Airless pump bottles are cosmetic containers that come with an intriguing dispensing mechanism. Not only is it intriguing but also user-friendly. These bottles help you dispense an accurate amount of product without the need for a traditional pump with a tip. As you press the pump, a vacuum is created that removes a small quantity of your favorite skincare or haircare essentials.
This is why more and more cosmetic brands are switching from traditional pump bottles to airless pump bottles. It enhances consumer experience and helps the brand increase its sales. Also, as there is much more to airless tube packaging, let us dive into the details of how these bottles benefit cosmetic brands and their consumers.
So, here is a quick guide to benefits, limitations, and what types of products are suited for airless tube packaging.
Benefits of Airless Tube Packaging
First things first, these are the advantages of airless tube packaging that make them compatible with a wide range of skincare, haircare, personal care, and makeup products.
1. Extended Shelf Life
Do you know why cosmetic products have a limited shelf life and preservatives are added to prolong the duration of their efficacy? Well, the exposure of ingredients in beauty products to environmental factors like air and UV rays causes product deterioration.
This is because oxygen from the air oxidizes the product, UV rays degrade it, and harmful bacteria also enter to cause contamination.
As the name implies, airless tube packaging does not allow the entry of air or other environmental factors to impact the product. Consequently, the shelf life of the product is increased without the addition of preservatives.
2. Maximum Product Use
The airless cosmetic packaging unit uses a vacuum mechanism to dispense the product. In this mechanism, a diaphragm is attached at the bottom of the jar. When you push the pump, this diaphragm moves up due to vacuum and pushes the product upwards as well.
This is how it dispenses the product. Now, the best advantage of this diaphragm is that it ensures that the whole product is used from the container leaving no remnants in the bottle. Also, note that more than 95% of the product packed in airless pump bottles is utilized.
3. User-friendly and Portable
As there is no need for heavy tubes in cosmetic bottles, airless pump packaging is relatively more lightweight. Additionally, the use of almost weightless materials like plastics further reduces their weight. Also, no product is removed until you press the pump intentionally. Thus, airless pump cosmetic tubes are travel-friendly.
The portability of airless cosmetic bottles along with their effortless dispensing system makes them user-friendly as well.
4. Precise Dispensing
One of the major issues with flip-flop or squeezable cosmetic bottles is that you can not dispense the exact amount of the product you want. In contrast, the amount of product dispensed with airless cosmetic bottles can be accurately controlled. A slight press will release a pea-sized amount of product and a longer press releases a little more.
But, there is no excessive removal of the product and thus no product waste from an airless cosmetic tube.
5. Higher Perceived Quality
The user experience and product preservation of airless packaging are one thing. In addition, these bottles look luxurious as well. The high-end look of the airless tubes along with an enhanced user experience increases the perceived quality of the cosmetic products.
Thus, each product packed in an airless cosmetic packaging bottle gives an impression of being high-quality.
Factors to Consider When Using Airless Pump Tube Packaging
Using airless cosmetic bottles for your beauty brands sounds so productive that you want to use them for all of your products, right?
However, you have to consider these 4 factors while packaging beauty products in airless jars.
1. Product Viscosity
Airless cosmetic packaging is suitable for products with a wide range of viscosities. It works seamlessly for products with a thin, flowy, and creamy consistency. However, it takes more effort to dispense the product with a thicker consistency and requires a stronger pump.
Thus, the viscosity of the cosmetic products is the major factor to keep in mind while designing the pump and its strength.
2. Material Compatibility
The design of the airless pump bottles might be compatible with several cosmetic products. However, it is essential for the material of the cosmetic bottle to be compatible with the product ingredients as well.
For example, some plastics can react with the ingredients and damage the product if it contains anti-oxidants or active ingredients like retinol, AHA, and BHA. Therefore, chemically non-reactive materials like glass or PP should be used to make airless cosmetic containers for such products.
Similarly, heat-resistant materials are ideal for products that might be degraded by extremes of weather.
3. Brand Aesthetic and Design
Airless beauty packaging comes in a variety of styles including,
- Cosmetic bottles
- Plastic tubes
- Cosmetic jars
Now, your brand aesthetics and goals determine which type of airless packaging to choose and how to design it.
Premium brands can use glass cosmetic jars for their cream and lotion products while economical brands might prefer plastic bottles.
4. Budget and MOQ
The production cost of airless cosmetic bottles is lower than that of traditional cosmetic packaging and it is also cost effective because there is no wastage of the products. However, the price range and MOQ of different cosmetic brands differ.
Therefore, you have to consider your budget and the number of cosmetic tubes you want before placing an order. This is because your overall profit must be more than the investment and packaging cost is a major part of the investment.
Types of Products Best Suited for Airless Pump Tubes
There is no limit to the use of cosmetic airless tubes as these are compatible with a diverse range of products. However, here are the main types of products airless tubes are used for.
1. Products with Sensitive Ingredients
As discussed in the benefits of airless cosmetic tubes, they prevent product damage caused by environmental factors like air and UV light, these jars are great for products with vulnerable ingredients like anti-oxidants, UV filters, AHA, BHA, vitamin C, and retinol.
Therefore, cosmetic brands can use them for,
- Sunscreens
- Active skin treatments
- Serums
- Exfoliating acids
2. High-End Cosmetics
While airless tube packaging can be used by all brands due to its low cost and good consumer experience, it is mostly preferred for high-end cosmetics. This is mainly because of the higher perceived value of airless packaging.
Furthermore, high-end brands have more budget and MOQ allowing these bottles to be used for premium products.
3. Pharmaceutical Creams and Ointments
Just like cosmetic products with active ingredients, pharmaceutical creams, and ointment can also be degraded by environmental factors. In addition to UV rays and air, these are also vulnerable to microbes that might be transmitted through air or contact with skin.
Airless pump tubes ensure that no microbes can enter the product making them suitable for pharmaceutical ointments and creams.
4. Sustainable Eco-conscious Brands
Airless cosmetic packaging is loved by Eco-conscious brands. This is because of the use of sustainable materials in manufacturing airless cosmetic packaging. Furthermore, a no-waste product dispensing design adds to its benefits as a sustainable packaging choice.
Limitations of Airless Pump Tube Packaging
Here are some of its limitations that reduce the utilization of airless packaging for cosmetics.
1. May Get Clogged
When the cosmetic tube jars with an airless mechanism are pressed, a vacuum is created and the air gets under the diaphragm. Although it does enter the product, it is present just below it. As you press the pump, the air is released and the diaphragm recoils back to its original position.
However, at times, there is failure to release air. Resultantly, the diaphragm is stuck and the airless mechanism gets clogged. The release of the air for it to work well can be challenging.
2. Design Errors
There might be some errors in the design of these cosmetic bottles. These are listed,
- Failure to create a vacuum
- Failure of recoil of the diaphragm
- Damage to the container due to external impact
The use of multiple types of materials in making these packaging jars makes recycling difficult.
Is Airless Packaging Right for Your Brand? Contact VCPAK for Consultation
The contamination-free, easy-to-use, economical, high-quality, and portable design of airless pump tubes makes them compatible with cosmetic products including the ones with sensitive ingredients, pharmaceutical ointments, and high-end value.
The global cosmetic industry is going to grow to a market value of USD 129 Billion as mentioned in Cosmetic industry stats. As packaging is an essential part of cosmetics, you need to update your packaging with airless cosmetic tubes.
Therefore, you can contact VCPAK to transform your traditional product packaging into modern and aesthetic cosmetic airless tubes. This will help you gain more loyal customers because of a premium experience and expand your brand.
