What are your greatest concerns regarding product packaging?
It should be comfortable to hold/easy to hold and to open, sturdy enough to travel with.
— Christine
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15 Comments
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I want packaging that opens and stays open (looking at the older envelope-style PMG six-pan palettes here), is flat so it stores easily with others, and is compact, yet sturdy enough to not be paranoid about breaking.
Unnecessary bulk (again PMG, but this time with lipsticks) just make things annoying to store and I’m less tempted by products in irritating packaging anymore.
Those PMGL six pan palettes were the worst. They were so frustrating to use that I found myself hardly reaching for them. Trying to hold my magnifying mirror in one hand and my brush in the other and then trying to prop open the palette with something heavy enough to keep the flap from closing but not heavy enough to break the binder, too much frustration.
That it’s sturdy and lid hinges don’t break, lipstick lids don’t fall off in my purse, etc. Also, that it allows easy use of the product. If it contains powders and creams, that they are separated from each other in some way.
I’d like to see the industry turn to truly recyclable packaging, refillable, or compostable. there is so much waste in the beauty industry and while I love the feel of a heavy, mirrored compact, I rarely use the mirror and will end up tossing the compact eventually. I’ve slowly been moving to refillable products and/or cardboard packaging as I use up what I have that isn’t in those categories.
I completely agree about the excess packaging and non recyclable packaging. I have been steadily reducing my purchasing of plastic and excessive packaging.
Timely: yesterday I was thinking about how much I miss original NARS packaging.. I might be the only one on the planet, but with my autoimmune arthritis, it was easy for my hands to grip and open. I do not own much in terms of Nars these days, but their packaging was fantastic for me. I agree to all your points, Christine. Right now, I struggle with PMG blush every day I wear… so difficult to open.. formula is worth it.
Depends on the price point. I understand that drug store and budget brands are never going to have the best packaging and I’m okay with that, the price generally means if it breaks but I loved the product itself I’m okay repurchasing. But with higher end and especially luxury I expect nice sturdy packaging. It’s a huge turn off to me when brands have a high price point and they put none of that money they’re making into nice packaging. And this may be an unpopular opinion but I’m okay with a “bland” packaging as long as it looks sleek. I like interesting looking packaging, designs, prints, patterns etc as much as the next person but thats all personal taste and there are brands whose personal taste is not my taste and it can definitely influence where I spend my money. This isn’t something I really ever have to worry about with brands like MAC or Nars except with limited edition. If something is expensive it should look and feel expensive and I shouldn’t have to worry about it or the product it contains breaking within reason.
My greatest concern is that very little product packaging can be recycled and ends up in landfills.
*Packaging needs to be sleek, compact, practical. I don’t want frills and trills, I want something easy to store in a drawer, preferably a matte black that doesn’t get easily dirty, something easy to hold.
*Packaging needs to be sturdy. I use the same makeup everyday almost, since my collection is small. I don’t need to worry about wear and tear, I don’t want the packaging to break after a couple of months of constant use.
*Packaging needs to be recyclable. Or at least to offer me so long use it offsets the landfill (e.g. a custom made palette I add eyeshadow singles that I use for 7+ years). It can be curbside ideally, but I’ll go with in store recycling (like Back to MAC) or Terracycle.
Easy to open without me breaking a nail. Well made, sturdy, protective of contents. Oh, and for lipsticks, if they have magnetic closures, please make it where the actual lipstick can be fully retracted so that the cover doesn’t nick or ruin the tip of the product! Also, as cute as unusual shapes may look, they are a literal PAIN to store, so please STOP it!
I like packaging to be streamlined (not a lot of wasted space), sturdy (I’m find with cardboard even though it’s not very elegant…it does really seem to cushion well) and – again – sturdy…..I’ve had several high end compacts (Dior, MAC, Chanel, etc.) break at the hinge and I’m pretty gentle with my makeup and don’t carry it around in a makeup bag in my purse (except for lipstick/lip balm). I like it to be relatively easy to open but also not to pop open unexpectedly.
I feel better about cardboard packaging than plastic because I won’t have to imagine the item in a landfill or in the ocean thousands of years from now. Not that I don’t buy plastic, I just prefer something that will decompose.
I also like a sturdy package, without any frills or pop ups and the eyeshadow palette must contains a large, clear mirror in the lid because I do use them.
I need to have a container that is easy to open – so many blushes, single eyeshadows, palettes can be very difficult to open for those who have arthritis in their fingers (like UD’s Mariposa palette).
It’s best practice when the containers are recyclable too.
I’m not fond of rounded top compacts eg, my Laura Mercier Candleglow is not flat, so I can’t lay anything on it or it rolls off. I like simple, minimalist lipstick tubes, Ty Revlon. I’m liking the look of Zara cosmetics line. Clean, no gadgets. I’m looking into them. I used to love Nars but got tired and bored with the gummy packaging. Anytime you have to google how to keep your NARS packaging clean, you know you’re in for 14 different opinions and why? It was nice for 5 minutes, old school now.
I hate when it feels like I will break a nail or scratch the packaging to open it. I am not a fan of textures that attract powdery product, like NARS rubberized textures.