Guidelines for Labeling Cosmetics

Find out what you need to know before you start labeling your products

Are you a manufacturer or distributor of cosmetic products? If so, you’re surely familiar with their ingredients, scents, and all the properties that contribute to body care. Once your cosmetics are ready, it’s also worth considering professional packaging and labeling. Read our tips below to help you with this!
A set of five LILLY cosmetics from the Eucalyptus line. The set includes: day cream (Tagescreme), shaving foam (Rasierschaum), cleansing cream (Waschcreme), and body lotion (Bodylotion). The packaging is white with turquoise labels featuring a eucalyptus twig motif.

What type of packaging should you choose?

Jars, tubes, bottles—which packaging is best for your cosmetics?

Metal packaging: suitable for solid cosmetics, such as bar soaps or shampoo bars.
Glass bottles: This is the best material for “encapsulating” perfumes, body mists, eau de parfum, etc. Glass neither emits nor absorbs any scents.
Plastic bottles: suitable for all liquid cosmetics, such as body oils, facial toners, cleansing milks, etc.
Bottles with droppers: ideal for liquids that require precise dosing, such as oils or serums.
Pump bottles: for all liquid cosmetic products dispensed in slightly larger amounts, such as body lotions.
Jars in various sizes: ideal for packaging creams—smaller ones for face creams, larger ones for body creams. The most common types are plastic or glass jars.
Tubes: ideal for sealing products that require special protection against microorganisms, such as medicinal ointments or toothpaste.
Cardboard packaging: suitable for solid cosmetics, such as bar soaps or shampoo bars.
A selection of natural cosmetics from the LEXURE brand. Pictured are: hand soap in a dark bottle with a pump, hair conditioner in a bottle containing amber-colored liquid, and shower gel. Next to them lies a bar of handmade soap and a bunch of dried roots. The labels are retro-style on beige paper.

What label shape should you choose?

Check out our wide selection of available label shapes

Rectangular: the most classic shape and suitable for labeling a wide variety of items.
Round: The lack of corners and edges looks particularly good on bottles and irregularly shaped containers.
Oval: The flattened, horizontal design looks great on rounded cosmetic packaging, such as jars.
Square: These can be used to create an attractive contrast on round cosmetic packaging.
Hexagonal: Very original and eye-catching, they can be used to highlight a new line of cosmetics to attract as much customer attention as possible.
Two greenish bottles of “Siren’s Song” shower gel. The label features a mermaid illustrated in a style reminiscent of an old copperplate engraving, holding a sailing ship above her head. The background of the label has a water-drop pattern.

Film or Paper Labels

Which Are the Best Choice?
  • Film labels are resistant to moisture, oils, detergents, and temperature fluctuations. This makes them the perfect choice for labeling containers that will hold cosmetics—tubes, bottles, or jars. Even if a film label comes into contact with a cosmetic product, it can be easily wiped clean. Waterproof film labels are also ideal for labeling shower products, such as shampoos, gels, and soaps.
     
  • Paper labels are perfect for labeling cardboard cosmetic packaging, addressing boxes and shipments, as well as for creating promotional and informational labels that aren’t placed directly on the cosmetic packaging.


Our labels are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, and in versions with permanent or removable adhesive.
Two white tubes of LILLY body lotion from the Eucalyptus line. The turquoise label features the product name “Bodylotion” and an image of an eucalyptus twig. One tube is in the foreground, and the other is partially visible behind it.

When is an additional back label recommended?

First and foremost, when you want to include a lot of technical information (such as ingredients, allergens, place of manufacture, etc.) that will be printed in small font on the label. On the front of the packaging, it’s a good idea to include a logo, graphics, the brand name, the product name, and content that directly encourages the purchase of the product. Providing information subject to declaration on the back label is not mandatory.