Recently, due to the proliferation of material technology and consumer products, the different types of containers and container materials used for cosmetics have become very diverse. However, the most important task of the container is to protect the contents. Based on this basic function, improving and diversifying functionality and quality assurance is the most important aspect of container design. The container also plays an important role in cost awareness, sales promotion, and environmental protection.

Characteristics required by Cosmetic Containers
1. Quality Maintenance: After making cosmetics in the factory, quality must be maintained under various environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, light, microbial attack) during storage, shipping, and use; This is the function of the container. In addition, there should be no mismatch between the container and the content‌ , and quality and safety must be maintained.

Maintaining Quality of Contents;

• Light Penetration: If the container is transparent or partially transparent, visible and UV light will pass through the container, causing a change in color and odor as well as decomposing agents. To prevent this, UV absorbers and stabilizers are added to the cosmetics. In addition, coloring agents and UV absorbers are often applied using surface coatings in containers such as glass bottles.
• Permeability: Although metal and glass containers are in principle not exposed to gases, liquids, and solids, plastic containers suffer from some permeability. Cosmetics stored in plastic containers for a long time affect the change in smell due to the permeability of the volatile fragrance (s). Some changes in odor and quality are due to multiple components of cosmetic ingredients, while others are due to external oxygen and water in the container material. The degree of permeability depends on the type of plastic used, the thickness, the material, and the external environment. For this reason, it is important to fully consider permeability when using plastic containers for cosmetics.
• Fragrance and Color Changes: Container type causes odor and color changes. In general, glass containers are very stable but alkali emissions can cause the material to change color as well as sedimentation, decay, and pH changes. As a result, less alkali glass should be used. Plastics usually contain additives (dyes, pigments, dispersants, and stabilizers) and can be removed from the container for changes in the quality and odor of the material.

2. Appropriate Materials: 

• Chemical Resistance: When plastic is used for the container, there is a possibility of problems such as container swelling, deformation, damage, dissolution, color change, and pharmaceutical agent absorbance due to the interaction between the container and the cosmetics. Therefore, it is important to know beforehand which plastics resist the contents of which cosmetics, and the degree of resistance. 
• Corrosion Resistance: Various metals are used in cosmetic containers and these can sometimes cause corrosion and color change depending on the cosmetic components, fragrance components, and external environment (hydrogen sulfide gas near hot springs and sulfurous gases in the air). To prevent corrosion, generally, coatings, plating, and oxide films are used.
• Photoresistance: Container materials can be affected by natural and artificial light resulting in color or quality changes. Strong sunlight in shop windows or light from fluorescent lamps in showrooms can cause color changes and brittleness in containers and cartons. To prevent this, pigments such as titanium dioxide, which effectively blocks the light, and UV absorbents are added to the container materials to increase the photoresistance.

3. Material Safety: In Japan, although the materials used in containers are not specifically regulated, in principle, the materials should be covered by the regulations for food containers. 

Functional Design
Even if a container is fashionable and beautiful, it must not be hard to use or dangerous and it must be easily disposed of after use.

Usability

1. Attention must be paid to the container design to ensure that it is easy to carry and open; this can't be determined by testing how the consumer uses the cosmetics.
2. The container must be designed so that it remains functional while in use by the consumer.

Usage Safety

1. The container must be designed so that it is safe to use in any environment, location, or usage that the consumer may choose. For example, the use of a glass bottle in the bathroom could result in possible harm an injury to the user if it is accidentally broken, so glass should be avoided for these types of products.
2. It is very important to observe how the consumer uses the product and to consider how it may be misused. For example, the shape and materials of the container must be designed so that the user may not hurt hand or finger. The usage description and illustrations should be easy to understand and promote safe usage.

Types of cosmetic containers
Cosmetic containers can be classified in various ways;

1. Narrow-mouth bottles (containers): Generally, narrow-mouth bottles describe where the mouth is relatively smaller than the body. Narrow-mouth bottles are usually used for liquid products such as lotion, milky lotions, hair tonics, Eau de colognes, nail enamel, and shampoos, etc. They are usually made of glass, and plastics such as polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PETP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The best material is chosen based on the light transmissivity, permeability, compatibility, etc. The width of the mouth is adjusted to match the viscosity of the contents so that an appropriate amount can be poured out. The main type of cap is the threaded type but the snap-on type is also used.

2. Wide Mouth Bottles (Containers): Generally, wide-mouth bottles describe bottles where the mouth is about the same diameter as the body. They are mainly used for cream and gel-type products. The principal materials are glass and plastics such as polypropylene (PP), acrylonitrile styrene (SAn), polystyrene (PS), and PETP, etc. 

