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When it comes to selecting types of labels for cosmetics, buyers often face challenges and struggle to make decisions, precisely because the market offers an abundance of choices, whether viewed from the perspective of label materials or design.
A label is a composite material, consisting of three core layers: the face material (facestock), the adhesive, and the release liner (backing paper). To adapt to various application scenarios and functional needs, surface treatments and adhesive formulas vary widely.
For instance, art paper label (also known as copper plate paper label ) can be divided into a glossy paper label, semi-gloss paper label, or matte paper label based on different surface finishing to the base paper material. Similarly, based on the adhesive used, it can be categorized as a removable art paper label or a high-tack art paper label.
1. Types of Label for Cosmetics
The choice of label materials is pivotal, impacting not only the final aesthetic but also the applicable scenarios, cost structure, available printing processes, and, fundamentally, the adhesive reliability and long-term durability of the label.
In this article, we will explore 10 of the most commonly used label materials in cosmetic packaging today. By understanding the unique properties of each, we aim to spark new ideas for your label designs, empower you to make more informed selections for your products, and significantly enhance the efficiency of your communications with packaging suppliers regarding label specifications.
1.1 Paper Label
Self-adhesive labels, by material, are mainly divided into paper labels and film labels. Paper labels refer to those whose base material is paper made from virgin pulp or plant fibers, rather than plastic.
Common paper labels include copper plate paper labels, kraft paper labels, fragile paper labels, and others. Paper labels are cost-effective and suitable for short-term indoor use. Without post-processing, paper labels are typically not waterproof or oil-resistant, and are easily torn. They have a warm, natural touch with a slightly powdery feel, making them ideal for brands that pursue natural, organic, or artistic images.
1.2 Film Label
Film labels refer to labels made from plastic film as the base material. To distinguish them from rigid, three-dimensional plastic products (such as plastic bottles and jars), the term “Film labels” is often used to emphasize their thin, soft, sheet-like form, rather than directly calling them “plastic labels.”
Common film labels include BOPP, PET, PVC, PE, PET, and others. Synthetic paper is also classified under film labels because its base material is essentially PP or PE plastic film, which undergoes post-processing to give it an appearance, texture, and printability similar to paper.
2. Copper Plate Paper Label
Copper plate paper is a type of coated paper whose surface, after being treated with a coating, can exhibit varying levels of gloss. As a base material for paper labels, copper plate paper is the most widely used label printing material. It is known by many names, including art paper, coated art paper, and copper printing paper. A key reason for its widespread application is its low cost and, compared to ordinary writing paper, its smoother and finer texture. In addition, copper plate paper offers excellent printability—smooth color reproduction and strong color fidelity in full-color printing.
In terms of gloss level, copper plate paper has been developed into a variety of types, including semigloss paper, high gloss paper, matte paper (woodfree paper), lightweight paper, as well as classical white paper, classical cream paper, and classical embossing paper, which are specially designed for wine labels.
Due to the high absorbency of paper, copper plate paper labels are relatively easy to tear and are not suitable for product packaging that requires resistance to moisture, oil, corrosion, or tearing. However, to some extent, these performance limitations can be overcome through varnishing or lamination (post-press surface treatments). After varnishing, copper plate paper labels gain slight moisture and water resistance, and the tactile feel becomes similar to a smooth, resin-like texture. Laminated copper plate paper labels, on the other hand, can achieve complete waterproofing, though with a noticeable plastic film feel.
3. Kraft Paper Label
Kraft paper can also be used for self-adhesive labels, but compared to coated paper, self-adhesive kraft paper labels or kraft paper stickers are used very rarely in cosmetic packaging. Because kraft paper itself has a natural color, even when printed in full color, it is unable to reproduce vivid and bright hues. This makes it less of a preferred label material for cosmetic packaging, where visual appeal is often a high priority.
That said, kraft paper has a distinctive textured surface, is environmentally friendly, and conveys a vintage aesthetic. Even black-and-white printed kraft paper labels can achieve a simple yet elegant look, which appeals to brands seeking a natural or retro style in their packaging.
