Categoría: Concepts and trends

Christmas is the special moment of the year; it’s when consumers are looking to surprise their families with the best gifts, and therefore, this means that it is a very heated moment for sales during the Christmas campaign. Since it is a very important time of the year, we must make sure that our packaging design communicates the Christmas spirit of our brand and stands out from the competition. There are several benefits of implementing a special line of packaging:

1. It can refresh your brand image


2. Allows to create thematic or special variants of your product


3. It is an opportunity to create an experience for your customers


4. Enables consumers to relate your product with the moment of purchase: if they see that it is meant to be for Christmas, they will buy it during the Christmas campaign. 


In this blog we have prepared some tips so that your brand can design the best Christmas packaging for this year. 

Using the right colors

Colours are a very important element in order to transmit brand values to consumers and help them associate ideas and concepts faster. For this reason, green and red are the colors you can’t miss for your Christmas packaging. 

Another pair of colors that suit Christmas perfectly are Gold and Black. Christmas is becoming less cheesy and more elegant, that is why these two colors can make a perfect match with your brand colors and add a premium touch to your image.

Inspiration of rustic design 

Rustic design is an aesthetic trend that is not only commun during Christmas. If your brand represents nature, it can help you to empower your natural values through wooden textures. It is very common to combine rustic materials with ribbons and kraft tape. This type of design can also suit perfectly with a handwriting typography. 

A minimalistic style

Minimalism is a great way of connecting with clients. You can use simple graphics and opt for white background to create an elegant aesthetic. 

Printing finishes

There are many finishes that can enhance your brands’ Christmas spirit. For example embossing is a fantastic way to upgrade your packaging design, it can give your packaging design a special 3D visual effect. 

Moreover hot stamping is another technique that can create a different and original packaging design. This technique consists in adding a glossy surface on a particular design space creating a nice and shiny pattern.  

Additional complements

Ribbons are one of the key elements of Christmas decorations. If you never use them, they can add value to your Christmas boxes.  Another element you can use are jingle bells or stickers, you can use customized ones to engage with your clients and let them choose to create a better customer experience. 

Personal wishes notes are always a good option to be more friendly and closer to your customer, you can address your customer with his name and share a kind message to improve his unboxing experience. A special note with good wishes and happy Christmas is always welcome. 

If you want to be more original than this, why not create a DIY experience for your client? You can give him extra stickers and other complements so he can decorate and personalize his gifts! 

Packaging set

Packaging sets are also one of the clients’ favorites: unboxing as many gifts as possible is part of the Christmas experience. Your brand can create this experience by adding different layers such as tissue paper and bags and creating a loooong unboxing and satisfying moment. A beautiful semi-transparent paper can be a second layer to build anticipation and can also add a slick. 

Using wood wool and paper shred is another idea to create a festive packaging. It provides additional amortization and also can choose which colors can best represent your brand’s identity. Furthemore, Instagram pictures look much more attractive with these types of accessories. 

Create inserts and partitions inside the secondary package

When creating packaging sets one of the important aspects to take into account is how you are going to organize the different products. Creating the correct partitions inside the package will create a neater and tidier look to the design. For example, in the cosmetic sector if your brand wants to include a cream jar and a couple of tubes, it is important to think about a nice display that will look nice but also will protect the products so they don’t arrive damaged. 

Copy Printed in the box

In case you use a secondary packaging, it can also be interesting to add a special message inside the box that your customer will see once he opens the box. Try to be creative and come up with a message that will provoke him and create mystery around the product. This way he may even post an unboxing picture on his social media! 

Creating a special and limited label for Christmas time is an effective way to stand out and draw the attention of your customers to your new limited products.

If you have any more doubts or would like some extra help with your Christmas packaging, you can always contact our team and we will be happy to grant your wishes. 

Images from https://packageinspiration.com/

Aloe vera is well ahead of the game among the world’s most wanted natural substances, according to new study. The plant, which is recognized for its great moisturizing effects, is at the top of the list of most sought skincare ingredients in 37 countries across the world. In 12 nations, vitamin C and retinol are the second most sought substances.

The epidemic has transformed the face of cosmetics, with natural skincare products becoming increasingly popular. As a result, customers are seeking for simple formulae with several advantages based on one or two substances. By examining Google data on the issue, expert advice website Skincare Hero looked at the most wanted substances by nation, then by geographical location. And the effect is clear: aloe vera is the most sought-after skincare ingredient in 37 nations.

Hydration is a must

Hydration is at the heart of men’s and women’s skin care problems, as revealed in a prior study. So it’s maybe not unexpected that a substance with significant moisturizing properties is gaining popularity in a number of locations throughout the world. This age-old plant is largely recognized for its high concentration of water, making it a fantastic ally for dry and parched skin. It is grown in locations with usually warm weather, such as North Africa, South America, and the Mediterranean.

In Italy, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, Portugal, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Guyana, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, and Panama, aloe vera is the most popular skincare component. Indeed, the main element appears to be particularly popular among Europeans and Americans. The most often asked question regarding aloe vera, according to the survey, is «does aloe vera remove pimples?» Because the herb contains healing properties, it may be useful in the fight against acne.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. 

Many individuals all around the world are now yearning for natural, attractive skin that is free of gimmicks. The new mania for vitamin C, which has become a beauty must-have in recent months, reflects this. It may not only brighten the skin but also minimize the indications of aging, which is a blessing for inhabitants of the 12 nations where it is the most sought-after component.

