5 Benefits of Airless Packaging for Skincare
By Ronald Taylor
In the world of skin care, great packaging is critical for success. So critical, in fact, that many skincare companies prioritize beauty over function; opting for fanciful and elegant packaging at the expense of the functionality of the product itself.
At TEA.L, we've decided that protecting the effectiveness of our product is more important than stunning packaging. Of course we still want our product to look amazing, and it does! But more important, our choice of airless dispensing containers protect the efficacy of our ingredients while making dispensing easier and more reliable.
There are 5 clear reasons why airless packaging is preferable in skincare, and why it is the only type of packaging we use for our antioxidant-packed tea-infused self-care products.
What Is Airless Packaging?
The name itself gives a pretty clear indication; it is packaging that dispenses contents without exposure to air. Airless packaging relies on a non-pressurized vacuum pump system to dispense contents. The contents of the jar or pump do not come into contact with the air until the moment you dispense the product. Each push of the dispensing cap causes a small disc in the bottom of the package to be pushed upwards by air; air which never comes into contact with the product.
Most packaging that you'll find when it comes to skin care is definitely not airless. Think of the fancy glass jars that, when you unscrew the lid, the contents are clearly visible, awaiting your finger to dive in and scoop out a dollop of lotion or cream. The look is undeniably beautiful, but as we'll explore below, this is not an advisable way to store and preserve your favorite skin care product.
Benefit #1 – Preserving Antioxidants
One of the core reasons that airless packaging is necessary for skin care is the preservation of antioxidants. Powerful antioxidants, like EGCG found in green tea, helps to reduce the damage to skin cells caused by free radicals in your body. That's why every TEA.L product is infused with loose-leaf Dragonwell tea to help repair and rejuvenate skin cells and support a pro-youthful appearance.
However, antioxidants begin to break down the moment they are exposed to air and light through the process of oxidation. Think of an apple turning brown shortly after you cut into it; the same process of degradation begins as soon as antioxidants are exposed to the air, diminishing their ability to fight free radicals.
By using airless packaging, antioxidant rich skincare products like TEA.L's Green Tea & Guayusa Face Lotion retain their free radical fighting power until the moment you use the product.
Benefit #2 – Preventing Contamination
Bacterial, fungi, and yeast growth in skin care products is concerning considering the health dangers it can pose. Any reputable skincare line should be using preservatives of some kind to defend their products against bacterial growth. However repeatedly exposing your skincare products to contaminants in the air, exposure to light, and direct contact with your fingers is opening the door to the growth of unwanted organisms.
The FDA has specifically named poor protective packaging and contamination by dipping fingers into products as key factors in promoting bacterial growth in cosmetics.
Herein lies another great fact about airless packaging; you only touch the product you are directly applying to your body. The main contents remain sealed in the airtight chamber until the next pump. By eliminating contact with the product and reducing exposure to air and light, the potential for bacterial growth is reduced by over 90% in airless packaging vs. packaging exposed to air, light, and direct touch.
Benefit #3 – Extending Shelf Life
As mentioned in the previous two benefits, keeping your skincare products away from air and sunlight can help preserve antioxidants and reduce contamination. This helps to extend the shelf life products, allowing you to keep it longer without the risk of losing efficacy.
Additionally, the protection from air and light helps to keep skincare products stable. Most lotions and creams are a combination of water (or in the case of TEA.L, fresh brewed tea) and oil brought together by an emulsifier. Light, air, heat, and other environmental variables can cause the emulsification to break down over time, impacting the usability of the product.
Our airless packaging helps keep TEA.L products shelf stable for over 18 months.
Benefit #4 – Reliable Dispensing
Getting the right amount of product out of your skin care packaging can be challenging. Over-eager fingers can take out too much product at once. And putting the product back after increases risk of contamination. Or squeezing too much from a dispensing bottle can lead to lost dollars on wasted product.
But airless packaging dispenses a reliable amount each time it is depressed so you can be sure you have the right amount for your needs. And if your container ends up upside down in your purse or laying on its side in a bathroom cabinet, no worries! The vacuum pump action defies gravity, making sure product is dispensed at any angle.
Benefit #5 – No Product Waste
Finally, airless packaging is great when it comes to not wasting a single gram of product. Everyone knows skin care can be expensive. So there is nothing more frustrating to seeing product lining the sides of a dispensing container, unreachable and unable to be used.
With airless packaging, you never need to worry about waste. The disc that pushes the product up from the bottom has an airtight seal along the edges, scraping every last bit of product up along the way. Over the course of a year, using airless packaging could help save you hundreds on your self-care products.
Airless Packaging Is A Must-Have For Skincare
Investing money in self-care, especially when it comes to protecting and repairing your skin, is money well spent. But make sure your money is going to companies that invest in the actual effectiveness and quality of the product, as well as packaging that works to protect its effectiveness. The most attractive packaging is meaningless if the product doesn't work.
TEA.L self-care products are infused with loose leaf Dragonwell tea, making them antioxidant powerhouses to repair damaged, aging skin. We also use natural extracts and oils packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to rejuvenate your skin. This is why we've selected airless packaging to ensure the antioxidants are preserved and to provide our customers with the absolute best results when using our product.