Kraft paper has better tear resistance than coated paper, but it is more absorbent to moisture and oil. Since most cosmetic products contain water and oil in liquid form, this greatly limits their application in cosmetic packaging. Most Kraft paper labels are used on solid product packaging such as food, scented candles, or soap.
4. Void Paper Label
Fragile paper or void paper is a specially treated paper material. Its most notable feature is that once applied to a surface, it cannot be removed in one intact piece—any attempt to peel it off will cause it to break into fragments, making reuse impossible. As a result, self-adhesive fragile paper labels are highly effective in preventing label transfer, product counterfeiting, or unauthorized reuse.
In cosmetic packaging, this type of paper label is often used for customized container sealing labels or anti-counterfeiting code labels. More commonly, however, it is applied inside electronic products—such as warranty seals—making it easy to determine whether a device has been tampered with. It is also used on food packaging for date labels, helping to prevent tampering with production dates.
5. Aluminum Foil Label
Aluminum foil paper is made by laminating aluminum foil with a backing paper. Aluminum foil labels are very soft and resistant to springing back after deformation. Based on color, aluminum foil labels are often classified as silver foil labels or gold foil labels, but in fact, besides these two colors, such labels can also be customized in other colors, and can be finished with either a glossy or matte surface.
Aluminum foil labels are paper-based labels with aluminum foil as the substrate, offering good moisture and oil resistance. Once applied, they are less likely to deform due to changes in environmental temperature or humidity. Some suppliers on the market offer metallized film labels (silver or gold-plated) that mimic the appearance of aluminum foil labels at a lower cost.
However, due to differences in substrate properties, these metallized film labels cannot fully replace aluminum foil labels. A key distinction is that film-based labels are made of plastic, which feels softer and, when folded, springs back without leaving a crease—almost too perfect. In contrast, aluminum foil labels are paper-based, offering a firmer, more rigid feel, and folding them leaves a permanent crease. This tactile quality and the unique perceived value it conveys are subtle yet important details in high-end product packaging.
6. Textured Paper Labels
In addition to aluminum foil labels, another types of label made with specialty paper is textured paper labels. The surface of such papers often features special textures—such as tree grain, leinen texture, linen texture, and more. These textures may be naturally occurring or created through special processing (e.g., embossing).
Labels with this kind of textured finish typically convey a sense of elegance and refinement, and are especially common in the packaging of high-end products such as essential oils, perfumes, and wines. However, these labels tend to be more expensive and have a higher waste rate, so the minimum order quantity is generally higher than that of ordinary paper labels.
7. Paper Labels VS Film Labels
Although there are many other types of labels made with paper, the paper labels for cosmetics are primarily the six mentioned above. Paper labels offer numerous advantages—good print compatibility, low cost, renewability, biodegradability, and a warm, natural tactile feel.
However, paper as a substrate also has physical limitations, and some of its drawbacks cannot be overcome by laminating or varnishing. For example, on frosted bottles, the adhesion of paper labels is inferior to that of film labels. Another issue is weather resistance—when exposed to outdoor UV light or moisture, paper labels age 5 to 10 times faster than PET labels.
8. PET Labels
To better meet market demands—such as the need for labels that are waterproof, oil-resistant, tear-resistant, and capable of withstanding temperature and humidity variations—many label suppliers have developed plastic-based labels. Common film labels include PET, PE, PP, PVC, and others.
Although PET is widely used in cosmetic packaging, PET labels themselves are not as common. This is largely due to their cost and substrate properties. PET labels offer several unique core advantages over other types of labels made from other plastics:
Strong rigidity and high hardness
PET has greater stiffness and hardness than film labels made from other base materials, giving it a premium label feel that is well-suited for high-end skincare bottle packaging, such as perfume bottles.
Excellent transparency
PET offers outstanding clarity and enables high-definition printing, creating a “no-label” visual effect on packaging.
High temperature resistance
PET can withstand high temperatures (up to 120°C), making it suitable for hot-fill bottles or electronic devices that generate heat.