Greece, Serbia, Slovenia, Malta, Bulgaria, and even Fiji are among them. Notably, individuals in North and South America appear to be uninterested in this element, which only ranks first in St. Vincent, in the Caribbean’s heartland. «Should you take vitamin C serum every day?» is the top inquiry on the internet right now. Specialists suggest employing it in a day cream, which is something that is true.

Keeping the aging signs at bay 

Retinol is also the most-searched substance in 12 nations throughout the world, tied with vitamin C. Retinol, a member of the retinoid family of chemical compounds generated from vitamin A, is now widely regarded as one of the most potent anti-aging drugs. For people in France, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, and even Colombia, this appears to be vital, if not critical. Internet users, like many other active components designed to combat the indications of aging, are particularly interested in knowing when to begin using retinol.

It’s worth noting that hyaluronic acid, which ranks first in searches in ‘just’ seven nations, is the star component in the US, Canada, and Australia.

In the UK, e-commerce growth in the personal care category has been fast, with new collaborations between prominent retailers like THG and Cult Beauty and delivery partners like Boots and Deliveroo offering an even more customized and convenient shopping experience.

According to GlobalData, e-retailers’ cosmetics and toiletries market share in the UK increased by 42 percent from 10% (£1.2 billion) in 2019 to 14% (£1.7 billion) in 2020, making it the second largest channel for beauty and grooming sales behind hypermarkets and supermarkets.

«In the United Kingdom, the COVID-19 epidemic has functioned as a catalyst for changes in the personal care retail sector. Consumers who were previously unwilling to buy online for things they would have purchased in a physical store have been forced to do so due to new circumstances. «Even with the limits gone, the seamless omnichannel shopping experience has converted many of those customers,» said Nina Nowak, Senior Researcher at GlobalData.

H2 Replacing the in-store experience in a cost-effective manner 

According to GlobalData’s 2021 Q1 consumer survey, 80% of UK customers said that how well a product or service corresponds with their time and money restrictions impacts their product decision either always, often, or sometimes.

«Advanced digital tools and applications that enable customised product selection based on a consumer’s’selfie’ image are effectively replacing an in-store experience.» «The increased range of delivery options helps busy customers adjust themselves, saving them time and reducing social contact,» Nowak concluded.

When questioned about the major benefits of buying products online versus going to a shop, UK consumers cited convenience (64 percent), time savings (48 percent), minimum social contact (43 percent), variety and choice offered (36 percent), and lower pricing (32 percent) as the top reasons.

H2 The expansion will continue. 

Despite the fact that the adoption of e-retailers for beauty and grooming is expected to stall, the data and analytics firm predicts positive development, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1 percent from 2021 to 2025, resulting in a predicted value of £2.1 billion in 2025.

«E-commerce provides for almost limitless customisation, which is a critical component of successful personal care sales tactics. Retailers may follow the customer journey from the first interactions on the website to the final transaction using modern e-commerce solutions. This allows firms to generate personalized adverts, recommendations, and pricing discounts to strengthen their customer relationships,» said Nowak.

«Consumers’ buying habits may have permanently altered, with old methods of purchase becoming obsolete. Longer lockdowns and social distance limitations have resulted in a permanent shift toward e-commerce in a variety of industries, including beauty and grooming. «This shift should serve as a catalyst for personal care companies to refocus their strategies toward increasing their online presence, with brand and store discounts at the forefront, as well as offering customers with a personalized purchasing experience,» she added.

Various elements of sustainability, including as recyclability, biodegradability, compostability, refillability, reusability, and the use of biosourced materials or raw materials generated from renewable resources, have dominated recent creative packaging advances.

Multiple factors are driving these trends, starting with individual customers being more environmentally concerned, as well as companies trying to be more forward-thinking and concentrating on the 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).




Other parameters include, but are not limited to, performance aspects, eco-friendly solutions, speed-to-market considerations, and cost efficiencies. The complexity of creating and selecting the right packaging is to ensure that it is optimised for human and environmental health and safety, while other parameters include, but are not limited to: performance aspects, eco-friendly solutions, speed-to-market considerations, and cost efficiencies. 




Beauty companies and packaging suppliers are rising to the challenge of creating packaging that is first and foremost safe, and then avoids reusing or recycling hazardous materials. Recycling awareness is growing, and PCR materials, recyclable mono-materials (PP, PE, PET), glass, cartonboard, and other materials are confronting regulatory problems.




How do you evaluate the packaging’s safety? 

A cosmetic product placed on the market must be safe for human health when used under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions, according to the Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009, and more particularly, Article 3. The responsible person must ensure that the cosmetic product, including its packaging, is subjected to a safety evaluation. The Regulation, on the other hand, provides no direction on how to analyze the packaging’s safety and does not specify which compounds may migrate, in what proportions this may be acceptable, or how a positive result of migration should be evaluated.




Container-content interactions occur when a formula comes into touch with packaging and undergoes physico-chemical exchanges. One of the most common processes that brings chemicals from packaging materials into cosmetic formulations is migration.




