Capabilities
Packaging and branding
How Celcode selects and checks packaging for skincare and haircare products, what the label must carry in Singapore, and the design and branding support available.
Packaging is selected alongside the formulation so that the container protects the product and suits the brand. Celcode helps choose primary packaging (the container in contact with the product) and secondary packaging, checks compatibility with the formulation, reviews the label against Singapore's cosmetic labelling requirements, and can support design and branding, or work from packaging and artwork you supply.
Primary packaging
Primary packaging is the container in contact with the product: bottles, jars, tubes, airless pumps, droppers, sachets and ampoules. It is chosen for the formulation first and the brand second, because the wrong container can shorten a product’s shelf life or change how it dispenses.
Typical pairings:
| Product | Common primary packaging | Formulation considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Serums and ampoules | Dropper bottles, airless pumps, glass ampoules | Light and air sensitivity of actives; dose control |
| Creams and moisturisers | Jars, airless jars, tubes | Preservation with repeated finger contact (jars) versus airless systems |
| Cleansers and toners | Pump bottles, flip-top bottles | Viscosity and dispensing; foam pumps for mousse bases |
| Masks | Tubes, jars, sachets | Single-use sachets for sheet or one-time masks |
| Scalp tonics and hair serums | Nozzle applicators, dropper or spray bottles | Targeted application to the scalp |
| Professional products | Larger formats, ampoules, kits | Clinic and salon use; multi-part kits |
Compatibility with the formulation
Packaging is checked with the formulation as part of stability testing, because a container can affect preservation, colour, fragrance and the stability of actives. This is why packaging is selected in parallel with formulation rather than after it: the approved sample is tested in the packaging it will be sold in.
Secondary packaging
Cartons, sleeves, inserts and shipping cases protect the product and carry information that does not fit on the primary container. Secondary packaging is where most brands express their identity; it also carries labelling particulars when the primary container is too small.
Labelling
Cosmetic products sold in Singapore must carry specific particulars on the label, in line with the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive as applied by the Health Sciences Authority. In practice a label review covers the product name and function, the ingredient list in the required nomenclature and order, the contents, the country of manufacture, the batch identification, the expiry or manufacturing date where required, directions and warnings, and the name and address of the company responsible for placing the product on the market. Claims are checked so that they stay within what a cosmetic product may say and what the formulation can substantiate. Celcode reviews label artwork against these requirements before production; the brand remains responsible for the accuracy of its marketing claims. See regulatory support.
Design and branding support
Brands come to a project with different resources. Celcode works in three ways:
- You supply packaging and artwork. Celcode checks compatibility and label content, then fills, packs and labels.
- You supply the brand; Celcode supports selection. Packaging options are proposed for the formulation and the price point, with samples where available.
- You need design support. Celcode can coordinate packaging design and branding for the product, agreed as a scope in the proposal.
How to start
Describe the product and the packaging you have in mind, or tell us you need options, in your product brief. Packaging is confirmed once the formulation route is agreed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I supply my own packaging?
Yes. Many brands supply packaging and artwork. Celcode checks the packaging for compatibility with the formulation and the filling process before production, and reviews the label copy against labelling requirements.
Does Celcode design packaging?
Celcode supports packaging selection and design and branding as part of a project. Tell us in the brief whether you have a designer, need referrals, or want Celcode to coordinate design so the scope is agreed early.
Why does packaging need to be tested with the formulation?
A formulation can interact with its container: some actives are sensitive to light or air, some bases migrate into or react with certain plastics, and closures affect preservation. Compatibility checks confirm that the product stays stable in the chosen packaging for its shelf life.
- Written by
- Celcode Dermal Lab
- Published
- Updated