Despite these clear advantages, PET labels are not commonly seen in transparent form in daily chemical product packaging. Instead, the most common forms of PET labels in cosmetic packaging are matte silver/glossy silver PET, glossy white PET, brushed gold/brushed silver PET, etc.
The relatively limited use of PET labels in cosmetic packaging—compared to other plastic labels—is mainly due to their cost and certain physical characteristics. For example, BOPP, which can also be made into transparent labels, is 20%–30% less expensive than PET, and to the naked eye, it may be difficult to distinguish between a transparent BOPP label and a transparent PET label.
Additionally, because PET labels are rigid, they may not adhere well to PE bottles, cosmetic tubes, or squeezable bottles and are prone to edge lifting after application.
9. PP / BOPP Labels
As mentioned above, BOPP labels are essentially PP labels. Among plastic substrates with similar performance, PP typically offers better cost-effectiveness. Like PET labels, PP labels are waterproof and oil-resistant, and they are also rarely used in transparent form. Through different processing techniques, PP labels can now achieve various visual effects such as pearlescent, matte, or white finishes.
Compared to PET labels, in addition to being more affordable, PP labels have another important advantage that makes them more widely used in daily chemical product packaging—they are soft, flexible, and have good toughness, allowing them to conform well to bottles with curved surfaces, such as round-shaped shampoo and body wash bottles.
10. PE Labels
PE labels are also widely used in daily chemical packaging. In addition to being waterproof and oil-resistant like other film labels, they offer strong flexibility and cold resistance, making them even more suitable than BOPP for curved or squeezable bottles, as well as for cosmetic tubes and packaging that requires frozen storage.
However, it is worth noting that PE is prone to photo-oxidation. It is generally more suitable for indoor packaging; if exposed to outdoor conditions for extended periods, PE labels may be prone to fading.
11. Synthetic Paper Label
Synthetic paper is primarily made from organic resins such as PE and PP. These resins, together with other raw materials, undergo multiple processing steps to give the film a “paper-like” quality. As a result, synthetic paper labels are a type of plastic label that possesses characteristics of both plastic and paper.
Synthetic paper can be categorized by production material into types such as PP synthetic paper, PE synthetic paper, PVC synthetic paper, PET synthetic paper, pearlized labels, and more.
Synthetic paper labels are considered a premium choice among film labels, as they offer the texture of paper while retaining the properties of plastic. This allows them to easily achieve label performance features such as temperature resistance, waterproofing, oil resistance, abrasion resistance, and corrosion resistance. Of course, the cost of this type of label material is also relatively high.
12. Pearlized Labels
The mainstream pearlized labels (Pearl Film labels) on the market today are made from BOPP as the base material, with pearlescent masterbatch added during the label production process. This gives the labels a soft, pearlescent, powder-like sheen even before any printing is applied.
13. Holographic Label
Holographic labels are self-adhesive film labels primarily made from plastic films such as PET, BOPP, and PVC, which are given a rainbow-like, iridescent finish through an embossing process.
They share the fundamental characteristics of film-based self-adhesive labels—waterproof, oil-resistant, stain-resistant, scratch-resistant, and tear-proof. At the same time, they offer anti-counterfeiting functionality.
On one hand, holographic labels break down light into a spectrum of rainbow colors, making it difficult to replicate the exact reflective effect. On the other hand, the patterns on holographic labels often shift and change color gradually as the packaging is rotated, creating a dynamic optical effect that is also challenging to reproduce. This is why more and more major brands are now choosing holographic labels for their products—to protect against counterfeit goods in the market.
14. Heat Transfer Label
Heat transfer printing involves first printing the design onto a transfer film (plastic film), and then using a heat press machine to transfer the design from the film onto the bottle. The heat press melts the hot-melt adhesive pattern on the transfer film, allowing it to bond with the surface of the bottle.
Heat transfer labels are typically capable of rendering complex patterns with gradient colors, accurately reproducing color transitions and fine details, resulting in richly colored printed images.
When compared to screen printing, heat transfer printing generally produces a flatter, smoother appearance, while screen-printed graphics have a slightly raised, textured feel on the bottle surface. In terms of cost, heat transfer printing is usually more expensive than screen printing; however, this depends on your design requirements. For complex, multi-color designs, heat transfer printing may offer better cost-effectiveness and lower waste.
