In most beauty products, the packaging contributes the greater fraction of the total manufacturing cost than its actual content. Many beauty products in the market have very attractive packaging but have very little to offer with respect to product quality. But do cosmetic companies just spend on packaging for aesthetics? Are they for the sole purpose of deluding your eyes? The answer is NOT ALL. Many cosmetic companies invest on packaging to protect their product and their consumers.
So when does packaging really matter in cosmetic products?
Retinols, Vitamin C, UV filters and many antioxidants are active ingredients that are present in many skin care products. These ingredients are present in highly raved products because these are proven by science to work. However, these active ingredients lose their efficacy the more they are exposed to air and reacts with oxygen. This process is called oxidation. The oxidation process begins the moment you break the seal and open the product. When looking for products containing these active ingredients, I always prefer those that are packaged in tubes or pump-type bottles instead of jars.
Besides oxygen, UV can also degrade ingredients in many cosmetic products. If products contain anti-aging ingredients, anti oxidants and UV filters, look for products that are not packaged in clear glass or transparent plastics as it may reduce the efficacy of the product over time.
Besides the concern about product oxidation, jars are also very prone to microbial contamination. Jars are designed to take the product with your fingers (Yuck!). Even if your hands are clean after washing it with soap that removes 99.9% of germs (LOL), the remaining 0.01% can still proliferate and create sons and daughters in their little home, that is your facial cream. Products contaminated with bacteria may cause allergies and infection.
If your product contains powerful preservatives, bacteria may not multiply and you are safe. But you will never be sure how well their preservation system so you may want to avoid products in jars, especially you will store them for a long time.
There are many products in the market that are “all-natural” and “organic” which claims to contains little or “no preservatives” –which makes products in jars even scarier. If you ever buy products in jars, look for small ones, that you can consume in less than a year.
Your eyes are windows of your soul - they are also windows of entry for bacteria. When you buy products applied in the eyes like liquid eyeliners and mascara, packaging is a major concern. Your eyes are very prone to infection compared to the rest of your face. Eyeliners and mascara should be kept only within 6 months after opening and should be disposed right after. Trust me, I learned this the hard way, back when I was a student. I’ve been using the same mascara for more than a year, and got me eye stye ( I had to hide it with an improvised side bangs, hoping my crush wouldn't notice).
These products contain preservatives, but preservatives may lose their efficacy as they degrade with time, or when bacteria become too many. Avoid mascara and eyeliners packaged in large containers, or in a size you think you cannot finish within 6 months.
In third world countries like Philippines, products packaged in sachets made it possible for poor communities to afford quality products. The problem is that sachets are environmental nightmares. Imagine the waste generated by 300 mL of shampoo, packaged in 30 pcs of 10 mL sachets, compared to a 300 mL plastic bottle. Yes, plastics are plastic, in whatever form. But the problem with sachet is that they produce more waste, and nobody wants to pick up wet, soiled sachet to recycle as compared to plastic bottle.
Sachets give us freedom to try different kinds of products and not spending too much. However, when you find products that you wish to use long term, buy those that are packaged in larger volumes –they may cost more, but is mostly cheaper in price per mL and will cause less damage to mother earth.
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