Tag Technology Updates

Labels continue to be multi-tasking in the beauty industry, and even more complex, it can now be used to attract attention, convey brand identity, meet government regulations, provide proof of security, and potentially, enable manufacturers and retailers to do things that never before Do it - follow the product.

Whether it's paper or plastic, pressure sensitive or in-mold, single-layer or extended text, labels are making more and more attention in the cosmetics, perfume and personal care markets and attract more attention.

The label manufacturer's business serving the cosmetics/personal care market started slowly in early 2003, but its performance at the end of the year was strong; all signs indicate that the outlook for 2004 is bright. According to industry sources in the US label industry, the overall cosmetics label has grown, but personal care products have seen a bigger increase. Marketers appear to be reducing packaging costs and inventory by buying blank containers and then labeling different products; instead of using screen printing or spraying containers. In this way they can canned and labeled what they need.

Simple and elegant label style

According to industry experts, the most important changes in the label style of cosmetics, perfumes, and personal care products are: The simplistic design combined with more expensive materials to produce a better appearance.

One current trend is the use of matte foil stamping and fewer patterns. One example is the very simple packaging of Procter & Gamble's Olay series but with a high-end appearance. A more non-smooth composite structure is also being applied to achieve a more elegant appearance that focuses on the product.

Another trend is to stay away from traditional hot stamping and seek other ways to satisfy the luxury demands. Holographic techniques and lenticular printing are drawing attention. The appearance of frosted and dusty suedes has also recently become popular. At present, the printing process for hot stamping is mainly a bronzing with a luxurious appearance, and the demand is even greater. However, this is more challenging because the ink adheres to the gold foil.

Clear film and digital printing - perfect combination

Today, the increase in the shape of the new container also promotes the need for new shapes for the label. Because some new shapes will be difficult to screen-print, they are turning to ultra-clear pressure-sensitive labels, four-color, five-color, and six-color digital printing processes. With digital printing, we can get a clearer appearance. The label material should be matched with the container to achieve a proper appearance; however, using a digital label can keep the container's low inventory, because it can distinguish a series of different products using the same shape of the bottle by the digital label instead of manufacturing for each product. Different bottles or containers.

The era of digital printing has arrived. It has greatly improved the printing speed and quality without preparation time, and the quality is the same as offset printing in all aspects. According to Dow's Farquharson, the beauty industry is the company's core business. They have been working on pressure-sensitive labels and are now marching toward digital printing. "The most recent digital print quality is equivalent to 180 dpi, which is close to flexographic printing. And since digital printing does not require plate making, there is no preparation time and expense, making it economical for smaller batch prints."

In the US pressure-sensitive label market, Spear is the initiator of advanced printing technologies such as hot stamping, holographic technology and film development. According to the company's marketing director Dan Muenzer, they focus on pressure-sensitive labels, especially clear film labels; personal care products are their largest business units. He believes that once the investment is in place, the cost of printing is much lower than other methods such as screen printing, and the pattern will be more effective. However, it is important to match the type of resin used in the bottle/container with the type of material and adhesive.

Expert Opinion

Experts suggest that the caregiver should investigate the limits of label production before developing an unrealistic or difficult-to-implement packaging design. They can get related services and materials from suppliers, with basic information such as size and color restrictions. It's possible that if they make the labels 1/4 inch smaller, that means they can save a lot of money; or they can use 4-color printing instead of custom colors to get similar results. In material applications, if a plastic film label is used on a plastic bottle, the paste can be stuck better and avoid any wrinkling and peeling.

A large number of existing different materials will also lead to different effects. The trend is now developing from paper to film, and it is estimated that it is currently 50/50. The reason for this is that any product used near water has a plastic film label. Bathing and body care products using clear film labels have exploded.

Expand text labels

In order to comply with various regulations, brand marketers have to use extended text or peel-back labels, or even well-known brands. In the United States, especially in today's European Union, more and more information is required by regulatory agencies. This leads to a greater demand for the actual filled marking space on the package. So many companies will turn to some form of expanded text labels or other methods.

The latest laws and regulations involving the United States cosmetics and personal care are targeted at various types of active ingredients. Most products, including antiperspirants, antidandruff, anti-acne, and skin rejuvenation products, have a compliance date. However, in fact, the largest part of the sunscreen is still waiting for the final conclusion of the date of compliance. Another complicated issue is the need to use more than one language to convey information and usage instructions on labels. Packaging is usually based on those countries where the product is sold. Since many countries have very specific requirements, it is the first and foremost for what should be labeled.

Once the prescribed information is on the label, there is often no room for an attractive selling copy. Expanding the text/stripping label here plays an important role. With such tags, we can have more space to meet all needs and even make the tags look attractive. There are often many round trips between label design, marketing, and label sellers to achieve proper regulatory requirements, label size, and pleat balance. Today's label manufacturers have been able to provide new materials and technologies to provide greater flexibility on such labels.

