Is PETG better than PET for cosmetics?

Neither is better overall. PETG can be moulded with thicker walls and has a very clear, glass-like finish, so it suits premium bottles, jars and airless bodies. PET is lighter, rigid and widely collected for recycling, so it suits everyday bottles for toners, mists and washes. Both should be tested with oil-rich or high-fragrance formulas before you order.

Is glass packaging safer than plastic for skincare?

Glass is inert, so it is less likely to interact with the formula, which is why many serums and oils use it. But glass packs still have plastic or rubber parts, such as teats, collars and lid liners, that touch the product. Safety depends on the whole pack and the formula, so run compatibility tests and include the results in your safety assessment.

Which plastic suits essential oils and face oils?

There is no single answer. Glass and lined aluminium are common for essential oils and high-fragrance products because some oils can stress or soften certain plastics. PET and PP often work for face oils, while PETG, PE and acrylic need careful testing. Fill samples with your actual oil and store them under different conditions before choosing.

Can I call my cosmetic packaging recyclable?

Only if the claim is accurate for the markets where you sell. A pack may be made from a recyclable material but not be collected or processed locally, especially if it has a pump or mixed parts. Many markets now regulate environmental claims closely. Confirm the wording with your importer or regulatory adviser before printing any recyclability claim.

What material is PP and why is it so common?

PP, or polypropylene, is a light, tough plastic that resists many oils, surfactants and actives. It can form living hinges for flip-top caps and moulds easily into jars, pumps, airless parts and sticks. That versatility makes it the most common material in cosmetic packaging. Its look is softer than PETG or glass, but decoration can make it look premium.

PP vs PET vs PETG vs Glass Cosmetic Packaging

Most cosmetic packs are made from a small group of materials: polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), PET, PETG, acrylic, glass and aluminium. Each behaves differently with oils, fragrance, solvents and actives, and each says something different about your brand. PP is the workhorse for caps, pumps and jars. PET and PETG give clarity. Glass gives weight and an inert contact surface. The right choice balances formula compatibility, look, weight in transit and what happens to the pack after use.

This guide explains each one in plain terms. You can browse every pack in our cosmetic packaging range by format.

What are the main cosmetic packaging materials?

Material	In plain terms	Typical uses	Watch-outs
PP (polypropylene)	Light, tough, slightly flexible, matte to semi-gloss. Good resistance to many chemicals.	Caps, pumps, jars, airless bodies and pistons, flip-tops, sticks	Not as clear as PET or PETG; can look less premium unless decorated
PE (HDPE and LDPE)	Soft to semi-rigid, squeezable, opaque or translucent	Tubes, squeeze bottles, shampoo and body wash bottles, tottles	Some fragrances and oils can migrate into or through PE; test
PET	Clear, rigid, light, glossy	Bottles for toners, mists, body washes, shampoos	Less suited to hot-fill; test with high-solvent or high-fragrance formulas
PETG	Very clear, thick, glass-like, can be moulded into heavy-wall shapes	Premium bottles, jars, airless bodies, dropper bottles	Some oils and solvents can cause stress cracking; test
Acrylic (PMMA) and AS	Crystal clear, hard, heavy-feeling	Outer shells of double-wall jars and airless bottles, caps	Usually kept out of direct contact with the formula; can craze with some oils
Glass	Inert, heavy, premium, clear, frosted or tinted	Droppers, serum bottles, jars, fragrance and oil bottles	Heavy to ship, breakable, closures are still plastic
Aluminium	Light metal, opaque, blocks light	Tubes, bottles for oils and mists, compacts, caps	Usually needs an inner lining; can dent

PP, PET or PETG: what is the difference in practice?

PP

PP is the most common material in cosmetic packaging because it is versatile. It resists many oils, surfactants and actives, it takes a living hinge for flip-top caps, and it moulds into jars, pumps and airless parts. Its look is softer and less glassy. Spray coatings, colour matching and printing can make it look premium. If you are unsure, PP is often the safe first material to test.

PET

PET is clear and rigid and is widely used for drinks bottles, which means many recycling systems already collect it. In cosmetics it suits thin liquids such as toners, micellar waters, mists, shampoos and body washes. It comes in clear, amber and coloured versions. It is less common for thick creams and for heavy-wall premium jars.

PETG

PETG is a modified form of PET that can be moulded with thicker walls and has a very clear, glass-like finish. It is used for premium bottles, heavy jars, dropper bottles and airless bodies where you want a glass look without glass weight. It is not always collected in the same stream as PET bottles, so check before making recycling claims.

