Cosmetic packaging decoration and printing options

Decoration turns a stock pack into your brand. You can change the colour of the pack itself, coat it, print on it, add metallic foil, or apply a label or sleeve. Each method has a different look, durability and set-up effort. Direct decoration such as screen printing and hot foil usually raises the minimum order for that pack, while labels let you start smaller and change text easily. Many brands use a mix: a colour-matched cap, a printed logo and a label for regulatory text.

This guide explains the options and how they affect your order. Our custom packaging service quotes decorated packs per brief.

What decoration options are there for cosmetic packaging?

How does colour matching work?

For plastic packs, the colour is added to the resin before moulding, using a colourant called a masterbatch. The pack comes out of the mould in your colour, so there is nothing to scratch off. You supply a colour reference, such as a Pantone code or a physical sample, and the supplier produces a colour sample for approval.

Points to know:

• Colour can look different on matte and gloss surfaces, and on PP compared with PETG.
• Exact matches across caps, bottles and pumps made from different materials can be hard. Approve each part against your reference.
• Colour matching needs a dedicated production run, which is why it raises the minimum order.
• For glass, colour comes from spray coating or tinted glass rather than masterbatch.

Should you choose screen printing, pad printing or hot foil?

Screen printing

Screen printing pushes ink through a fine mesh onto the pack. It gives sharp, opaque logos and text that last well. Each colour needs its own screen and pass, so simple one- or two-colour designs are most practical. It suits round bottles, jars, tubes and flat surfaces. On glass, ceramic inks can be fired for extra durability.

Pad printing

Pad printing uses a soft silicone pad to pick up ink and press it onto curved or uneven surfaces. It suits small areas such as cap tops, compacts and lipstick cases, and fine detail.

Hot foil stamping

Hot foil stamping uses heat and pressure to transfer a thin metallic foil onto the pack. It gives a bright metallic logo or accent that ink cannot match. It suits caps, collars, jars, tubes and cartons. A metal die is made for each design, so it suits logos that stay the same across products.

What do spray coating, UV and metallising add?

• Spray coating changes the whole surface: matte, soft-touch, frosted, pearl or gradient. It suits glass and plastic and can make an economical pack look premium.
• UV coating adds a protective gloss layer over print. Spot UV applies gloss only to selected areas, such as a logo on a matte tube, for contrast you can see and feel.
• Metallising and electroplating give a full mirror finish in gold, silver, rose gold or other metallic tones. They are common on caps, collars and compacts. Heavy metallic finishes can affect how packs are sorted for recycling, so weigh that against your environmental goals. See our packaging materials guide.

Which decoration methods suit which materials?

Not every method works on every surface. Use this as a guide when you plan artwork.

• Glass takes screen printing, including fired ceramic inks, spray coating, frosting and hot foil well. Colour usually comes from coating or tinted glass.
• PP takes colour matching easily. Printing and foil may need a surface treatment first so the ink or foil bonds properly.
• PET and PETG take screen printing, hot foil and spray coatings, and keep their clarity when left undecorated.
• PE tubes and squeeze bottles flex in use, so the decoration must flex too. Offset printing, screen printing, hot foil and labels are common on tubes.
• Aluminium takes printing and coatings, and suits a clean, minimal look.

Outer cartons are a separate decoration surface. Foil, embossing, spot UV and full-colour printing on the carton can carry much of the brand look, letting you keep the primary pack simpler. Our sachets and gift sets service covers boxed and gifting formats.

When do labels or sleeves make more sense?

Labels are the most flexible option and often the right one for a first launch.

• Smaller runs. Labels need no change to the pack itself, so you can order stock packs in smaller quantities.
• Frequent changes. Ingredient lists, batch details, languages for different markets and regulatory text can change. Labels make updates easy.
• Many products, one pack. Use the same plain bottle across a range and change only the label.
• Finish options. Paper, clear film for a no-label look, metallic film, textured stock, foil and embossing are all possible on the label itself.

Shrink sleeves wrap the whole pack and suit complex shapes or bold full-body artwork. Our logo and go service pairs ready formulas with your label on stock packs, which is the quickest route to market.

How does decoration affect MOQ and lead time?

Minimums and lead times depend on the pack, the method and the quantity, so decorated packs are quoted per brief. The main drivers are:

• Set-up work. Screens, dies, colour samples and machine set-up are done once per design, so larger runs spread that effort.
• Dedicated production. Colour matching and metallising need their own production batches, which raises the minimum order more than printing does.
• Number of colours and steps. Each extra print colour, foil or coating is another pass.
• Pack shape. Unusual shapes and small print areas take longer to set up.
• Approval rounds. Each round of colour or print samples adds time.

As a rule, labels have the lowest minimums and shortest set-up, printing sits in the middle, and colour matching and metallising sit highest. Ready formulas start from 500 units per product; decorated packs are quoted separately. The how it works page sets out the steps.

How do you prepare artwork for decorated packs?

1. Choose the pack first. Get the exact print area, or dieline, for the bottle, jar or tube from the supplier.
2. Decide what goes on the pack and what goes on the label or carton. Keep fixed brand elements on the pack and changeable text on labels.
3. Supply vector artwork with fonts outlined and colours specified as Pantone references.
4. Keep text legible. Very fine lines and tiny text may not print cleanly on curved surfaces.
5. Check regulatory text with your adviser before decoration is approved; printed text is hard to change.
6. Approve physical samples, not just digital proofs, especially for colour and foil.

Where should regulatory text go on a decorated pack?

Labelling rules decide what must appear on the pack or carton, such as the product name, ingredient list, quantity, batch code, responsible person and warnings. The EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, UK cosmetics regulation, US FDA rules under MoCRA, India's Cosmetics Rules 2020 and GCC labelling requirements each have their own expectations. Many brands print brand elements on the pack and put regulatory text on a label or the outer carton so it can be updated. Always confirm requirements with your importer or regulatory adviser. Our testing and documents service can help prepare supporting documents.

Next step

Pick your pack format first using our guide to choosing cosmetic packaging, then decide which elements need direct decoration and which can sit on a label. Send us your artwork and packaging brief for a decoration quote, or browse the packaging range to choose your packs.