Should You Use Spot UV on Your Cosmetic Packaging?

Let’s face it, there are a ton of choices for the consumer when they are shopping in stores for cosmetics. How can you differentiate your packaging? One specialty embellishment you may want to consider is spot uv. This is a high gloss coating that is applied on select areas of the printing. It stands out the most when used over a dull or matte finish since there is a higher level of contrast. Here are a few examples of cosmetic folding cartons utilizing spot uv. 

Laneige: enhancing product visibility with spot uv

This reverse tuck box also had an insert on the bottom and the side to hold the three jars of their Midnight to Morning Hydration kit in place. The size of the carton is 2.75” x 1 7/8” x 3.5”. Laneige printed the box on 18 pt. board in full color with silver foil on the front of the carton as well as the top. The spot uv was on the front of the box and covered the images of the three jars that were included in the box. It was a great way to highlight the contents. 

Tula Skincare: combining spot uv with soft touch coating

Tula’s so smooth resurfacing & brightening fruit enzyme mask reverse tuck box is 5” x 1” x 1 3/8”. Printed in full color with an attractive light blue on the outside and a bright yellow inside, there was plenty of white space on the sides to make a statement. The uv was vertical on the words “balanced skincare” on the front of the box as well as “so smooth” on the top of the box. Not only did Tula use spot uv, they also used soft touch coating, so it has a velvety feel. The contrast of the uv words compared to the dull finish of the paper and printing was perfect and really stood out. 

Touch in SOL: bold contrast with spot uv and matte finish

This tuck top, snap lock bottom box is 4 1/4” x 1 5/8” x 1 5/8”. Touch in SOL’s No Poreblem Primer was printed with a solid black background with No Poreblem Primer printed in a dark pink in three locations around the box. The spot uv was on three sides of the carton and was connected circles. Between the matte black printing, the hot pink name, and the spot uv, this package is highly noticeable on the shelf. 

Dominique: subtle packaging with strong brand presence

Dominique’s soft pink Cream Blush straight tuck folding carton is 2.5” x ¾” x 2 ¾”. The outside of the box has gray text along with some reversed out text highlighting the product’s name, volume, and shade. The reversed text is on the front and top of the box, and the soft pink shade is the imprint color. The box also printed with soft touch coating. The spot uv is over the pink printing on three sides and the top. The words “Cream Blush” on the front of the box are also embossed. The inside of the box is printed in the same soft pink shade as the front and the words “soft yet powerful” are printed as a step and repeat on the entire inside. 

Il Makiage: high-end look with spot uv and foil effects

I loved this packaging! The straight tuck box contained a foundation blending brush and was 6 ¾” x 1 ¼” x 1 ¼”. The folding carton was printed in a solid black with some of the text reversed out in white with a dull aqueous coating. There were two areas with silver foil: the name of the brush on the front panel and Il Makiage’s logo on the top of the box. The spot uv was the company name in large letters which wrapped around two sides of the box. It looked amazing with a lot of contrast between the gloss of the uv and the matte black it was printed over. To make the packaging even more memorable, Il Makiage added a 2 ¼” sleeve. The paper was a silver cardstock and printed in black ink. The sleeve was cut on a diagonal and really added that special something to the overall effect. 

So, which did you like best? 

Please note that these are products purchased for personal use – this is not a sponsored post.