A Practical Guide to Cosmetic Packaging Coloring Techniques

Choosing the right coloring technique is essential to bringing your cosmetic packaging vision to life. Here’s a clear and concise breakdown of popular techniques to help you make an informed decision.​

1.Aluminum Foil Stamping (Hot Stamping)​

Description: Involves transferring a metallic foil layer onto an inner plastic base using heat and pressure.​

2.Electroplating (UV-Coated)​

Color Characteristic: Delivers brighter, more vivid color effects compared to spray painting.​

Process Principle: A surface treatment method where the substrate (to be plated) acts as the cathode in a salt solution containing the metal to be deposited. Through electrolysis, metal cations in the solution adhere to the substrate’s surface, forming a plating layer.​

Application & Cost: Has a high-gloss appearance; most commonly used for bottle caps and pump heads, but can also be applied to bottle bodies—though this option is relatively more costly.​

Note: Not highly environmentally friendly and frequently subject to environmental inspections, particularly at the end of the year. These inspections may lead to delivery delays.​

3.Spray Painting​

Color Characteristic: Produces matte, muted color effects in contrast to electroplating.​

Process Principle: A coating method that uses a spray gun or disc atomizer to break paint into uniform, fine droplets (via pressure or centrifugal force) and apply them to the surface of an object.​

Applications in Cosmetic Bottles: Encompasses three main treatments:​

  • Spraying the Exterior of an Inner Bottle: Paint applied to the outer surface of the inner bottle (liner); clear gap between the colored layer and outer bottle from the outside.​
  • Spraying the Interior of an Outer Bottle: Paint applied to the inner surface of the outer bottle; visually seamless, expansive color (requires double-wall structure, e.g., Laneige’s BB cream packaging).​
  • Direct Spraying on the Bottle Body: Paint applied directly to the outermost surface of the bottle.​

4.Frosting​

Texture: Creates a frosted (matte, grainy) texture on the packaging surface.​

Process Principle: Abrasive particles are propelled to abrade the bottle surface, removing imperfections or preparing it for further treatment. This process modifies both the surface texture and stress state of the bottle.​

5.Brushed Metal Wrapping (Gold/Silver)​

Description: Despite its name, typically uses a metallic film (not solid metal); a seam line (where the film overlaps and joins) can often be seen on the bottle surface upon close inspection.​

6.Secondary Oxidation​

Process Principle: A second oxidation layer is applied over the original one; enables creation of matte patterns on a glossy base or glossy patterns on a matte base.​

Primary Use: Widely used to highlight brand logos.​

7.Injection Molding Coloring​

Process Principle: Color is integrated during the injection molding stage—either by adding colorant to the raw plastic material or using pre-colored plastic masterbatches.​

Cost Advantage: A relatively low-cost coloring technique.​

Ready to Choose the Best Finish for Your Product?​

Understanding these technical differences will ensure your packaging not only looks stunning but is also produced efficiently. Contact Belzey Pack today to discuss the perfect coloring solution tailored to your brand’s needs.​