Specification sheet. To order, go to custom lip gloss boxes. Two decisions shape everything: how many units per carton, and how the tube is measured.
Measuring a wand tube
A gloss tube is a cylinder with a cap that carries the wand. The cap almost always has a collar that is wider than the barrel, and the overall height with the cap seated is greater than the tube alone. Measure with the cap fully seated and the label applied, and take the widest point across the collar. If the tube is square or faceted rather than round, take both cross-section measurements. For a doe-foot wand, check that the cap seats fully, since a wand that is slightly too long holds the cap proud and changes your height by a few millimetres across an entire run.
Single unit or multi-pack
A single-unit carton is a straightforward fit problem: tube plus clearance plus an optional collar to stop the rattle. A multi-pack is a different structure. Units need cells or a tray so they stay upright and do not knock, the carton usually opens to display the set rather than tipping the units out, and the footprint is set by the grid rather than by the tube. A four-pack is not a single carton made four times bigger, so decide the count before the structure and not after.
How each finish behaves on a small carton
| Finish | On a small carton | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Matte lamination | Soft, modern, resists fingerprints | Deep colours flatten slightly |
| Gloss lamination | Bright, makes colours pop | Shows every fingerprint on a dark ground |
| Soft touch | Distinctive in the hand, reads as premium | Marks can show, and it is an added process |
| Foil stamping | Strong impact on a logo at small scale | Fine detail fills in. Keep shapes simple |
| Embossing | Adds physical texture without ink | Needs enough board caliper to hold the emboss |
| Spot gloss over matte | Contrast between two surfaces | Must be designed in from the start, not added later |
On a carton this size, one strong effect beats three competing ones. Background on the options is at foil stamping and matte against gloss lamination.
Specification
- Construction: folding carton with tuck or seal end, rigid two-piece box, sleeve and tray, or tube
- Board: coated recycled board, SBS for photographic artwork, kraft for a natural look
- Print: full colour, or one to three spot colours
- Window: clear patch or a die cut opening, if shade visibility matters at shelf
- Insert: card platform, corrugated collar, die cut cells for multi-packs
- Minimum order: 100 boxes
- Price basis: from about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes, confirmed on your written quote
- Included: cutting die, printing plates, design support, US shipping, digital proof
- Plants: West Chicago (US) and Guangzhou (China)
Panel planning
Cosmetics carry ingredient lists, shade names, volume declarations, batch codes and often a period-after-opening symbol, and a gloss carton has very little surface to work with. Lay the required text out on the dieline first. The inside face of a tuck flap is an underused place for information that does not need to be seen at shelf. Confirm the labelling rules for your market yourself, since they differ by jurisdiction.
Lead times
Rush combines expedited production with air freight. Standard runs on air. Cost saver moves by sea. The floor is from about 7 business days, plus 2 to 5 for delivery, and specialty imported rigid constructions can run up to about 12 weeks.
Order from the lip gloss boxes page, or send your tube measurements with the cap seated and your pack count through the quote form.
