minimums?
8. What are their maximums for production? (If the product does very well, can they meet the demand?)
9. Pilot Run and Scaling: How do they do this?
10. How much for samples?
11. How many times will they allow you to try the product from the pilot run and tweak it before they charge more?
12. What is the turn around time from when you place your order?
13. What are the R&D (research & development) costs?
14. Raw ingredients: Ingredient Sourcing- how does this work? can they help you with this, do they have some raw ingredients they buy in bulk you can use?
15. What are their mixing capabilities?
16. What Equipment Do they have/use? Stainless Steel? Propeller agitation?
17. Filling: Equipment Used in Filling?: What type of filling system do they have? Does it work with the containers you will be using? Can they do heat fill tubes? How many containers can be filled in 24 hours?
18. Packaging: Do they do Induction Sealing? Shrink Wrap? Labeling?
19. Batching and Filling
Who will be making the product? Is the person going to be on site when the product is being made? Do they do any documentation and inspection of the product while being made?
Can you visit the facility? (most will say no)
20. Timely Delivery of finished products: Cost?
21. Payment Terms?
22. What is their Refund Policy?
23. Policy for damaged goods on arrival?
24. Cost for additional Runs?
25. Do they have a referral from another customer? (contact this customer and ask their experience)
You want to stay in complete ownership of your formula: Owning your formula: If they make any adjustments to the formula or production procedure you want to make it clear that you still own the formula, not them. Make sure to read the contract and that it states this.
Get everything in writing!
Joan Morais is a natural cosmetic formulator, instructor, author and the owner of Joan Morais Naturals. Joan assists product makers on how to make high quality, stable and effective natural body, hair and skin care products for personal use and a product making business.
For more information, please visit Eye Cosmetics.