This week, we’re taking a look at three standout projects that represent the very best in cosmetic and beauty packaging design.
Here in Spain—and in many other parts of the world—we’re on the verge of summer, the season when we’re most conscious of our appearance ;D. Fittingly, it’s also the perfect time to talk about cosmetic and beauty packaging design—where, surprise!—what’s on the outside really does matter most.
I’ve reviewed dozens of projects where packaging and cosmetics take center stage, and from that selection, I’ve chosen three that are prime examples of creativity, innovation, and beauty.
Let’s dive into three inspiring examples of cosmetic and beauty packaging design
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Cosmetic and Beauty Packaging Design
LUNE AVOCADO
Packaging design for cosmetics and beauty by Polyvoly Technology (Wuhan)
Besides being delicious and a superfood that’s sold at a premium in Spain, avocado is also highly valued in cosmetics. Its biochemical properties and nutrients make it an ideal base for creating beauty products for skin and hair care.
Now that we’ve set the stage, let’s get to the heart of the matter.
What makes this packaging stand out is its innovative concept and flawless execution. It’s no secret that some of the most creative ideas in every sector are coming out of China, and the beauty industry is no exception.
I believe this bold creativity is closely tied to the sheer size of their population and a cultural openness to daring, unconventional projects—something less common in traditional European or Anglo-Saxon markets.
Their target audience isn’t the conservative customer of old Europe; it’s a consumer who’s grown up with different cultural references and expects something new and bold when shopping for beauty products.
That’s why the design studio opted for a truly original packaging, with carefully selected materials and an avocado-shaped form that perfectly completes the concept.
Tips for Cosmetic and Beauty Packaging Design
The Asian cosmetics sector is an endless source of creative inspiration. Week after week, their projects feature in every major graphic design, packaging, and branding showcase.
In such a fiercely competitive market, Asia stands out as an aggressive playing field—after all, nearly 40% of the world’s population lives there, which means a lot of people are applying creams to their faces!
The first tip I want to share is the absolute necessity, when it comes to beauty packaging, to create a product and packaging that are beautiful and appealing in their own right—sometimes even a small work of art that consumers want to own just for its looks.
Because in the beauty sector, appearances are everything. Consumers are drawn to appearances just as much as they want to enhance their own—which is why they buy cosmetics in the first place. The circle is complete.
Create an attractive, well-designed package that aligns with the product, and you’ve taken the first step toward a winning cosmetic packaging design.
Project Highlights: Cosmetic and Beauty Packaging Design
The packaging is designed to associate avocado with its new cosmetic role, using a simplified graphic of the fruit.
It’s one of the main shapes used throughout the packaging elements.
The avocado hair care box includes a “radiance hair mask” shaped like the fruit’s flesh and a “scalp jelly” shaped like the pit.
The box also uses folding techniques for assembly, making it space-saving when fully collapsed.
This project has received the following award:
Our sincere congratulations to Polyvoly Technology (Wuhan) for this outstanding cosmetic and beauty packaging design.
We’d love to link to the creator’s website, but as is often the case, Chinese references are inaccessible from the West.
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AGUA DE SALAMANCA
Packaging design for cosmetics and beauty by Salvi Design
Margara is a brand deeply connected to cultural heritage, with a primary focus on developing exclusive product lines for museums and select stores.
Agua de Salamanca was created by perfumer Paloma Martín Oviedo, who entrusted Salvi Design with the creation of this very special packaging.
The packaging for this fragrance is elegant and classic, with distinctive elements that set it apart from similar products in the sector.
The design draws direct inspiration from the city of Salamanca, Spain—its scents, its essence, carefully chosen textures, and a deep respect for its history and culture.
For this project, Salvi Design focused on differentiation, from graphics and typography to the finishing touches on the box, ensuring every detail reflects the care and quality of a premium product.
The packaging features a deep blue tone—evoking the Salamanca sky and its reflection in the Tormes River—contrasted with gold hot foil stamping that celebrates the city’s heritage and the richness of its sunsets.
Tips for Cosmetic and Beauty Packaging Design
Whatever packaging design you’re about to start, remember: it all needs to be built on a strong brand story.
Paying attention to and crafting a compelling brand narrative is essential for successful branding, packaging, advertising campaigns, websites, and more.
Ultimately, the design of cosmetic packaging should be guided by a coherent story that’s reflected at every stage of the design process and in every element surrounding the product.
Project Highlights: Cosmetic and Beauty Packaging Design
The central motif of the product’s design is the “botón charro”—a traditional piece of jewelry from Salamanca’s folklore.
The botón charro features a central sphere representing Salamanca, surrounded by eight smaller spheres that once symbolized the surrounding regions.
There’s also a variant called the “anillo charro,” which was traditionally a betrothal ring. The intended bride would wear it all day until all the little spheres eventually fell off.
This project has received the following awards:
- Brandor Medal 2021 for Best Brand Logo Design
- Brandor Medal 2021 for Best Unique Packaging Design with Brand Value
Our sincere congratulations to Salvi Design for this outstanding cosmetic and beauty packaging design.
Click here to view the full project
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UMAI
Packaging and container design for cosmetics and beauty by Litio Diseño (Colombia)
Litio Diseño, a Colombian branding and graphic design studio and recent winner of the prestigious Latampack Gold Award for Best Beauty and Fragrance Packaging, is the final project featured in this article.
What really caught our eye was the product’s packaging design, which perfectly communicates the brand’s philosophy.
With a friendly, organic look, the packaging follows the trend set by leading and most innovative beauty brands—natural containers with soft, flowing lines and shapes—resulting in an outstanding package.
The studio also handled the label design, skillfully combining illustration with all the essential product information.
Tips for Cosmetic and Beauty Packaging Design
We’ll wrap up with a crucial tip for creating a successful product: professionalism.
It’s all too common for branding projects to be handled by people outside the field—not just non-professionals within design studios, but also the many projects that get rejected each year because “a friend can do it cheaper.”
Professionalism is the key to success and must be combined with many other factors to achieve excellent results.
You can be creative, but if you don’t understand the creative codes and principles that make a brand succeed, the design will fall short.
Project Highlights: Cosmetic and Beauty Packaging Design
The packaging is 100% recyclable, cruelty-free, vegan, and features a 99% biodegradable fragrance.
The design is based on three pillars: natural beauty, clean, and conscious.
This project has received the following award:
Our sincere congratulations to Litio Diseño (Colombia) for this outstanding cosmetic and beauty packaging design
Click here to view the full project
Interested in having us handle a similar project?
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Our Conclusions
Packaging design in the cosmetics sector is truly fascinating—I never tire of seeing the creations from graphic design, branding, and packaging studios. Each project is a new example of design innovation, creative use of materials, and inventive solutions for a wide variety of products.
All references are properly credited, and Code Barcelona is neither the owner nor creator of any of them.