Hygienic Packaging for Skincare

With the pandemic once again influencing many parts of our lives, many are

beginning to realize how important hygienic skincare packaging is.

Importance of Hygienic Packaging in Skincare

While hygiene, in general, is always favoured, the COVID-19 pandemic made hygiene a bigger part of everyone’s lives. When it came to the beauty industry, companies prioritized this in their packaging to cater to the consumer. There has been a bigger realization that many jars and tubs of creams and moisturizers could harbor microorganisms. Bacteria from hands could transfer into the product and then contaminate the entire jar. So, even if your hands aren’t washed properly for just one time, the entire jar could be housing a vast amount of germs. The same bacteria then get onto your face which could cause breakouts or irritation. With more people spreading this information around, many consumers started looking for better ways to keep their skincare routine without contamination. Enter hygienic packaging for skincare.

Typical Skincare Packaging

Much of the packaging for skincare is centered on appearance rather than utility. After all, the point of the product was that it was delivered onto the skin to diminish a skin concern. A lot of skincare products were delivered in jars, tubs, pumps, droppers, and more. There without too much emphasis on whether they were hygienic, bacteria-resistant, air-tight sealed, or sustainable. While appealing packaging is still desired to this day, the criteria for in-demand packaging have grown. Not only should appearance be considered but also the finer details. Ease of use, weight, quality, reactivity to water or sunlight, and more, are all parts of basic testing. However, with the huge surge of interest in hygienic packaging, more time could be spent on ensuring the product itself is protected to its best ability from contamination.

Variations in Hygienic Skincare Packaging

The new demand for more hygienic skincare brought innovations to typical skincare packaging.

Skincare spatulas

Jars and tubs are not going anywhere when it comes to skincare. Though they have gotten a bad rap recently due to them being the easiest to contaminate, they’re both visually appealing and practical. As a compromise, many brands have started including or selling a skincare spatula on the side. This way, no direct contact will happen between the product and consumers’ fingers.

Airless pumps

These are commonly used for products that contain ingredients highly susceptible to contamination. For example, think of anti-aging skincare products which contain retinol and peptides. They eliminate exposure to air and direct contact with the entirety of the product. Cosmetic chemist Ni’Kita Wilson states that non-airtight pumps “tend to be more hygienic than jars because you're not touching the product itself every time you use it, which can contaminate it.” However, the downside to airtight pumps is the expensive production costs.

Airless seals

The goal of airless seals is similar to airless pumps, but not the same. Airless seals are typically needed for products that do not have an airless pump, making for a great alternative.

Skin fridges

While not a direct change to packaging to make skincare more hygienic, promoting a skin fridge to go alongside products prolongs shelf life. The humidity, temperature, and light level within a skin fridge are specific to keep most skincare products from growing bacteria. Not every formula works well in cooler conditions, such as oil-based products. Ensure you’re letting customers know which products are not recommended to be placed in a skin fridge.

Hygiene meets Sustainability

To take packaging to the next level, some companies are selling products that come in both sustainable and hygienic packaging. For example, some higher-end brands are using skincare pods or refillable cartridges. The point is to buy the specialized hygienic skincare packaging only once instead of multiple times. This way, consumers can refill their product without having to pay the extra price of the patented packaging. For some people, sustainability is a more important factor than hygiene. While individually wrapped products guarantee hygiene, the waste that it creates isn’t worth it. Companies are also looking for more ways to incorporate eco-friendliness into hygienic packaging. Recyclable cartons made from paper are one way to blend hygiene and environmental consciousness. However, more innovative materials like ones made from mushrooms are up and coming in the beauty industry.

Read more about packaging made from mycelium here: https://www.vogue.com/article/mycelium-packaging-could-help-solve-beauty-industry-waste-problem

Innovation Through Packaging

Skincare packaging is what the consumer sees first. Though it may sound complicated to consider all of the complicated aspects that go into it, your brand will stand out for it. There are numerous patents already for hygienic packaging, so there isn’t a need to be inventive. The impact of these past few years has changed the beauty industry. Hygienic packaging, along with sustainability and eco-friendliness, is likely to be around for a long time.