Custom Cream Boxes & Cream Packaging
Skincare is bought on trust before it is bought on formula. Nobody gets to test the cream in the aisle, so the carton is carrying the whole first impression. We print a lot of cream packaging at ZEE Packaging and the brief usually splits two ways, make it look expensive and make sure the jar arrives intact.
Jar Or Tube Changes Everything
The container decides the cream box more than any other factor.
- Glass jar heavy, needs 20pt or above or the base panel bows
- Acrylic jar lighter but wide, so the cream box goes square and shallow
- Airless pump tall and narrow, deep carton with good top clearance
- Squeeze tube slim tuck end, the cheapest cream packaging to run
- Sachet and travel size small carton or a printed sleeve
Send us the container with cap and pump height included. A pump that stands proud needs clearance or the flap wont close flat.
Sizes We Print Regularly
Every cream box is built to your product, though these come up constantly:
- 2" x 2" x 2" for a 30ml jar
- 2.5" x 2.5" x 2.5" for a 50ml jar, our most ordered cream box
- 3" x 3" x 3" for 100ml and body cream
- 1.75" x 1.75" x 5.5" for a tube or airless pump
- 3.5" x 3.5" x 4" for a jar with dropper set
- 6" x 4" x 3" for a gift set cream packaging with two units
Board And Weight
- 18pt to 20pt for tubes and light plastic jars
- 20pt to 24pt for glass jar cream boxes, glass is unforgiving
- SBS C1S for clean printed retail cream packaging
- Kraft board for natural, organic and botanical ranges
- Rigid greyboard 36pt for luxury cream boxes
- Corrugated E flute if the cream box ships on its own
Thin board looks fine in the proof and then a glass jar causes the base to bow within a week on a shelf. We would rather move you up a grade now.
Making It Read Premium
Most of the perceived value in cream packaging comes from finishing, not from the board underneath.
- Soft touch lamination, easily the most requested for cream box work
- Matte film with spot UV on the logo or a botanical pattern
- Foil stamping, gold and rose gold dominate this category
- Emboss or deboss for texture on the front panel
- Pearlescent and metallized stock for a subtle shimmer
- Printed interior, it gets photographed a lot
A matte cream box with one gold foil mark beats a fully glossy print nine times out of ten here.
Copy That Has To Be On Pack
Cosmetic cartons carry more mandatory text than people expect, so plan the panel early.
- Full ingredient list in INCI order
- Net weight in both oz and ml
- Batch and expiry space, leave it blank for coding
- PAO symbol, the open jar month figure
- Manufacturer name, address and country of origin
- Barcode with proper quiet zone
Our prepress team checks all of it against the dieline so nothing gets trimmed at the edge.
Greener Cream Packaging
- Recycled kraft cream box with no film
- FSC certified board, certificate on request
- Soy and water based inks
- Uncoated finish that recycles curbside
- Right sized cream packaging so you ship less air
Working With Us
- 100 unit minimum on any cream box design
- Free 3D mockup and flat proof
- Free dieline from our inhouse designer
- 5 to 8 business day urgent turnaround
- Free shipping worldwide
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the carton hold up in a humid bathroom?
Laminated stock handles moisture far better than uncoated. For any cream box living near a shower we push matte or gloss film.
Do you supply the jar label as well?
We do. Lots of clients order cartons and labels together so the color matches across both pieces.
How much is a box of cream?
Rough estimate is $0.35 to $0.95 per unit for folding cartons, $0.90 to $2.20 for mailers and $2.20 to $5.50 for rigid at moderate quantity. Foil and soft touch add to it. Shipping is included in our price. This is an estimate only, so ask our team for an exact quote.
How do we stop the jar shifting inside?
Right sizing does most of it. For glass we usually add a paperboard insert so nothing knocks against the panel.
Can you print inside the carton?
Yes and it works nicely for an ingredient story or a short brand note. It costs very little.
Is kraft a problem with oily formulas?
It can mark if the jar leaks. On oil heavy products we suggest a coated stock or an inner sleeve.
Can you match the color to our existing range?
Give us the Pantone code and yes. Without one we match to a physical sample you post over.