The cap is usually threaded. The inside of the cap usually has an expanded foam packing to form an airtight seal. A film is often mounted at the mouth entrance to prevent the contents from sticking to the inside of the cap. The mouth entrance is often sealed with a heat shrink film to achieve the same purpose and also to show that the product is new and unused.

3. Tubes: Tubes describe containers that are squeezed in the body section to obtain an appropriate amount of product. They are used widely for cream products such as toothpaste, hair gels, and foundations as well as for milky lotions. The principal materials are aluminum, aluminum laminate, PE, and laminated plastics.

Since the container is thin, it is necessary to exercise care when choosing tubes for the product is filled from the end furthest from the mouth which is then sealed using heat, high-frequency energy, or ultrasonic waves. In the broader definition, similar containers made by the blood molding are also called tubes.

4. Tubular Containers: Tubular containers are long thin containers like those used for mascara. 

5. Powder Containers: Powder containers are used for powder products such as fragrance powders, talcs, and baby powders. They do not require portability but a usage requirement is a screw or flip top. The product is loaded straight into the container or into an inner drum which is usually paper or plastic. The appropriate amount of product is applied onto a powder puff using an internal net-like structure over the powder. If the powder is carried, an internal lid made of PE is usually fitted inside the container. In many cases, the container is made of plastics such as PS and SAN. The powder puff is woven from cotton, acrylic, polyester, or nylon, etc and the puff base is usually foamed urethane, etc. The net is made from nylon mesh, mounted in a paper or plastic frame.

6. Compact Containers: Compacts are containers in which the lid is hinged to the body. They usually have a mirror inside the lid and are carried and used as a cosmetic makeup tool. Compacts are used widely for makeup cosmetics due to their simple convenience. The contents are mainly solid powders and cream-type foundations which are loaded into a tray that is mounted in the main compact body.

The usual materials are plastics such as SAN, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and PS, etc; metal types include brass, red copper, aluminum, and stainless steel, etc.

Metal compacts are thinner and feel heavier and as surface processing can be done on them are much used for top-of-the-line products. The inner tray is usually aluminum or stainless steel but sometimes plastics are used. Makeup accessories include powder puff, sponge, brush, and tips, etc. Recently, compacts with new functions have appeared on the market; the inner tray can be removed easily and some compacts are now airtight to prevent the evaporation of volatile components in the contents.

7. Stick Containers: Stick containers are simple easy-to-use and portable containers for products such as lipstick that are applied directly to the skin. In most, the stick makeup can be wound in and out of the container.

As well as lipsticks stick containers are also used for foundation, eye shadow, hair sticks, and deodorant, etc. The container materials are metals such as aluminum and brass as well as plastics including SAN, PS, PP, etc. The contents are loaded in an inner holder and a screw or spiral thread mechanism is used to wind the contents in and out of the container. 

The materials for the inner holder are chosen based on preventing the contents from falling out and compatibility of contents. In most cases, the materials are PP, SAN, and polybutylene terephthalate (PBTP).

The stick mechanism can be classified basically into three types: a spiral on the outer surface of the stick holder as used for lipsticks, a screw attached to the bottom of the stick holder as used for stick foundations, and a screw running through the center of the stick itself as used for lip cream.

8. Pencil Containers: There are two types of pencil containers; one like a regular wood pencil and another like a propelling pencil. The former is sharpened like an ordinary pencil, while the latter is ejected automatically. In some propelling types, the contents can be changed using a cartridge. The pencil contents are mainly eyeliner, eyebrow, and lip pencil. The wood pencil uses Canadian cedar for its sharpening ability but recently, some plastics are being used.

The propelling pencil types usually have either screw or push mechanisms. But since cosmetics are quite soft, the screw-type is more common. The materials are metals such as aluminum and brass as well as plastics. Engineering plastics such as polyoxymethylene (POM) are sometimes used for the finer parts of the mechanism. In particular, this type uses a core chuck for the thin pencil lead core, and care is required to prevent the lead core from breaking inside the pencil and falling out. 

9. Applicator Containers: There is no strict definition of applicator containers, but generally, the liquid contents are applied directly to the skin from the container mouth. For example, a sponge in the mouth of the container is used to apply liquid foundation or deodorant. The narrow mouth of the container is plugged by a porous stopper made of urethane covered with cloth, etc, and an appropriate amount of the liquid contents passes through the stopper to the surface. 

There is also a roll-on type in which a plastic ball is mounted in the mouth of the container and the rotating ball is used to apply the contents directly to the skin. This type has been used for antiperspirants and recently for fragrances.