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Retail-ready and shipping-safe packaging for skincare

What keeps a bottle sealed, upright and scannable on its way to a store shelf or a customer's door, and what to decide before you order.

1The unitContainer, closure and seal. It must arrive closed, clean and scannable.

2The unit boxOptional. It protects the bottle and holds more label text. Printed boxes are quoted separately.

3The inner packA few units in a small box or film, for easier counting and handling.

4The master cartonThe corrugated shipping case, with carton marks and, if a retailer asks, a case barcode.

Tamper evidence and seals

In the US, the federal tamper-evident packaging rules cover cosmetic liquid oral hygiene products and vaginal products (21 CFR 700.25) and over-the-counter drugs (21 CFR 211.132), and the drug rule exempts dermatological products. Everyday skincare falls outside both. Seals are still worth it: they show a shopper that nobody opened the product before them, and they stop leaks in transit. Amazon counts several of them as a "double seal" for liquids.

Induction seal

A foil liner sealed over the opening under the cap. The customer peels it off before first use.

Shrink band

A plastic band shrunk over the cap and neck, torn off to open.

Safety ring

A plastic ring that joins the cap to the container and breaks on first opening.

Sealed box

A printed box closed with a tamper sticker across the flap, or wrapped in film.

Crimp and heat seals

Crimp caps on vials and heat-sealed sachets and mask pouches are closed at filling.

Which fit yours?

That depends on the container. Compare types on packaging options, then ask us which seals suit your pick.

Shipping-safe for e-commerce

In a parcel network, every box gets dropped and tipped. Options include:

Pumps

A pump head that locks, or a clip, so it cannot dispense in transit, plus a band over the collar. Amazon counts locking mechanisms toward its prep rules for liquids.

Droppers

A band over the collar or a sealed box, or a screw cap for shipping with the dropper packed beside the bottle.

Jars and tubes

An inner lid or sealing disc under the jar cap, and a foil seal on the tube's nozzle under the cap.

Glass

Bubble wrap, or a box with an insert or dividers. Amazon requires bubble wrap for fragile containers such as glass.

Padding

Fill empty space so nothing moves when you shake the box. Amazon asks for 2 inches of cushioning around each item, unless it ships in the manufacturer's case pack.

Drop test

Drop a packed unit five times from 3 feet onto concrete: top, bottom, largest side, a bottom corner and the longest bottom edge. Amazon describes this test; nothing should leak.

Inner and master cartons

Inner packs are optional. They help when a store or a 3PL counts stock in small groups, and they add a layer of protection.
Master cartons carry the carton marks: consignee, order number, product and size, lot, quantity, weights, carton number and country of origin. See the example on the export page.
Case barcodes: a retailer that receives full cases may ask for one, with its own GTIN, and a different count per case needs a new number. See the barcode guide.
Amazon FBA (US, as of 2026): every box needs its own FBA box ID label, boxes can measure at most 36 x 25 x 25 inches and weigh at most 50 lb unless they hold a single oversize item, and a box holds only one expiration date per product.

Labels that marketplaces scan

A barcode on every unit. For FBA, since March 31, 2026, brand owners can use the manufacturer barcode on eligible products without Amazon stickers.
Expiration dates. Amazon treats skin creams and cosmetics as expiration-dated, even with only a period-after-opening symbol. If you print a date, case packs must show it outside and on each unit.
Sets. Units sold together are marked "Sold as set" and sealed so they stay together.
Poly bags with an opening of 5 inches or more need a suffocation warning.
Retailer guides. Stores publish supplier or routing guides with their own label, carton and pallet rules. Get them before you order packaging.

What we do, and what to ask usWe supply stock bottles, jars, tubes, vials and pumps with no tooling cost; custom colors, silk screen or hot stamping and printed boxes are quoted separately. We write compliant labels, prepare the export documents for your market and ship by air (about 5 to 10 days) or sea (about 4 to 6 weeks), with packaging and freight itemized in your written quote. Tell us how you will sell, from your own warehouse, a 3PL, Amazon FBA or retail, and ask us about seals, inner packs and carton counts for your container. For the label itself, see label and packaging design.

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Packaging questions

Is tamper-evident packaging required for skincare?

Not under US federal rules for everyday skincare. The tamper-evident rules cover cosmetic liquid oral hygiene and vaginal products and most over-the-counter drugs, and they exempt dermatological products. A seal still reassures shoppers and helps against leaks.

How do I stop pump bottles from leaking in shipping?

Ship them locked, add a band over the collar, and check a packed unit with a drop test: five drops from 3 feet without a leak. Amazon counts locking mechanisms and double seals toward its prep rules for liquids.

What is the difference between an inner carton and a master carton?

An inner carton holds a few units to make counting and handling easier. A master carton is the corrugated shipping case that holds units or inner cartons and carries the carton marks.

Does Amazon require skincare to be bagged or boxed?

Not always. Amazon asks for no extra prep on non-hazmat liquids of 4.2 oz (125 mL) or less unless they are damaged repeatedly. Glass needs bubble wrap, and a double seal reduces the need for a bag.