In this approach, the Commission Implementing Decision of November 25, 2013 (2013/674/EU) on recommendations for the implementation of Annex I of Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 gives additional guidance on packing materials and probable substance release from packaging. To examine the safety of cosmetic packaging, this judgment recommends consulting Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 on materials and objects designed to meet foodstuffs.It is critical to refer to current rules, standards, and texts that are particular to the type of material used and the product’s intended purpose. Indeed, because food packaging is frequently examined, important information on material stability and migration of chemicals may be accessible, but additional testing may be required. The general rule is that if a package is suitable for a certain type of food, it is generally safe for a cosmetic with comparable physico-chemical characteristics to food. Regardless, the applicable rules, standards, and texts, which are unique to the type of material used and the end application of the product, should be consulted.




Procedures for quality control and risk assessment management 

Cosmetics Europe issued Guidelines in 2019 that define a collection of valuable information from packaging/material providers that helps the assessment of the packaging’s influence on the safety of the cosmetic product contained inside. The method is based on food packaging analyses, while also taking into account local tolerance.

Concerns about waste and the circular economy have encouraged companies to use packaging made of recycled materials more recently, in 2020. With the noteworthy exception of PET recycled through EFSA-evaluated processes, not all materials may claim conformity for food contact at this time, and there is no uniform European regulation in place. 




Molpack assists clients with quality control and risk assessment management methods in the design, reuse, and valorisation of packaging, from the resin stage to final packaging and throughout the product life cycle, by taking into account both simple and complicated packaging.




In a world where environmental problems, performance, safety, and regulatory concerns are all linked, Molpack has developed a three-step method for evaluating package safety, including testing under real-world settings. 




We work with beauty companies and packaging suppliers to help them meet and surpass their sustainability targets, such as increased recyclability and the use of recycled materials.




1. Cosmetic packaging regulatory and safety evaluation by analyzing packaging materials, confirming conformities, considering potential container-content interactions, and establishing an appropriate analytical testing and safety assessment strategy… 

2. Analytical Testing, which includes chemical, physical, and mechanical testing, toxic substance analysis, food contact testing (overall and specific migration, NIAS), evaluating plastic content in relation to critical product protection requirements, checking packability for refill in points of sale, and compostability testing… 

3. Conduct an audit by assessing the supply chain, packaging makers, and packaging materials providers.




We intend to continue to develop and create new solutions to suit the needs of brands, suppliers, and consumers, with so much progress already achieved and more on the way for sustainable packaging, new, more sustainable bio-materials, and new recycling methods.

Makeup is still primarily linked with femininity. However, the countdown appears to be on to make color cosmetics everyone’s business, with millions of lessons available on social media and a profusion of businesses selling male makeup. Is this a one-off occurrence or part of a larger trend?

Beauty, like fashion, is progressively shedding some of its most ingrained clichés in order to move away from gender segregation. Makeup is now a means of self-expression for both men and women, rather than an issue of gender or sexuality. Just take a peek at social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, and you’ll find a slew of videos and photos of males wearing makeup. It’s a movement that’s being fueled by a slew of celebrities and influencers who are helping to mainstream male cosmetics.

Now is a good moment to make a change. 

Men, on the other hand, haven’t waited until 2021 to begin wearing cosmetics. It’s a habit that stretches back to antiquity and has been passed down through the generations. Many superstars, from David Bowie to Johnny Depp to Prince, have attempted to pioneer the technique, clearing the way for others to follow, but without ever succeeding in moving what is traditionally regarded a female domain into the mainstream of male culture.

So, why are we doing this now? Probably because the moment is right for change, spurred on by the desire of an entire generation – Generation Z — to reject labels, pigeonholes, and stereotypes. 

The fashion industry jumped on board immediately, releasing a flurry of new gender-neutral lines. Now it’s up to the cosmetics business to fulfill the needs of a generation with growing clout – and purchasing power.

Men’s cosmetics are expanding in Japan, especially among the younger population, which is unsurprising. While the phenomena is not taking off at breakneck pace, it is steadily spreading throughout the globe. Harry Styles, who notably appeared in a frock for Vogue magazine and wore a boa with his suit at the Grammy Awards, has significantly helped to shattering certain fashion and beauty stereotypes. He’s also one of numerous males, like Jared Leto and several K-pop stars, who are worldwide influential, who wear eyeliner and mascara whenever they want. All of these people are also helping to push back against certain beauty ideals.

The outcome is evident on social media, with over 550 million views on TikTok for #mensgrooming and over 230 million views for #boysinmakeup. Male makeup is more than a fad; it’s a habit that’s slowly making its way into the mainstream, aided by unforeseen occurrences like… the epidemic.

Brands join the party. 

As many women abandoned cosmetics in favor of a more natural and honest routine during the epidemic, males, on the other hand, began to dabble with makeup as their days were more filled with Zoom meetings. That’s why Alex Rodriguez, a former baseball player, developed a cosmetics collection for guys, which presently includes a concealer for dark circles and wrinkles. «I realized as I was rushing from meeting to meeting that I needed something quick and easy in my routine to cover pimples or razor bumps,» the athlete stated at the time the line was released on Instagram. Men’s newfound obsession with cosmetics might be explained in part by so-called Zoom fatigue.

And the tendency is backed up by statistics. Last year, the digital data research company Moz recorded a spike of over 80% in internet searches for «men makeup looks» during the lockdown month of April compared to the same period in 2019, as well as an increase in searches seeking advice on concealing dark circles or imperfections. According to research from one UK store, the men’s skincare industry is expected to expand by 300 percent in the last six months of 2020, according to The Guardian. These numbers, on the other hand, suggest that men’s cosmetics — and makeup — have a long way to go.

