Skincare Tubes: Enhancing Product Integrity and Convenience in Beauty Packaging

Soft tubes are hygienic and convenient to use. The surface is colorful, bright, beautiful, economical, convenient, and easy to carry. Even if it is squeezed with high intensity, it can still return to its original shape and maintain a good appearance. Therefore, it has been widely used in paste cosmetics packaging, such as the packaging of facial cleanser, conditioner, hair dye, toothpaste and other products in the cosmetics industry, as well as the packaging of topical drugs such as creams and ointments in the pharmaceutical industry. This article will share with you some essential knowledge about tubes.

• Tubes are divided into single-layer, double-layer, and five-layer tubes, each with differences in pressure resistance, permeability prevention, and texture. For example, a five-layer tube consists of an outer layer, inner layer, two adhesive layers, and a barrier layer. Features: Excellent gas barrier properties, effectively preventing the penetration of oxygen and odor gases, while preventing the leakage of fragrance and active ingredients.

• Double-layer tubes are commonly used, while single-layer tubes can be used for low to mid-range products. The tube diameter ranges from 13# to 60#, and when a specific diameter is chosen, different lengths indicate different capacity characteristics. The capacity can be adjusted from 3ml to 360ml. For aesthetic coordination, tubes below 60ml commonly use diameters below 35#, while 100ml and 150ml usually use diameters between 35# and 45#. Capacities above 150ml require diameters above 45#.
• From a manufacturing perspective, tubes can be circular, oval, flat, or super flat. Flat and super flat tubes are more complex in manufacturing and are relatively new types of tubes, so they are correspondingly more expensive.
• Tubes can have various types of caps, including flat caps, rounded caps, tall caps, flip caps, super flat caps, double-layer caps, spherical caps, lipstick caps, and plastic caps. Caps can also undergo different processes such as hot stamping, silk screen printing, colored caps, transparency, spraying, electroplating, etc. Caps with pointed tips or lipstick caps usually come with inner seals. Tube caps are injection-molded products, while tubes are extruded. Most tube manufacturers do not produce tube caps themselves. （But we can）

• Some products require sealing after filling, and the sealing methods can include straight-line sealing, diagonal sealing, umbrella sealing, star-point sealing, and special-shaped sealing. It is possible to request printing of the desired date code at the sealing area.
• Tubes can be made in colored, transparent, colored or transparent frosted, and pearlescent finishes. They can also be matte or glossy. Matte finishes may appear elegant but are prone to getting dirty. The difference between colored tubes and tubes with large-scale printing on the body can be judged from the cut at the tail. If the cut area is white, it indicates a tube with large-scale printing, which requires high-quality ink to prevent ink shedding and white marks when folded or creased.
• The production cycle of tubes is generally 15 to 20 days (counting from the confirmation of the sample tube). The minimum order quantity for single items is usually 5,000 to 10,000 units, and larger manufacturers typically have a minimum order quantity of 10,000 units. A few small manufacturers may accept minimum order quantities of 3,000 units for multiple varieties. It is rare for customers to create their own molds, as the majority use standard molds (with a few unique caps being custom molds). There can be a deviation of ±10% between contracted and actual supply quantities in this industry.
• The quality and manufacturer of tubes can vary significantly in terms of price. Tubes can be printed with multiple colors and silk screen printing. Some manufacturers have hot stamping and silk screen printing equipment and technology. The cost of hot stamping and silk screen printing is calculated based on the area. Silk screen printing provides better effects but is more expensive and less common. Different manufacturers should be chosen based on different requirements and levels.

• Combination forms:

Tube + outer cap: Tubes are commonly made of PE plastic. They can be single-layer tubes (more cost-effective) or double-layer tubes (better sealing performance). Depending on the product shape, tubes can be cylindrical (common and cost-effective) or flat tubes, also known as irregular-shaped tubes (requiring secondary joints and higher costs). Common outer caps for tubes include screw caps (available in single-layer and double-layer options, with double-layer caps often electroplated to enhance the product's appearance, commonly used for professional lines) and flip caps.

• Manufacturing process:

Tube body: Plastic products are directly produced with added color. Colored tubes are more common, but transparent tubes are also used, although less frequently.

Printing: Silk screen printing (using spot colors, suitable for small and fewer color blocks, similar to printing on plastic bottles, commonly used for professional line products) and offset printing (similar to paper printing, suitable for large and multiple color blocks, commonly used for daily chemical line products). Hot stamping and silver lining are also available.

We, Uzone, are proud that we provide one-stop service and accompany our clients throughout the entire process from product design, selection of printing methods, selection of packaging and accessories, to proofing and delivery, ensuring clients' satisfaction. Welcome to contact me for further communication