Packaging Materials

100% Recyclable Custom Mold Support Sustainable Biomaterials ISO 9001 Certified

Packaging Materials for Custom Cosmetic Packaging

Material Options Designed for Performance, Appearance, and Sustainability

Choosing the right material is an essential part of creating effective cosmetic packaging. Different formulations, product types, dispensing requirements, and brand positioning may require different material properties.

At Lisson Packaging, we offer a diverse range of packaging materials for cosmetic, skincare, personal care, and beauty applications. From transparent plastics and premium glass to flexible PE, aluminum, PCR, and sugarcane-based materials, our material options can be tailored to your packaging design and product requirements.

Whether you are developing a cosmetic tube, bottle, jar, applicator, or custom packaging solution, our team can help you evaluate material options based on appearance, flexibility, durability, product compatibility, barrier requirements, and sustainability goals.

Choose the Right Material for Your Packaging

PET · PETG · ABS · PE · Acrylic · Glass

Our standard packaging portfolio offers different characteristics for appearance, processing, durability, and application.

PET

PET

Clear, Glossy and Versatile

PET offers extremely high transparency and gloss, clearly showcasing the natural colors of contents such as serums and perfumes. It also boasts good chemical resistance, withstanding most surfactants and weak acids/alkalis found in cosmetics to ensure formula stability.

✓ High transparency & surface gloss
✓ Good chemical resistance
✓ Lightweight compared with glass

Typical Applications: Skincare bottles · Serum packaging · Personal care

PETG

Glass-Like Clarity with Flex

PETG has a light transmittance of 88%–91%, delivering a visual effect comparable to glass. It allows consumers to clearly see the true colors of the contents, helping to create a premium, pure, and trustworthy brand image.

✓ Glass-like visual appearance
✓ Smooth and premium surface touch
✓ Suitable for thick-wall packaging

Typical Applications: Cosmetic containers · Transparent bottles

ABS

ABS

Durable Structural Material

ABS delivers a mirror-smooth, glass-like surface finish that instantly elevates your packaging's visual appeal. Tough and strong, this thermoplastic shields your product from impact in transit and everyday use—perfect for housings that demand durability.

✓ Good rigidity & structural strength
✓ High impact resistance
✓ Ideal for electroplating & coating

Typical Applications: Caps · Closures · Cosmetic housings

Flexible Squeeze Tubes

PE is highly flexible and well-suited for squeezable tubes, especially for products like lotions, facial cleansers, and hand creams. Its excellent water vapor barrier locks in moisture, while its resistance to surfactants, acids, and alkalis helps maintain stable formulations.

✓ Flexible & easily squeezable
✓ Good moisture resistance
✓ Suitable for extrusion manufacturing

Typical Applications: Squeeze tubes · Facial cleanser tubes

Acrylic

Crystal-Clear Premium Package

Acrylic has a light transmittance of up to 92%, which even surpasses ordinary glass, making it one of the most transparent plastics available. Combined with its high gloss, it allows contents such as serums and perfumes to display a crystal-clear, pure, and flawless visual effect.

✓ Excellent optical transparency
✓ Premium glass-like visual weight
✓ Supports customized shapes & thick walls

Typical Applications: Serum packaging · Cream jars · Premium skincare

GLASS

Glass

Premium & Chemical Stability

Glass is one of the most chemically stable materials available—it won't react with your formula, leach anything, or cause contamination. That's why it's the safest container for high-purity, preservative-free, or sensitive skin care products.

✓ Ultimate premium cosmetic weight
✓ 100% impermeable barrier
✓ Supports hot stamping & frosting

Typical Applications: Perfume bottles · Dropper bottles

Eco-Friendly Packaging Materials

Paper · Sugarcane Bioplastic · PCR

For brands seeking to reduce environmental impact without compromising performance or aesthetics.

Renewable

Paper

Renewable & Biodegradable

Derived from sustainably managed forests, paper is a renewable resource that is ideal for dry or solid products with low moisture, low oil content, and low oxidation potential.

✓ 100% renewable & biodegradable
✓ Lightweight & natural organic feel
✓ Supports FSC-certified sourcing

Applications: Secondary packaging · Cartons · Boxes

Plant-Based Sugarcane Bio Tubes

Sugarcane Bioplastic

Bio-Based Renewable PE

Sugarcane-based bioplastics, such as bio-based PE, have almost identical chemical and physical properties to conventional plastics. They can deliver significant environmental benefits without sacrificing the performance of traditional plastics.