Many cosmetic companies, from the most upscale to the most cheap, now provide makeup for men, including Gucci Beauty, MMUK, and, of course, Chanel, Tom Ford, and Marc Jacobs – some of the industry’s pioneers. When goods aren’t explicitly marketed towards males, like Nars Cosmetics or M.A.C Cosmetics, they’re frequently aimed at anybody. The War Paint For Guys business established the world’s first boutique dedicated to selling cosmetics for men in London this summer. Male cosmetics appears to be well on its way to becoming more mainstream, with such projects increasing at a rapid pace.

Are you looking for sustainable cosmetic packaging? 

From Molpack our aim is to design and manufacture the best solutions that also reduce the environmental impact. That is why we believe in investing in innovation so we can keep on developing sustainable solutions that are:

• 100% recyclable


• More lightweight


• Reusable


You can visit our complete catalogue here, or contact us if you need help to choose the right solution for your cosmetic product.

If you have any questions on how to choose the perfect package for your product, you can always contact our team of experts to help you create the best presentation for your product and align the package with your brand values. 

Cosmetic manufacturers, aware of the current environmental concerns, are releasing new technologies at a breakneck pace in order to enable customers to adopt a more sustainable and responsible beauty regimen. Let’s take a look at some of the most recent developments. 

Consumers have already begun to eliminate all superfluous items from their bathrooms in order to adopt a cleaner beauty regimen using natural fibers, solid cosmetics, and washable, reusable accessories, according to the data.

In the direction of circularity

While it’s far from a miracle cure, decreasing trash generation necessitates first recycling or upcycling packaging, or biologically degrading it. Cosmetic companies are now focusing their research on these challenges, and some have even begun to provide new remedies. 

Juni Cosmetics is one of the companies that has made a great effort to recycle. Madeleine White, a cosmetic artist, founded the company, which collaborated with designers to eliminate plastic from its beauty goods.

The result is a high-end lipstick capsule collection («Luxury Hydrating Lipstick») with great moisturizing power, created with organic oils, vitamin E, and plant hyaluronic acid, and whose tubes are entirely composed of aluminum, making them 100% recyclable. 

The whole lipstick tube, including the mechanism’s gears, is constructed of aluminum, allowing customers to recycle the product without having to disassemble it. The lipstick is certified vegan and made with only organic and environmentally sourced components.

In a similar line, Izzy Zero Trash Beauty has released the world’s first reusable and recyclable mascara, which produces no waste. «Zero Waste Mascara» is constructed of stainless steel tube and supplied in reusable envelopes produced from recycled materials without any packaging. A subscription service allows customers to get a new sterilized and filled mascara every three months, along with a pre-paid envelope to return the existing mascara, which will be thoroughly cleaned and replaced.

It’s an eyeliner that turns into flowers. 

Sprout World, a Danish firm that specializes in sustainable writing instruments, has also made a step toward a circular beauty regimen. It just came out with a plantable eyeliner. With one exception, the «Sprout eyeliner,» which is devoid of microplastics, is applied like any other eyeliner. It may be put in a container and watered to turn into blooms towards the end of its life. This is made feasible by the seed-filled capsule tucked at the very end of the product. 

These may appear to be little advancements, but they demonstrate that businesses have begun to develop sustainable alternatives to traditional cosmetics in order to make bathrooms more environmentally friendly.

Provide re-usable packaging options

Beauty businesses have been under growing pressure in recent years to develop reusable or refillable packaging designs. These are aiding in the reduction of overconsumption and the promotion of a more circular economy while also providing a new source of value.

Organic waste can be recycled.

Waste may decrease the cost of goods, giving firms an even stronger incentive to embrace this environmentally responsible strategy. This product is an insect-infused skin oil that upcycles organic plant waste by using insects.

To promote skin health in a unique way, the skin oil is made up of 20% black soldier fly larval oil — one of the world’s most sustainable and nutrient-rich insects.

Use natural products and stay local.

The epidemic has highlighted the significance of buying locally produced beauty ingredients for French customers, who prefer to use locally sourced beauty and personal care products from their own region, with more than half willing to pay extra for them.

L’Accent, a French independent company, has produced a «dermo-maquillage» combination of skincare and cosmetics. L’Accent hand-picks chestnuts from the Cévennes mountains in central France and grinds them into a fine, colored moisturizing powder that is naturally high in antioxidants.

Makesenz develops natural goods that are organic, local, and waste-free. Their goal is to produce “less, but better” goods that will appeal to the almost six out of ten French beauty and personal care customers who are worried about the sustainability of the components used in natural products.

Make an effort to be carbon neutral.

Carbon neutrality is a comprehensive method to decreasing a company’s environmental and climatic effect. Looking at the whole supply chain, an increasing number of independent businesses are developing carbon-neutral products, seeking to help both customers and the environment. In the next years, this will be where a lot of consumer attention will be focused.

At Molpack we help brands to develop skincare that is biodegradable, refillable, and carbon neutral. We have helped brands to create their skincare capsules that come in re-usable «home jars» with 100 drops of cleaning gel for «clean, soft, smooth skin.» Each skincare drop is 100% biodegradable and manufactured from sustainable seaweed. The Bolt drops are refillable from biodegradable bags, and the brand’s jars are designed to last a lifetime.