Which plastic suits which formula?

Water-based toners, mists, washes: PET, PE or PP all usually work.
Creams and lotions: PP jars, PP or PETG airless, PE tubes.
Face oils and oil serums: glass or PET; test PETG and PE first.
High-fragrance or essential-oil-rich products: glass or aluminium are common; test any plastic carefully.
Light-sensitive formulas: amber or opaque glass, opaque PP, aluminium.

When is glass the right choice?

Glass is inert, so it is less likely to interact with the formula. It feels heavy and premium, takes frosting, tinting and printing well, and is widely associated with serums, face oils and fragrance. Amber and other tinted glass help protect light-sensitive contents.

The downsides are weight, breakage and cost of shipping, especially for export. Glass is also rarely a single material in practice: droppers have rubber or silicone teats and plastic collars, and jars have plastic lids and liners. Those parts still need compatibility testing. Browse dropper bottles and bottles for glass options.

Where do aluminium and other materials fit?

Aluminium blocks light and air, is light to ship, and suits oils, mists, balms and hand creams. Bottles and tubes usually have an inner lining, which is what the formula actually touches, so testing still matters. Other materials appear mainly in caps and outer components: wood or bamboo-look caps, metallised plastics and paper-based outer tubes. Treat each as part of the overall pack when you test and when you describe the pack's materials.

How does material change your brand look and shipping?

Customers read materials before they read your label. Heavy glass and thick PETG suggest a premium product. Matte PP and soft-touch finishes suggest a calm, modern brand. Clear PET suits fresh, everyday products where the colour of the formula is part of the appeal. Aluminium reads as clean and functional.

Shipping matters just as much, especially for export. Glass adds weight and needs more protective packing, which affects freight. Plastic packs are lighter and less likely to break, though they can scuff in transit. For e-commerce, think about how a pack survives being dropped in a parcel, not just how it looks on a shelf.

Some practical pairings:

Premium face serum: glass dropper, or PETG with a glass look.
Everyday cleanser or body wash: PET or PE bottle with a PP pump or flip-top.
Rich cream for gifting: double-wall jar with an acrylic outer and PP inner.
Travel and hotel sizes: PE tubes and PP bottles that are light and unbreakable.

Is recyclable packaging actually recycled?

Not always. A material can be technically recyclable and still not be collected or processed where your customer lives. Keep these caveats in mind:

Mixed materials. Pumps often contain a metal spring and several plastics. Separating them is hard, so pumps are frequently not recycled even when the bottle is.
Small items. Very small packs and caps can fall through sorting equipment.
Decoration. Heavy metallisation, full sleeves and some coatings can affect sorting.
Residue. Thick creams left in a jar can complicate recycling.
Local rules. Collection varies by country and even by city.

Environmental claims on packs are increasingly regulated. The EU, UK and other markets expect claims to be specific and supported by evidence. Avoid broad words such as "eco-friendly" without explanation, and confirm any recyclability or recycled-content claim with your importer or regulatory adviser before printing it.

What lower-material and refillable options are there?

If material use matters to your brand, there are practical options beyond the material itself:

Mono-material packs, such as all-PP jars or airless bottles, which are simpler to sort.
Recycled-content resins, where available and suitable for cosmetic contact.
Refillable systems, where a durable outer pack takes a replaceable inner cup or cartridge.
Lighter packs, such as single-wall rather than double-wall, or tubes rather than heavy jars.
Larger refill sizes and pouches for body and hair care.

Our eco and refillable packaging range collects these formats. For hotels, our hotel amenities service covers refillable dispensers and bulk formats.

How do you test material compatibility with your formula?

Shortlist materials using the table above and your brand needs.
Fill samples with the final formula, including fragrance, not a base.
Store under different conditions, such as warm, cool, light and dark, alongside a glass control.
Check regularly for weight loss, leaks, swelling, cracking, crazing, softening, discolouration of pack or formula, and odour change.
Check closures and components such as liners, teats, seals and pumps, not just the body.
Record results so they can support your product safety file. Our testing and documents service can advise.

Regulations such as the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and the UK cosmetics regulation expect packaging to be considered in the safety assessment. Confirm the exact requirements with your regulatory adviser.

Next step

Choose your formula, shortlist two materials, and test them side by side. Our guide to choosing cosmetic packaging covers formats, and the custom packaging service handles decorated packs. Send us your formula and packaging brief and we will suggest materials to test.

PP vs PET vs PETG vs glass: choosing cosmetic packaging materials