U.S. Ampersand Label specializes in the production of extended text labels that provide FDA compliant methods for cosmetics, antiperspirants and acne treatment products. The company believes that it is more economical to use an expansion tag on a product than to place the product in a box and then attach a manual.

The shift toward expanding text labels is very clear. In 2002, the ratio of expanded labels to basic labels was 15% and 85%, compared to 35% in 2003. There is a gap in the packaging business between cosmetics/personal care and cosmeceuticals. For cosmetics, there is a much lower but more safety stock unit.

Aveda chose Ampersand's EasyTab extended text label for its Brilliant hair care products. This multilingual label includes instructions for use in English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian. Ampersand's patented EasyTab format features a re-sealable upper label plate that provides access to multiple pages of information. This unique re-seal area allows multiple viewings by consumers while maintaining the integrity of the new product.

Fairfield, Logotech, New York, USA, developed the Hinge Label for hair care products to retain all the required information. According to reports, this expanded content label extends to the back of the bottle, while the front of the bottle is a transparent label. The label size behind the package is 1
1/2 x 3 3/8 inch, stripped from the lower right corner to show approximately 6 1/8 inch extra signage.

Double label as a coupon

Many products now come with instant redeemable coupons, which are a peelable layer removed at the checkout counter. The cosmetics industry has also started to use multiple labels as promotional tools on gift packages; it can be guaranteed booklets and/or postal gifts (mail-in
Offers). When consumers fill out and mail it out, it gives marketers a way to collect customer mailing lists or demographic information.

Logotech has developed a label that looks like printed cardboard and adheres to cardboard. It is a peelable label/gift that remains intact after tearing. North Star Printing Group has also launched a peelable double-layer pressure-sensitive label for product promotion, such as coupons, discount coupons and so on. This peelable label has three layers of printing surface. Customers can print on both sides of the bottom and top labels. Important information, such as ingredients, bar codes, and instructions, remains on the product after the top label has been removed. The top label can be peeled cleanly without adhesive residue, keeping the bottom label attached to the product. North Star's peelable label is flexo-printed with up to nine colors and coatings.

New attempt

In hose packaging, Sealtech has developed Seal-Thru, a 360° hose label that is highly innovative. According to the company, the label can be applied to the hose product container and it can extend all the way to the crease of the hose. About 95% of the length of the hose, not including the lid and the opening, can be used by the label. It can have a metal-looking label with a .375-foot gap starting at the bottom of the hose.

Shrink sleeves, plastics that completely seal containers are growing in the US personal care market. Shrink sleeves have become very popular in Europe and are being used in perfume bottles and various personal care packaging.

French label supplier Sleever International has already produced shrink sleeves for a wide range of products, including 212 On Ice by Carolina Herrera, Kouros by YSL, and two Issey Miyake summer fragrances. Carolina Herrera's 212 On Ice is a double-shelled box of ice with a Sleever's transparent outer packaging. This set of labels provides a three-color gravure printing decoration, as well as a method of combining shells, anti-counterfeiting and easy-opening features.

Seal-It USA is a company specializing in the production and printing of heat-shrinkable PVC, PET-G and OPS films, especially for the printing of labels and heat shrink tapes. For packages that require both large labels and counterfeit protection, Seal-It's hybrid labels incorporate a full range of shrink-wrap labels and security tapes. The consumer opens the shrink seal, removes the lid, and the label remains on the container.

Many companies are turning to shrink film as an economical way to create a high-end, inexpensive container. Shrink sleeves give a 360° coverage, can be printed in vibrant colors, and/or have a matte or silkscreen effect. For small products such as lipsticks and eyebrow pencils, Seal-It offers a transparent, narrow tape closure on the product to keep it clean, provide security, and carry barcodes to differentiate between product and price. The company also offers a multi-pack promotion with a heat shrink film/label that brings the products together. In order to maximize shelf appeal, the heat shrink film can print up to 10 colors on any design.

SleeveCo Inc. and Yves Rocher have teamed up to create a PVC shrink sleeve for Pur Désir, a skin care product line. The matt finish of this shrink sleeve is difficult to achieve on plastic bottles. According to the company, this label provides a way to simulate the appearance of a frosted or stained glass at a lower cost; at the same time, it can have more vibrant colors and provide 360° decoration. And if necessary, this sleeve can also provide anti-counterfeiting and anti-UV layer. SleeveCo shrink sleeves are made of PVC, PETG or OBS, and the company promises its shrink film is easy to recycle.

Labels also deliver fragrance

Because scent is an extremely important factor in personal care products, it provides consumers the ability to experience scent without opening (often breaking) the package. The Rub'nSmell Scented Varnishes in Scentisphere, New York, is the latest achievement in adding scent to printed surfaces.

According to the company,