There are other types of labels on the market that closely resemble heat transfer labels—such as UV Transfer Labels. These also transfer a design from a film onto the substrate, but without the need for heat. In addition to delivering excellent print quality, UV transfer labels offer good scratch resistance, waterproofing, and high temperature resistance. The transferred design has a slightly raised texture similar to screen printing. Of course, UV transfer labels are generally more expensive than heat transfer labels.
Compared to other film labels, the core advantage of heat transfer labels lies in their “rich color expression.” However, if you require strong three-dimensionality, hot stamping, brushed effects, or other special visual finishes, you should opt for other film label materials such as PET, PE, etc.
15. Other Types of Label
There is plenty of additional information available online explaining different label types. However, some of these types of labels may actually refer to the same base material, just finished with different surface treatments to achieve varied visual effects.
Indeed, if categorized by processing techniques or the different adhesives used to impart the label application properties, labels for cosmetics can also be divided into other categories—such as removable labels, washable labels, and so on.
But we want to reiterate: in this article, our primary goal is to help clients understand the most commonly used label materials in cosmetic packaging and daily chemical products packaging. This sharing is by no means intended to turn anyone into a material expert—chances are, most of us can fully memorize the properties of all these different label materials.
However, this article should at least serve as a useful reference. When you encounter issues with pricing or unsatisfactory label appearance, it can help you more clearly identify alternative solutions to improve the labeling challenges you face.
16. How to Communicate with Your Supplier and Choose the Right Types of Label?
Many labels on the market undergo surface finishing processes that make it difficult to identify the label materials with the naked eye. Even experienced label manufacturers sometimes need to examine physical label samples—touching, flicking, tearing, soaking, scratching, and other methods—to test and determine the types of label.
Therefore, when discussing label design solutions with label or packaging suppliers, it may be more effective to elaborate on the following aspects, which could help suppliers provide you with a more suitable packaging labeling solution.
16.1 Packaging Material and Finish
First and foremost, clearly communicate your packaging material and surface finish to the supplier. Glass and plastic bottles typically require different label materials—for instance, high-end glass perfume bottles tend to favor paper labels, while plastic bottles are more inclined toward film labels. If the bottle has a coated finish (e.g., frosted), this may impose special requirements on the label materials or adhesive.
16.2 Packaging Usage Scenario
Generally, by informing the packaging supplier of your product type, they can gain a good understanding of its usage scenario and the basic label performance it may require. For example, products like shampoo and body wash are used long-term in indoor, humid environments, and their price points are typically lower than those of skincare products. Therefore, cost-effective film labels are often recommended.
16.3 Visual Effect of the Label
You don’t need to be an expert in surface finishing techniques—just be clear about the visual effect you want to achieve in your label design. For example, whether you prefer a matte or glossy finish, or whether the text should be smooth or embossed.
16.4 Tactile Feel of the Label
Based on the label material insights shared above, you likely now have a clearer idea of the tactile feel you want for your label. Whether you prefer a special textured surface or a smooth finish, or whether you want the label to feel soft and flexible or crisp and rigid, such details will help suppliers narrow down the most suitable types of label for you.
16.5 Label Cost
The three key factors that influence label pricing are: surface finishing, label material, and order quantity. Therefore, if cost is the most critical factor for your packaging label, you can refer to the label materials categories outlined above and discuss with your supplier to find the option that best fits your procurement budget.
17. Packaging Labeling Solutions From PAGpackaging
Screen printing is not the only process that can make your packaging stand out. In fact, labels offer far more creative possibilities and are more cost-effective than screen printing when it comes to multi-color and complex pattern printing.
As a packaging manufacturer with years of production experience, we not only have a well-established label supply chain but also possess unique expertise in label design, types of label selection, and application, allowing us to provide you with comprehensive labeling solutions.
If you have any questions regarding label design ideas and material selection, please feel free to contact us and discuss your specific project needs. We look forward to collaborating with you on creating the next market-inspiring product packaging.
