Packaging innovation has long been a magnet for some of the boldest design ideas, sparking conversation, attracting investment, and placing packaging beyond the supply chain and into cultural discourse. This work sets new creative benchmarks by solving problems, not simply focusing on aesthetics for the sake of creating viral moments. Packaging serves to solve real-world problems, and real innovation rises to the occasion with solutions that make it easier to recycle, cheaper to produce, or smarter for a brand's business.

Sometimes, the most effective packaging isn't flashy but simply works for the brand, the consumer, and the world it inhabits. The finalists in the BeautyMatter Awards across the packaging design categories both solve problems and stop us in our tracks.

Best Sustainable Packaging Design (Brands)

Asteri Beauty - An atmospheric pump activated through a nozzle that the brand calls “GreenSol” spray technology. It does not use propellants or harsh chemicals and is kinder to the environment while providing a superfine, wide mist with an even pattern.

Babo Botanicals - Worked with a third party to conduct a full Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to arrive at a shower-friendly paper carton made with 80% less plastic than a traditional bottle of the same size.

INBAR+co - Utilizing 100% recyclable aluminum, FSC-certified paper secondary packaging, and carbon-neutral manufacturing.

Nu Skin - A refill cartridge system to minimize product and packaging components for repeat customers, reducing waste and lowering the product’s overall carbon footprint.

Oak Essentials - A closure crafted from sustainably grown, responsibly sourced lotus wood. The secondary carton is made from tree-free paper crafted from 90% sugarcane stalks. After the stalks are crushed to extract their juice, the remaining fibers are repurposed into a high-quality paper.

Best Product Packaging Design (Brands)

BEJOU - The packaging was designed to create a sensory experience that would feel joyful, calming, and personal from the first interaction. The goal was to make unboxing feel like opening a gift: emotionally resonant, visually surprising, and structurally thoughtful. The folding box opens upward like a blooming flower chosen to symbolize renewal and to create a pause before the product is revealed. That pause, that small moment of wonder, was intentional. Inside, a short message offers encouragement and a sense of care.

ERLY Skincare - The brand’s bold, vibrant packaging combines bright colors with sleek, geometric lettering, making it both playful and modern. Pops of bright blues, pastel pinks, and fresh greens invite users to see skincare as an engaging, fun ritual rather than a chore. 

NOYZ - Designed for portability, ease of use, and sustainability, this format puts fragrance into the hands of consumers in a more tactile and intimate way. By minimizing excess packaging and utilizing recyclable materials, this product brings a more conscious approach to fragrance consumption. 

RUHVEDA - Packaging is a testament to cultural storytelling for the brand through form and materiality. The design philosophy embraces the simplest geometric forms—a cube and a circle—ensuring instant recognition and timeless appeal. The cap, the hero of our design, is more than an aesthetic choice; it is a keepsake, a tactile connection to India’s indigenous materials and craftsmanship.

SpoiledChild - Working closely with Jeremy Scott, the packaing collaboration amplifies SpoiledChild’s overarching message for wellness: a celebration of the future, with an ode to "acting yourself" at any age. Scott transformed his favorite SpoiledChild wellness products into collectible pieces of art that celebrate a playful spirit, allowing consumers to proudly display them rather than throw them away.

Best Breakthrough Packaging (Suppliers)

Nuon Medical - Developed innovative beauty-tech packaging systems that integrate advanced technologies to enhance skincare efficacy and provide measurable, personalized results. Unlike traditional packaging, these solutions incorporate technologies such as phototherapy, PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field), microcurrents, cooling and heating, vibration, microneedling, and skin measurement.

Groupe Pochet (Showcase) - A groundbreaking overmolding technology that enables the most daring designs, whether through print or embossed details, encased in glass or plastic. The bottle is refillable and also available in mono-material PP for a sustainable solution. 

Groupe Pochet (All Aluminum) - Designed with sustainability at its core, the all-aluminum cap is a mono-material innovation that is fully recyclable, reducing environmental impact. Its lightweight structure offers a lower carbon footprint compared to Zamac, making it an eco-conscious choice without compromising on quality. Crafted with precision, the cap delivers a luxurious cold touch, enhanced by an exquisite anodized finish available in a wide spectrum of colors.