There are brands that even employ carbon offsetting to create carbon-neutral goods. This implies that the company offsets all of its carbon emissions, from shipping items to stores to running the machines that manufacture them to the electricity that lights their headquarters.

As evidenced by the efforts of the relevant authorities, the cosmetics sector, packaging makers, and industry groups, people are becoming increasingly demanding when purchasing new goods.

When it comes to the safety of cosmetic packaging, we must consider existing regulation, and in this regard, Regulation 1223/2009 on cosmetic goods exists inside the European framework. The Cosmetic Product Safety Report must include details on impurities, traces, and information about the packaging material, including the purity of substances and mixtures, evidence of their technical unavoidability in the case of traces of prohibited substances, and relevant packaging material characteristics, such as purity and stability, according to Annex I of the Regulation.

Packaging safety regulations

Decision 2013/674/EU, for example, sets recommendations to make it simpler for businesses to comply with the requirements of Annex I of Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009. This Decision outlines the data that should be gathered on the packaging material as well as the possibility of chemicals migrating from the container to the cosmetic product. 

Cosmetics Europe issued a non-binding document in June 2019 with the goal of assisting and facilitating the evaluation of packaging’s influence on product safety when the cosmetic product is in direct contact with the packaging.

Primary packaging is that which comes into direct touch with the cosmetic product. In terms of cosmetic product safety, the properties of the materials in close touch with the product are crucial. Any potential dangers should be able to be estimated using information on the properties of these packing materials. The composition of the packaging material, including technical compounds such as additives, technically unavoidable impurities, and substance migration from the packaging, are all relevant features.

Because one of the industry’s most generally recognized techniques is based on checking compliance with food contact laws, one of the most extensively developed and approved methodologies is based on confirming compliance with food contact legislation.

Plastics, adhesives, metals, alloys, paper, cardboard, printing inks, varnishes, rubber, silicones, glass, and ceramics are among the materials used in cosmetic product packaging. These materials and publications are governed by Regulation 1935/2004, often known as the Framework Regulation, which governs the regulatory framework for food contact. These materials and items should also be produced in line with good manufacturing practice (GMP), with quality assurance, quality control, and documentation procedures in place.  Regulation 2023/2006 explains this need (5). The Framework Regulation also allows for the establishment of particular measures for each type of material in order to verify that the basic principles are followed. Plastic, as defined by Regulation 10/2011(6) and later revisions, is the material for which the most detailed measures have been developed.

Regulation 10/2011 specifies the standards for raw materials and final goods to be met. Appendix IV lists the information that must be included in the Declaration of Compliance (this annex is supplemented by the Union Guidance on information in the supply chain). The Union Guidance seeks to offer important information on the transmission of information in the supply chain necessary to comply with Regulation 10/2011).

In terms of laboratory analysis, the following laboratory measures must be conducted to ensure compliance with the particular migration limitations set forth in Regulation 10/2011: 

1. Based on Annex IV of Regulation 10/2011, the package maker must have a Declaration of Compliance (DoC) for every plastic raw materials used. This supporting document allows users to determine if a material is formed for food contact, that is, if all of the ingredients used in the formulation are mentioned in Annex I and II of Regulation 10/2011 and later amendments (unless for justified exceptions).

2. Conducting comprehensive migration tests in order to confirm a material’s inertness (if applicable). The entire quantity of non-volatile chemicals that can migrate into food is assessed in overall migration, which does not identify the individual substances. Overall migration tests are performed in line with the UNE EN-1186 standard. The number of tests with the simulant and the type of contact varies (e.g. immersion, one-sided contact, filling). The total migration limit is ten milligrams per square meter of contact surface area. The limit is 60 mg/kg of food simulant for plastic materials in contact with food for breast-feeding babies and young children.

​​3. If required, conducting quantitative tests on residual content and/or particular migration with the goal of ensuring that each substance is within the legal limitations set forth in the legislation.

Specific migration tests, as well as internal testing techniques established in laboratories for chromatographic analysis, are performed in line with the UNE-CEN/TS 13130 standard series. Following a review of the DoC, a judgment is made as to whether this type of testing is required. Only a few of the allowed chemicals have limits and/or requirements. The ones that have specifications must be specified in the DoC so that compliance with the relevant limitations in the material or end product may be verified.

Simulants: Test simulants are chosen based on the foods/cosmetics that may come into contact with the substance, as specified in Annex III of Regulation 10/2011.

It is important to consider the simulants to be used while conducting migration testing on cosmetic product packaging. Cosmetics are generally pH neutral or slightly acidic water/oil mixes that are chemically inert. The physical and chemical characteristics of most cosmetic formulations that are significant for migration correspond to the qualities of the foodstuffs listed above. As a result, a strategy similar to that used with foodstuffs can be used. However, the simulants listed cannot represent some alkaline preparations, such as haircare products.

Conditions of exposure: 

The time and temperature of interaction between the packaging and the foodstuff/cosmetic from packing to expiry date should be considered when choosing exposure settings. This guarantees that test circumstances reflect the worst-case scenarios that may occur in actual use. The overall and specific migration conditions are chosen independently. They are sometimes the same, although they are specified differently in different chapters of Regulation 10/2011.

