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Prepare to dive in and explore the world of lotion bar packaging!
If you’re a business owner selling handmade skincare products online, you know how important it is to have visually appealing products that represent your unique brand to stand out from the competition.
This guide will help you navigate the wide world of lotion bar packaging and make informed decisions about what will work best for YOUR business. From recipe ideas…to materials and design…to branding and labeling – this guide has you covered!
First things first. Before we get into the specifics of lotion bar packaging, be sure to complete your target market research to guide your reading and decision-making.
Target market homework will determine every single aspect of your lotion bar line:
I urge you not to skip this step.
Understanding your target market is not just key for deciding on your lotion bar packaging, but is the entire branding foundation for your skin care business and ongoing success.
Once you know your target market, you need to decide which type of lotion bar will go over the best for your specific customer base.
There are several directions you can go with your product ideas:
If you aren’t sure which type of lotion bar to create, ask your audience (if you already have a following on a social network) or friends and family (if they are representative of your target market).
I have formulated a variety of the lotion bars mentioned above, and the following three versions have been the most popular in my handmade skin care businesses:
This warming muscle balm recipe supports sore muscles, surface bruises, and menstrual cramps.
The combo of menthol crystals, essential oils, and arnica provides blood circulation and a tingling, warming effect that my customers LOVE.
Talk about a repeat customer win, belly balms for itchy skin during pregnancy are sought after the whole nine months and are great for baby shower gifts.
This organic belly balm recipe base is full of incredibly moisturizing organic butters and oils that stretching skin soaks right up.
You can also use this toning lotion bar recipe as inspiration to make package-free lotion bars like these molded versions above.
I poured the melted base into this silicone mold and popped them out after they were done hardening.
If you go this route, make sure your mold size will fit into the container you choose (there are molds in hundreds of different sizes and shapes).
All of the above lotion bar recipes, each successful in my own handmade skincare lines, are available to you in my Natural Skincare Recipe Book:
After deciding which type of lotion bar(s) you will be adding to your skin care line, the first visual branding decision you need to make is the type of lotion bar container to use.
Referring to your target market notes and imagining the day-to-day life of your ideal customer, what would they be the most drawn to?
Consider the following details about your customer and their actual experience using your product before settling on any of your lotion bar packaging:
Tubes are a great way to package lotion bars, especially for formulations you don’t want to get on your hands, such as the warming muscle balm recipe.
Lotion bar tubes come in plastic twist-up options, as well as paperboard push-ups in a variety of sizes.
Round twist-up tubes in a two-ounce size are the most standard you’ll see for lotion bars (as well as deodorants).
Though shown in transparent here, twist-up tubes come in a variety of colors to match any business branding color palette.
The plastic works well to throw in gym bags and diaper bags without the worry of breaking or melted products.
Paperboard lotion bar tubes are an eco-friendly alternative to the plastic twist-up version.
These do very well with a sustainable target market and photograph incredibly well.
Keep in mind that, as with all paperboard products, any melted product that gets on the exterior of the packaging can leave a permanent stain on the paper.
If you will be creating massage bars or smaller handheld lotion bars that don’t have a structured casing like the tubes above, you still need some sort of exterior packaging when selling online.
You have a wide variety of options, with the only limitation being the size of the lotion bar you create with a mold.
Round aluminum tins are very popular with circular lotion bars, as I’m sure you’ve seen at farmers’ markets or local boutiques.
The 2 oz version shown here comes in silver and black, but there are other possibilities, such as a rose gold option, or even tins with a clear top to show off lotion bars that have decorations from the mold.
Plastic jars are an option that provides a different type of branding flexibility with the lid shape.
These straight-lid jars are the easiest to label, but also have options for a dome lid.
If you are going this route, consider getting plastic jars in bulk here so that you can mix and match your jar size with several lid and cushion pad choices.
Soap boxes are a good option for larger lotion bar products, such as massage bars.
This is an attractive container for an eco-conscious target market and easily matched with other product containers for a consistent brand look.
Selling lotion bars online versus in person may have different labeling requirements depending on where you live.
For some geographical locations, a manufacturing address and contact information are required to appear on the label when selling your products in a brick-and-mortar or in-person event.
Alternately, when selling online, a website URL may take the place of this information, assuming that the website has an address and contact information available.
Other labeling requirements vary based on location and government regulations; this information is your responsibility to obtain and follow.
Makers in the United States can refer to the FDA Cosmetics Labeling Guide.
Marie Gale also has an easy-to-follow book called Soap and Cosmetic Labeling (How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English).
Once you know the rules and regulations for your specific location, you can take the next step and move on to designing your labels!
If you haven’t already decided on visual branding details for your skin care business, make sure you have those set in stone before you start designing:
When you have your business branding basics, the easiest online graphic design tool to use is Canva (which is currently free to use for the basic elements).
If designing labels is not something you want to tackle on your own, you have plenty of options for assistance available on this site with lotion bar label templates.
The use of templates is not just for novice designers – they can also save tons of time for seasoned entrepreneurs by avoiding that ‘blank canvas syndrome’.
Templates work by giving you a start of the design with editing rights to all of the different variables: colors, fonts, placements, graphic imports, etc.
Here is an example of a neon lotion bar label template that kept the original template design closely intact but changed the color palette and fonts:
Regardless of where you sell (online vs in-person), you need to seal your products with a tamper-evident closure for proper professional safety and customer trust.
One option is to safety-seal your lotion bars and tins with the addition of shrink wrap.
Shrink wrap is a unique type of plastic that fits over your product packaging and morphs to the size of the container with the help of a craft heat gun.
Tip: Have the exact size of your tube or tins on hand before purchasing (shrink wrap comes in a large variety of sizes).
If you want to keep more of a small-batch, handmade look, consider the use of extra details such as washi tape.
You can use this to connect your lotion bar top to the tube (or the same idea with tins and jars), and then place your label over it.
Combining washi tape with shrink wrap is another idea to add branding details as well as a professional, safe product.
One of the most FUN parts of selling online is the opportunity to provide an ‘unboxing experience.’
Give them a WOW.
This is the difference between customers leaving a review or not, recommending your lotion bars to a friend or family member, and even sharing your products on their social media handles.
This is your chance to really make yourself and your brand memorable and shareable with your skin care packaging!
These organza favor bags are great for everyday packaging or for use in bulk orders – an affordable, fast way to add a bit of flair to your lotion bars.
If you create favors for weddings or showers, you can easily wrap lotion bars in small parchment rounds, secure the paper with a label, and present it in these colorful bags.
Cotton muslin bags are the perfect unboxing detail for the sustainable crowd.
These are beautiful additions to any product line, and can also be stamped with a business logo or graphic that goes with your branding.
Not just for lotion bar packaging – use across your entire range of products.
Square jewelry boxes (3.5″ x 3.5″) hold a 2-ounce aluminum tin perfectly.
These are great for gift-wrapping options, favor boxes, or simply an added touch for luxury lines.
Close the boxes with thin satin ribbon, washi tape, or raffia papercraft ribbon.
Extra points for adding your logo with a sticker or stamp.
No one wants to build a business by themselves! That’s doing it the hard way!
With the Skincare Business Branding Guide, you get step-by-step guidance to help you create the BEST branding for YOUR target market!
Christine Glaser, C.A.
Christine is a certified aromatherapist, essential oil specialist, and organic skin care formulator. She loves empowering others with tools to make healthy changes and understand where natural options can be woven into the fabric of everyday routines.
