When choosing the best packaging for your beauty product, there are multiple things to consider, from the product label to the shape and color of the material. But one thing you shouldn’t overlook is your closure. Choosing the right closure will determine pouring accuracy and control. It will impact consumer perceptions. It can also elevate your brand or, when chosen poorly, hurt it.
Beauty industry bottle closures fall into three main categories.
Dropper Pipettes
Ideal for: serums, facial oils and specialty skincare treatments
Dropper pipettes are easily recognizable by their rubber bulb and a narrow tube (the tube is the “pipette”). Squeezing the bulb creates a vacuum that draws liquid into the tube, and releasing it dispenses the liquid in drops.
Created to dispense liquid from a glass or rigid, plastic bottle, dropper pipettes are perfect for thin liquids where precise pouring is critical. These products include vitamin C and hyaluronic acid serums, facial oils, treatment concentrates and scalp treatments. Dropper pipettes minimize direct contact with the product, reducing the risk of contamination from fingers or other sources. Their tight fit also reduces air exposure, extending shelf life.
These closures are often associated with high-end skincare products, adding a sense of sophistication and luxury. After all, your formulas are luxurious — your packaging should be, too.
Extremely versatile, dropper pipettes are compatible with a range of bottle sizes and neck finishes, including dropper bottles and Boston rounds. This flexibility means you can choose complementary bottle finishes (e.g., frosted, transparent, gradient) to enhance the overall product presentation further.
At Carow, we pride ourselves on our wide variety of dropper pipettes and bottles, each manufactured and curated for the highest quality and best value. We offer a wide selection of materials, closure styles and decorative options. We also provide highly sustainable options, which are especially important for today’s beauty customer. In fact, according to marketing analytics company NC Solutions, 64% of consumers consider sustainability very important when purchasing beauty products.
Learn more about Carow dropper pipettes here.
Jar Pump Assemblies
Ideal for: creams, balms and semi-viscous skincare products
The mechanics of a jar pump accessory are basic, but effective, ensuring nearly 100% product usage. Pressing down on the actuator (i.e., the top part of the pump) lowers a piston inside the pump housing, which compresses a spring and creates upward air pressure, forcing the product into a chamber within the pump assembly and then out through the nozzle.
Jar pumps are commonly used for thicker products, such as moisturizers and night creams, SPF products, cleansers and gel-based treatments. Like dropper pipettes, jar pumps minimize a customer’s direct contact with the product, reducing the risk of contamination. But since the closure is not removed for use, the risk of contamination is even lower.
These closures can create an airtight seal. This is crucial for products with sensitive ingredients, like antioxidants and peptides, which degrade upon exposure to air. These airless systems not only increase shelf life but also allow for formulations with fewer or no preservatives, appealing to the growing demand for clean beauty products.
At Carow, our jars and bottles are highly customizable in terms of size, shape, color and finish, allowing brands to tailor packaging to match their unique identity. Many of our jars are made from recyclable materials and include refillable options. See our jar pumps here.
Treatment Pumps
Ideal for: lightweight serums, hair treatments and fluid skincare items
Treatment pumps use a small piston or plunger mechanism to dispense a precise amount of product. When the pump is activated, the piston moves, creating suction that draws the product into a chamber and then out through a nozzle or opening.
Treatment pumps deliver small, metered doses, which are ideal for specific, targeted areas but provide a wider area than droppers. Compatible with glass or plastic bottles, their sleek profile is an asset for premium brands. They are suitable for viscous or semi-fluid products, including liquid exfoliants (e.g., glycolic acid toners), scalp or hair-strengthening serums, brightening or antioxidant fluid treatments, cosmetic foundations, tinted moisturizers, lotion consistency serums, primers and more.
Carow offers a variety of treatment pump options. See them all here.
Which Style Is Right for You?
In general, you might think of these three options like this.
- Droppers offer greater control for precise, drop-by-drop dispensing, but do not provide complete hygienic protection. Some are fragile.
- Jar Pumps are designed for thicker products. They are sturdier, and many can be used for refills. Airless options provide excellent contamination protection.
- Treatment Pumps offer exceptional hygiene and dispensing consistency for thinner liquids with wider application spaces.
At Carow, we’re always available to discuss your closure options and make sure you have the one that works best for your product. Contact us for advice, expertise and a free consultation.