Compliance with packaging regulations must be specified in the relevant DoC, which must contain information on the uses for which it is safe to bring the material or item into contact with foodstuffs/cosmetics (after verification of any applicable limitations) (e.g. types of food, time and temperature of use). The cosmetic product safety specialist then assesses the DoC.

Plastic packaging designed for cosmetic goods is not required to comply with Regulation 10/2011, but the most practical solution is probably to use the same approach as with foodstuffs and presume that the raw materials must be appropriate for food contact during the package design process. It will be able to ensure the safety of packaged products only when all agents in the supply chain are participating in accordance with regulatory standards.

Platforms for pure play ecommerce Amazon, Alibaba, and JD.com are already important participants in the industry, with Amazon, Alibaba, and JD.com anticipated to expand 4 to 5 times faster than Walgreens Boots Alliance and CVS Health by 2026. Following the pandemic’s acceleration, online purchases are expected to account for about a third of worldwide health and beauty revenues by 2026. (up from a fifth in 2021). Over the next five years, Pinduoduo in China and Shopee in Southeast Asia will have the fastest growth rates in the health, beauty, and personal care sector.

According to a new report from Edge by Ascential’s research and data insight arm, Edge Retail Insight, health and beauty ecommerce will grow more than three times faster than store-based retail over the next five years as the COVID-19 crisis, lengthy lockdowns, and shuttered high street shops and shopping centres reset shopping habits. 

Online purchasing is growing at a double-digit rate. 

Between 2021 and 2026, the health, beauty, and personal care retail sector will add $305 billion in worldwide sales, bringing the total to $1.34 trillion, according to the report’s authors. Just over half of that growth will come from ecommerce, reflecting a larger shift to online purchasing, which has been hastened by the epidemic.

According to Edge Retail Insight, between 2021 and 2026, online category sales would rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.1%, considerably above the 3.3 percent CAGR for store-based sales. The transition to online is reflected in the numbers from Edge Retail Insight, which show Walmart’s retail network adding just 3% CAGR growth between 2021 and 2025, compared to 13.6 percent CAGR growth in Walmart’s dot com sales during the same time period. As a result, by 2026, online shopping will account for over a fifth of worldwide category sales (26.8%), up from a fifth in 2021.

“Items that were once bought in-store are not only becoming available online, but in an increasingly mobile-first age, brands have been rapidly experimenting with innovative digital technologies to engage customers remotely, such as using augmented reality to allow customers to try on lipstick virtually and getting involved with seasonal events and shoppable livestreaming opportunities increasingly offered by digital marketplace giants like Alibaba, Amazon, JD.com as well as China’s fast-growing group-buying platform Pinduoduo (PDD), which – with an expected 17% CAGR between 2021 and 2026 – will lead growth in the category over the next five years,” said Deren Baker, CEO at Edge by Ascential.

Because of the inexorable expansion of marketplace ecosystems, health and beauty businesses must focus on figuring out how to optimize their growth levers in this channel. “To compete in a new world of retail, companies must employ marketplace-specific consumer interaction methods, as well as ensure that they have strong fulfillment and flexible supply chain plans in place to accommodate short lead times and unanticipated surges in customer demand,” Baker added.

Players from Asia are expected to rise at the fastest rates. 

While Amazon and Alibaba are expected to expand at a quick rate between 2021 and 2026, with 14.2 percent and 12.4 percent CAGRs, respectively, Asia is expected to grow at the fastest rate. According to Edge by Ascential, China’s six-year-old mobile app Pinduoduo, which recorded 788.4 million users in 2020, ahead of Alibaba’s 779 million, will expand at a CAGR of 17.1 percent to 2026, while Shopee in Southeast Asia will grow at a CAGR of 16.8 percent.

Pinduoduo and Shopee both have novel social engagement and mobile experience strategies. Pinduoduo continues to push its very successful group purchasing model to promote more interaction with its consumers, while Shopee expands its cross-border activities in Latin America.

“Some of the category’s biggest players haven’t overlooked the lucrative potential of ecommerce in health and beauty. In July, LVMH-owned French beauty chain Sephora, which has one of the world’s largest beauty store networks, entered the UK market with the purchase of ecommerce firm Feelunique, and in April, US investment firm Carlyle bought Beautycounter, a mostly digital ‘clean’ cosmetics and skincare brand, in a deal worth US $1 billion,” said Florence Wright, Senior Analyst at Edge by Ascential.

To meet changing customer buying patterns, companies in the health, beauty, and personal care sectors must embrace an omnichannel approach, utilizing all digital touchpoints to maximize engagement and revenue.

As the world is experiencing an ecological and sanitary crisis, the beauty sector sees countless emerging brands embracing the precepts of a more environmentally friendly approach to consumption. Reduced, refillable, sustainable packaging, cleaner formulas… these new solutions in line with current trends manage to develop innovative concepts that introduce new bathroom habits.

Stimulated by new generations

Aware of the need for more reasoned consumption, the beauty sector is reinventing itself with sustainable models focused on packaging’s environmental impact and “clean” formulas. There are more brands which emerged over the past few months on the initiative of young entrepreneurs determined to help consumers reduce the footprint of their beauty routines.

Refillable beauty packaging

Currently there are more brands that advocate refillable skincare with a concept focused on the choice of container and content. The idea is simple: an attractive jar made of recycled plastic that you can find in Molpacks’ catalog which can be refilled over and over with skincare capsules.

