There is no doubt that the contents of a cosmetic product are essential, but when consumers get the product, the first thing they touch is the container and the packaging. People look for different sensations, some like luxury, and some favor ease of use, and in this sense, the finish of the package is critical in addition to the package you choose.
Electroplating(UV)
Electroplating is the plating of a metal layer on an object’s surface by electrolytic action. In cosmetics, it is usually silver or gold plating.
The effect of electroplating is brighter, generally used in cap, pump or lid mostly, bottle body plating is also available, but the cost is relatively high.
It should be noted that the plating process is not very environmentally friendly.
Spray painting
Spraying is a coating method that is applied to the surface of the object to be coated through a spray gun or disc atomizer, dispersed into uniform and fine droplets by pressure or centrifugal force.
It plays a decorative and protective role for bottles. Various effects can be achieved such as high gloss, matte, pearlescent, transparent, gradient, etc. Generally applied to bottles, jars, less used for tubes.
Spraying is highly productive and has a very wide range of applications, but its solvents can pollute the environment and require a clean room of over a million level.
Frosted
Frosted is to rub accelerated abrasive particles to the surface of the container, it can change the surface finish and stress state, forming a hazy, noble and elegant visual effect with a more delicate and smooth feel. In addition, the frosting effect diffuses excess light, thus helping to extend the shelf life of the product. Commonly used in glass and plastic containers.
Solid color
It is an inexpensive process of adding color powder to the raw material during product injection. Generally for plastic products. The process is simple and cheap. However, it requires a MOQ, generally from 5000 pieces.
Screen printing
It refers to the use of screen cutout plate and printing material, by scratch printing method to get graphics. The basic principle is that the ink can pass through the graphic part but not through the non-graphic part.
Screen printing equipment is simple, easy to operate, easy and inexpensive to print and make plates, and highly adaptable. The effect after printing has obvious bumpiness because it is a layer of ink. For a regular bottle(cylindrical), it can be printed at once, but for irregular ones, it asks for a few times an extra cost.
In cosmetics, screen printing is generally used for single-color text, less for multi-color patterns.
Hot stamping
Hot stamping is essentially transfer printing. The metal printing plate is heated and the foil is placed on the printed material to emboss the metallic color text or pattern. It is the use of the principle of heat pressure transfer, the aluminum layer in the aluminum electrochemical transfer to the surface of the substrate to form a special metal effect.
The surface of hot stamping is high gloss, the pattern is bright and flat, clear and sharp, and more eye-catching.
In practice, most of them are used in the prominent part of the graphics, such as logo, product name, border.
Water transfer printing
Water transfer is the use of water as a dissolving medium to transfer colored paper/transfer film to the surface of the object. Under the water pressure, the water-soluble film with strong tension can be easily wrapped on the surface of the object, and then after a series of processing such as drying, oil spraying, and drying, you can get a “water rebirth” of beautiful items.
It is mainly used for products with complex shapes, and it can print any image on any surface at will.
The biggest technical advantage is that no special equipment, no media restrictions, no special consumables, no high-temperature heating.
Thermal transfer printing
Thermal transfer printing is a technology that prints patterns or designs onto heat-resistant adhesive paper, and by heating and applying pressure, the patterned pattern of the ink layer is printed onto the finished material.
The use of thermal transfer film printing can be multi-color pattern into a picture at one time, no need to set color, simple equipment can also print a realistic pattern.
Thermal transfer printing is mostly used for products with large volume and complex printing. It is a film attached to the surface. The price is expensive.
Offset printing
Simply put, offset printing is the printing method of transferring the image on the printing plate to the substrate with the help of a rubber sheet (blanket).it is also the existence of the blanket, the printing method named.
It printed out fine graphics, rich layers, fast printing speed, stable quality, short cycle time, especially suitable for high-volume printing. In cosmetic packaging, it is mostly used for tube printing.
BTW, a problem that tends to occur in offset printing is color deviation, which is related to many factors. read more
Pros and Cons
| Finish | Feature | Pros | Cons | Application |
| Electroplating | Metallic luster | Improve visual quality | Non-ECO | Parts enclosure |
| Spray painting | Various coloring effects | Wide range of applications | Strict production environment | Parts enclosure |
| Frosted | Fogging appearance | Noble and elegant visual | Intolerance dirty | Bottles |
| Solid color | Any color can be achieved | Simple process | High MOQ | Plastic bottles |
| Screen printing | Bumpiness | Low cost | Low accuracy | All |
| Hot stamping | Sparkle | High accuracy | Not resistant to abrasion | All |
| Water transfer printing | Inconsistent texture | No special equipment | Easily deformed | Irregular surface |
| Thermal transfer printing | Exquisite | Clear graphics | Poor solidity | Complex pattern |
| Offset printing | Richly layered | Short lead time | Unsuitable for large area patterns | All |
