Skincare Packaging
Serum Packaging
Serum packaging is usually a 15–50 ml dropper bottle, airless bottle or treatment pump bottle, and the right choice depends on how sensitive the active is to air and light rather than on aesthetics alone.
- 15 ml
- 20 ml
- 30 ml
- 40 ml
- 50 ml
At a glance
- Best for
- Serum-led launch ranges · Vitamin C and retinol products · Facial oil and booster formats
- Formula fit
- Vitamin C serum · Retinol serum · Peptide serum
- Materials
- PETG thick wall · PET / rPET · PP
- Decoration
- Custom colour matched to the brand palette · Printing on body, lid and shoulder
What are serum packaging?
Serum is the most concentrated product in a routine and the most sensitive to packaging. A clear dropper bottle shows the formula and supports a ritual; an airless bottle protects actives that oxidise and doses precisely. Both are correct — for different formulas.
This page gives a decision framework, then points to the exact formats, materials and decoration options we quote for serum projects.
Typical specification range
Values below are the ranges we quote most often. Confirm against your formula viscosity, fill weight and destination market before freezing a specification.
| Parameter | Options we quote |
|---|---|
| Capacities | 15 ml, 20 ml, 30 ml, 40 ml, 50 ml |
| Materials | PETG thick wall, PET / rPET, PP, Acrylic + PP inner, PCR grades |
| Closures / dispensing | Dropper assembly, Airless pump 0.15–0.25 ml, Treatment pump, Push-button dropper, Screw cap with reducer |
| Customisation | Custom colour matched to the brand palette, Printing on body, lid and shoulder, Hot stamping for premium retail packs, Frosted, soft-touch or metallic finishing, Secondary packing: cartons, inserts, shrink sleeve, Closure and component upgrades (airless, dropper, pump) |
| MOQ | 1,000 pcs per design for stock moulds; 3,000 pcs for decorated orders; 10,000 pcs per size for custom moulds. |
| Sampling time | Stock samples in 5–10 working days; custom colour and decorated samples in 10–20 working days. |
| Production lead time | 15–30 working days after sample approval, depending on quantity, decoration and assembly complexity. |
Product features
Protection decision first
We recommend the pack by active sensitivity: stable formulas in dropper bottles, oxidation-sensitive actives in airless, and oil phases in glass-pipette droppers.
Dose precision
Dropper drop volumes (about 0.04–0.05 ml) and airless dose per stroke (0.15–0.25 ml) are specified with test data so label directions match reality.
Premium finishing
Thick walls, frosted or gradient spray finishes, metallised collars, hot stamping and printed overshells are all available in the same project.
Who it is suitable for
- Serum-led launch ranges
- Vitamin C and retinol products
- Facial oil and booster formats
- Treatment and ampoule packs
- Brands upgrading from dropper to airless
Suitable formulas and products
- Vitamin C serum
- Retinol serum
- Peptide serum
- Hyaluronic acid serum
- Facial oil
- Scalp serum
Customisation options
Serum Packaging can be delivered as a stock-mould pack with your colour and decoration, or developed into a proprietary format. Decoration is specified against the final surface finish so print adhesion and colour hold in use.
- Custom colour matched to the brand palette
- Printing on body, lid and shoulder
- Hot stamping for premium retail packs
- Frosted, soft-touch or metallic finishing
- Secondary packing: cartons, inserts, shrink sleeve
- Closure and component upgrades (airless, dropper, pump)
How these are manufactured
Parts are moulded by injection, injection blow or extrusion blow moulding depending on the format and material, then assembled, decorated and inspected in lots. Moulding parameters are recorded per mould so repeat orders match the approved sample. Read the manufacturing process.
Quality control
Dimension and weight checks, closure torque, leak and dose testing where relevant, colour verification (ΔE ≤ 1.5 opaque parts) and AQL 1.0/2.5 final inspection. Lot records are supplied with the shipping documents. See the inspection checklist.
Materials for this range
- PET — material guide
- PP — material guide
- Acrylic — material guide
- PCR plastic — material guide
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions buyers ask most about serum packaging. Send any specific question through the contact form and a packaging engineer will reply in writing.
What packaging is best for serum?
For stable, easy-to-preserve formulas, a 30 ml dropper bottle in thick-wall PETG or glass is standard. For vitamin C, retinol, peptides and other oxidation-sensitive actives, choose a 30 ml airless bottle with a 0.20–0.25 ml engine.
How many doses should a 30 ml serum deliver?
At 0.20 ml per stroke, a 30 ml airless pack gives roughly 140–150 doses. A dropper at 0.15 ml per application (3–4 drops) gives about 200 uses, though dosage varies with user behaviour.
Can serum packaging include a dropper and an airless option from the same design?
Yes, if the neck finishes are matched at design stage. Many brands launch in a dropper bottle and move to airless in a later reformulation, so planning the neck early avoids retooling the body.
What MOQ applies to serum packaging?
1,000 pcs per design for stock moulds; 3,000 pcs for decorated orders; 10,000 pcs per size for custom moulds.
What is the MOQ for serum packaging?
1,000 pcs per design for stock moulds; 3,000 pcs for decorated orders; 10,000 pcs per size for custom moulds.
Can I customise the colour?
Yes. Colour is matched to a Pantone reference or a physical sample and verified on production-resin parts. Custom colour matched to the brand palette is the standard route, and we supply samples for approval before the run.
Can you print or emboss my logo?
Yes — printing, hot stamping, coating, labelling and custom closures are all available for serum packaging. Choose the method with your surface finish in mind: gloss print or foil works best on matte and soft-touch surfaces.
Can I request samples?
Stock samples in 5–10 working days; custom colour and decorated samples in 10–20 working days. Stock samples are supplied free (up to five pieces per SKU, courier at your cost); custom colour and decorated samples are quoted per project, typically USD 120–450.
Can you develop a custom mould?
Yes. Custom tooling is quoted as a separate line item with the cavity plan stated, usually from around 10,000 pcs per size and 25–40 calendar days from drawing approval to first-article inspection.
What is the production lead time?
15–30 working days after sample approval, depending on quantity, decoration and assembly complexity.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes. We ship serum packaging to the United States, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea and Latin America, quoting FOB, CIF, DDP and air freight.
Which materials are available?
PETG thick wall, PET / rPET, PP, Acrylic + PP inner, PCR grades. Selection is driven by formula compatibility, clarity requirements, decoration and any recycled-content target.
Still have a question? Talk to a packaging expert.
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Quotes and samples for serum packaging
Send the capacity, quantity, colour reference and decoration you need. We reply with MOQ, unit price band, sampling time and lead time — and we will tell you if a different format suits your formula better. Stock mould formats from 1,000 pcs per design; decorated orders typically from 3,000 pcs; custom moulds usually from 10,000 pcs per size.
No account required · NDA available · Quote replies within one business day (Mon–Sat, GMT+8)