Our bathrooms have become real supermarket departments, with a large quantity of visually polluting products. Brands aim to transform cosmetic jars into decorative objects with several lives. Consumers choose their own jar(s) among the colours available, and then the refill among the references of cleansers, exfoliators, makeup removers, and skincare products. 

In Molpacks’ packaging catalog you can find jars that are biodegradable, highly resistant, and completely based on natural materials, including pigments. The refill capsules made of biosourced plastic are available in different sizes: 50 ml for skincare products, 150 ml for cleansers. The choice is mainly based on the texture. Every product is available in at least two textures. 

Some brands’ use a pricing strategy in which there is only one refill price, for instance: EUR 29.90 – whatever the capacity. Available for free during the launch period, and then the jars will cost EUR 19.90 for 50 ml, and EUR 29.90 for 100 ml.

The stick format, the solid revolution

There are other new brands that promote the new concept: containers to be kept and refilled with solid formulas. The brands usually develop hygiene products such as: a shower gel in the form of a ball, toothpaste pastilles to crunch, and a stick deodorant. 

The stick seems to be a new format that is revolutionizing the packaging sector because of its flexibility and commodity that adapts best to the accelerated lifestyle of the nowadays customer. The new Stick format also known as “solid beauty” is a format that is usually applied to products such as deodorants or lipsticks, but we can now also see them applied to new formats of makeup such as Max Factor who is using it for makeup foundations. Not to mention Lush, who is using solid beauty for solid soaps, bath bombs or other beauty and cosmetic products. 

Sustainable and practical packaging solutions are increasing the demand of products with stick format; especially in continents such as Asia, according to the «Stick Packaging Market: Global Industry Analysis»,  a study published in Zion Market Research. The increase of stick demand is due to the fact that our current society pursues simple, sustainable and practical solutions and that the cosmetic market is investing in innovation to adapt to these new packaging challenges. 

In fact, according to Mintel, the leader intelligence market agency, the increase of stick solutions is not only because of the change of the consumer behaviour towards sustainable solutions but also the response to covid-19: we are looking for more hygienic packaging in which the product isn’t in direct contact with our hands. 

For one reason or another,  nowadays we can find any cosmetic product in solid format: from a facial tonic to a water bar or even exfoliants or face masks. There are even brands that only offer their product in stick format. This is the case of Nusa, their brand was born under the concept “more use and less waste”, a claim that represents an ethical and sustainable philosophy. Their product is also vegan and with a really instagramable look. 

The choice of partly recycled plastic is based on sustainable values: resistance over time, reuse of the virgin material, energy-efficient manufacturing, and a lighter weight, compared to glass and aluminium, for enhanced transport. 

The solid formulas contain 95% ingredients of natural origin and the specifications are focused on sensoriality and efficacy. With this concept, the entrepreneurs aim to reach what they call “imperfect eco- warriors”: consumers who prefer clean solutions without changing comfort- related expectations – this consumer category is gaining importance. The range should soon be broadened to all bathroom essentials.

Being part of the circular economy

Apart from the boldest concepts, brands and suppliers are also focused on transforming the environmental profile of their packaging, without trying to revolutionize consumption habits too fast. This approach is less spectacular, but it can be adopted on a large scale. That is how several beauty brands chose Molpacks’ reusable solutions. 

Following the example of the hygiene sector, the skincare segment has embraced this trend. In the US, the five founders of Ace of Air, who have launched a crowdfunding campaign,have devised a concept combining skincare and food supplements in containers which can be returned, re- refilled, recycled, and composted.

During Covid-19, personal care and cosmetics firms had some unusual challenges: not only were many retail outlets shuttered, but social distance and mask wearing in many places had a negative influence on sales. 

As a result, several companies are focusing on increasing online sales and speeding up plans for subscription beauty models. As a result, packaging that maximizes interactions and brand equity in direct-to-consumer sales has become more important.

Glossier, a direct-to-consumer brand, is one of the industry’s newest unicorns, demonstrating the market’s interest in firms in this sector. Even before Covid-19 hit, it was worth $1.2 billion. The firm sells nearly entirely online and uses Instagram to market its own-brand serums, balms, and cleansers to over 2 million followers. Significantly, sales for all product areas – including color cosmetics, skincare, and fragrance lines – are expected to increase in 2020. 

The Marketplace at Covid-19 

According to Smithers’ latest industry analysis, the entire packaging market shrank by 6.0 percent from $915 billion in 2019 to $860 billion in 2020. In comparison, a +2.7 percent increase was predicted prior to the epidemic. 

The decrease was particularly apparent in the personal care category. The market dropped from $27.59 billion to $23.52 billion, a 14.8 percent drop. As a result, the industry has attempted to replace retail sales with increased usage of e-commerce, with the goal of moving consumers into subscription service models in particular. According to Smithers research, direct-to-consumer e-commerce packaging sales increased from $2.58 billion in 2019 to $3.77 billion in 2020, and the industry is expected to more than quadruple by 2025, with future growth predicted at an astounding 17.8 percent CAGR.

Keeping brand equity, guaranteeing security, exhibiting a business’s sustainability credentials, and maintaining a personal contact with the client are all problems when selling via this channel. E-commerce shipping bypasses many of the traditional indications that personal care businesses rely on in real-world selling, so packaging may be a useful tool in this regard. Packaging and subscription models will become increasingly essential as this market develops, intersecting with desires for customized and digital beauty.