✓ Plant-based renewable raw material
✓ Identical flexibility to virgin PE
✓ 100% recyclable in standard PE streams

Applications: Squeeze tubes · Cleansers

Circular

PCR

Post-Consumer Recycled Resin

Premium PCR materials perform on par with virgin plastics in sealing, protection, and workability. Adopting PCR packaging is a clear testament to a brand's green commitment, drawing in sustainability-focused consumers and boosting loyalty.

✓ Customizable PCR ratios (10% - 100%)
✓ Reduces virgin plastic consumption
✓ Supports circular economy mandates

Applications: PCR plastic tubes · Recycled bottles

High-Performance Versatile Materials

Bridging the gap between standard durability and eco-conscious recyclability, Aluminum and PP are elite cross-over materials that belong in both categories.

Total Barrier Infinite Recycle

Aluminum

Lightweight Protection

Aluminum is 100% recyclable and can be recycled infinitely. It completely blocks light, oxygen, and moisture, which can significantly extend product shelf life.

✓ 100% impermeable light barrier
✓ Infinitely recyclable

Applications: Ointment tubes · Hand cream

High Durability Widely Recyclable

PP (Polypropylene)

Versatile Components

PP is tougher, more durable, and less prone to cracking, making it ideal for everyday portability. Its products feature high surface gloss and a warm, smooth feel, and can achieve a variety of premium decorative effects, including high-gloss, matte, and metallized finishes.

✓ Excellent fatigue resistance
✓ Supported by standard recycling

Applications: Caps · Closures · Lotion pumps

How to Choose the Right Packaging Material?

Material selection involves balancing formulation chemistry, barrier specs, user dispensing ergonomics, and brand identity.

Consider Product Compatibility

Different formulations interact differently with packaging materials. Consider product ingredients, viscosity, pH, active oils, and solvents before final selection.

Consider Barrier Requirements

If your formulation is sensitive to oxidation, UV light, or moisture loss, choose high-barrier materials (like glass, aluminum, or multilayer EVOH structures).

Consider Packaging Format

Match material mechanics to dispensing methods: PE for flexible squeeze tubes, PET/Glass for rigid pump bottles, and PP for precision closures.

Consider Brand Positioning

Material selection defines the tactile and visual language of your brand on the shelf:

Glass Premium

Acrylic High-End

PET Modern

PE Flexible

Aluminum Metallic

PCR Circular

Sugarcane Bio-Based

Paper Natural

Consider Sustainability Goals

Evaluate PCR percentage, sugarcane-based bioplastics, paper outer shells, or mono-material structures designed for standard recycling streams.

Customized Packaging Material Solutions

One Material Does Not Fit Every Project

We combine material structures with tailored shapes, capacities, pumps, applicators, and custom surface decorations.

Our Material Selection Supports:

Cosmetic tubes Skincare packaging Serum packaging Eye cream packaging Makeup packaging Body care packaging Hair care packaging Perfume packaging Cosmetic bottles Applicator packaging Custom projects

From Material Selection to Finished Packaging

Function Packaging provides an end-to-end custom packaging methodology:

Product & Formula

Assess viscosity, ingredients, and dispensing needs.

Material Selection

Evaluate barrier, clarity, flexibility, and sustainability.

Packaging Structure

Select tube, bottle, jar, pump, or dual-chamber format.

Custom Decoration

Apply silk screening, hot stamping, coating, or metallization.

Sampling & Testing

Lab evaluation for leak-proofing and chemical stability.

Production & Delivery

Mass production under strict ISO quality control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions regarding material suitability, custom mold tooling, and barrier capabilities.

What materials are available for cosmetic packaging?

Function Packaging offers PET, PETG, ABS, PE, acrylic, glass, PP, paper, sugarcane-based bioplastics, PCR, and aluminum. Material availability depends on packaging format.

Which material is best for cosmetic squeeze tubes?

PE is the primary choice for flexible squeeze tubes. Laminated tube structures can be used when enhanced barrier protection is required for active formulas.

Is PET suitable for skincare packaging?

Yes. PET provides excellent transparency, lightweight construction, gloss, and formulation compatibility for skincare lotions, toners, and cleansers.

What is PCR packaging material?

PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) is produced from collected consumer plastic waste, directly reducing virgin resin usage.

What is sugarcane bioplastic packaging?

Sugarcane bioplastic utilizes plant-derived ethanol feedstocks to produce PE, delivering identical physical performance to traditional PE with a renewable footprint.

Is glass a good material for cosmetic packaging?

Glass is ideal for high-end skincare, essential oils, and perfumes due to its zero chemical reactivity, premium weight, and recyclability.

Find the Right Material for Your Packaging

Tell us about your formula, target capacity, closure requirements, and sustainability goals. Our technical packaging engineers will formulate a customized quote and sample package for your brand.

Email Us for a Custom Quote