Replenishment in cosmetic beauty

There has been a push to convert one-time sales on third-party platforms to subscription models until 2020. Consumers profit most from replenishment subscriptions because of their convenience and low cost. Subscribers at Kopari Beauty, for example, receive a 10% discount, and manufacturers sometimes forgo shipping fees as an extra bonus. The transaction may be locked in for the brand, and there is less risk of product replacement, which is made very easy by browsing suggestion engines on sites like Amazon or Alibaba. According to a recent Ipsos poll, one out of every five customers bought phony cosmetics online in 2020.

Customers can be retained with the opportunity to reorder favorites and discounts in e-commerce. Unilever’s recently revised Love Beauty and Planet idea, for example, includes an on-pack QR code that, when scanned, takes the consumer to a webpage where they may purchase replenishments. 

Any packaging presented on a website should be easily comprehensible, such as the size and quantity of goods offered in a multi-pack. 

According to reports, L’Oréal currently spends 30% of its yearly marketing expenditure on digital platforms, which includes social media ads. Sponsored placements in such product evaluations should focus on the unpacking experience via the package to stand out. Simple graphic designs that are recognized and easy to identify and read on smartphone displays or in social media postings are also required. 

Delivery reliability is also crucial, because customers are more likely to move to another provider after a bad experience with damaged products. 

Models of Subscription 

The growing demand for re-use or refill packaging is one major emerging trend in personal care packaging that was only momentarily postponed by Covid-19. The most common configuration is for a long-lasting base unit that may be renewed on a regular basis with refills supplied to the consumer’s house in flexible polymer packs.

This can be advertised as a carbon-cutting strategy, but it also binds the buyer to a single product and packaging method. 

This is most suited to formats where there is no requirement for novelty or product modification between seasons, such as deodorants. Unilever launched a refill design for its Dove brand in January 2021. This features a stainless steel base unit with the Dove logo etched in silver, as well as refills for three scents in pouches made from 98 percent recyclable polypropylene. In comparison to the previous Dove box, Unilever claims that this reduces the plastic content by 54%. 

Grove Collaborative, based in the United States, employs a similar approach. It charges $19.95 for a Peach Forever Deodorant Case and a refill starting kit, with refills costing $11.95 apiece. Wild, a clean cosmetics company headquartered in the United Kingdom, has pushed this notion even further. It now has refills manufactured from bamboo pulp to go along with its natural vegan-friendly formulations. Two layers of recycled bamboo pulp are separated by a waxy inner layer in the 43g bamboo refills. If the consumer joins Wild’s subscription program, an aluminum base set and three refills cost $34.40, or $12.00 for the base unit and one refill.

In August 2020, P&G began selling 50ml refillable pods for its Olay X moisturizer on Amazon as an experiment. Meanwhile, Henkel has opted to use the Solids Box for its NAE brand instead of plastic packaging. Solid face, body, and shampoo bars, as well as reusable soap bags, are included in the deliveries, which are presently available on Amazon. 

Unilever announced a reusable aluminum container idea for its Love Beauty and Planet brand on June 16, expanding its refill possibilities to haircare. This is available for purchase both online and in person at Target locations. The 16-ounce aluminum container costs $9.99, while the 32.3-ounce refill bottle, constructed of stiff recycled PET, costs $14.99.

Beauty that is both digital and personalized 

Over the last 18 months, not all beauty categories have been equally affected. Stay-at-home customers have had less contact to sunshine and greater exposure to blue light from screens, and they are experiencing new issues such as mask acne, often known as «mascne.» As a result, more people are interested in skincare lines, particularly those that integrate smart or digital beauty assessments with subscription sales. 

Atolla, a customized cosmetic company from the United States, was born out of research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Its potential subscribers fill out an online questionnaire and receive an at-home test kit in the mail.

They are then given customized skincare serums, as well as consultations with an Atolla aesthetician. Clean label packets customised with the user’s name cost $69 per month, while tailored regimens consisting of a cleanser, serum, and moisturizer cost $69 per month. Y’OUR, Curology, and Proven Skincare all have similar business strategies. For customized haircare products, Function of Beauty provides a comparable service. 

Rook Perfumes, a London-based independent fragrance business, has taken another step into the digital arena by using blockchain and non-fungible tokens (NFT). It is selling 100 NFTs, each worth 0.3 etherium cryptocurrency ($830), to fund the creation of a new fragrance.

Purchasers will have access to Rook’s design team, will be able to help define the fragrance’s composition, and will have the option of receiving priority, reduced orders. 

The Year 2021 and Beyond 

Personal care firms will need to rethink their strategy now that lockdown orders are being lifted — at least in some nations. It’s understandable that retailers want to get as many customers back into their stores as possible, especially for premium product sales. On the other hand, many customers say that, after being forced to switch to online sales in 2020, they plan to conduct more buying in this channel in the future.

As a result, businesses must consider which of their goods are most suited for e-commerce sales, as well as where these may best utilize digital beauty platforms, as well as innovative sustainability concepts, such as refill packaging, that are well suited to this channel. 

Author Information 

Smithers’ market research and consulting company employs John Nelson, an award-winning editor and writer. He writes on market and technological trends in a variety of technical and commercial areas, including home and personal care, sustainability, packaging, printing, paper, nonwovens, rubber, and tires.