What is the difference between an eyeshadow box and an eyeshadow palette box?

Eyeshadow boxes fit single-shade or duo compacts. Palette boxes hold multi-shade collections (6/9/12/18+ shades) and need larger footprint, more panel space for shade names, and heavier board so the palette stays flat.

How do you Pantone-match a shade across a whole cosmetic line?

Send your brand color codes as Pantone (PMS) values. Free spot-color matching keeps that shade consistent across every SKU in the line — lipstick, blush, cushion, primer, palette, and so on — so your brand color looks the same on the shelf.

What is a MoCRA-ready cosmetic box?

MoCRA (2024) requires every US cosmetic label to carry a US domestic contact for adverse event reporting — address, phone, or email. A MoCRA-ready carton is one with panel space routed for that contact plus INCI ingredients, statement of identity, net contents, and any warnings.

Do I need a window on my gummy or sheet mask cartons?

Windows are optional but convert well when the color or texture sells the SKU (gummy supplements, dropper bottles). For sheet masks, most brands rely on the printed sachet inside — a window on the outer carton is uncommon.

How small a MOQ can I start with for cosmetic boxes?

100 cartons is the minimum for most US printers. Runs of 250 and 500 give better per-unit cost. There are no plate, die, or setup fees so a 100-unit launch pays the same tooling cost as a 1,000-unit run — just less per-piece efficiency.

Can you handle a wide-shade line (foundation with 30+ shades)?

Yes. Each shade is its own print file with a Pantone-matched shade color. Full-color CMYK offset holds shade fidelity across a wide range. MOQ is 100 per shade — no plate or die fees regardless of how many shades you launch together.

Small Custom Cosmetic Boxes: Format Guide by Product

By the Custom Box Printing Editorial Team · July 21, 2026

Small custom cosmetic boxes look simple from the outside — a folded carton around a compact or tube. Under the surface, each product format has its own quirks. Get the format right at the dieline stage and the carton fits, ships flat, and holds your shade colors across the whole line.

Quick answer: the right carton for each product

Product	Carton style	Board weight
Blush compact	Reverse tuck-end, square	14 pt SBS
Bronzer compact	Reverse tuck-end, square	14 pt SBS
Highlighter compact	Reverse tuck-end + foil	14 pt SBS
Concealer tube or stick	Reverse tuck-end, tall	14 pt SBS
Primer bottle or tube	Reverse tuck-end, tall	14 pt SBS
Brow pencil / pomade / kit	Slim tuck-end or sleeve-tray	14 pt SBS
Eyeshadow palette (6-18 shades)	Sleeve-and-tray or rigid	16-18 pt SBS
Cushion foundation compact	Reverse tuck-end, square	14 pt SBS
Sheet mask (single or multi-pack)	Slim tuck-end or sleeve	14-16 pt SBS or kraft
Sunscreen (SPF-rated)	Reverse tuck-end + tamper lock	14-16 pt SBS
Setting spray (pump or aerosol)	Reverse tuck-end, tall	14 pt SBS or kraft

Compact vs tube vs stick

Cosmetics divide into three physical formats:

Compacts — small square or round pressed powders (blush, bronzer, highlighter, cushion). Carton is a small-footprint square tuck-end sized to the compact diameter.
Tubes and bottles — tall-narrow aspect (concealer, primer, setting spray, foundation, mascara, dropper serums). Carton is a slim tall tuck-end sized to the bottle plus closure height.
Sticks — pencil-format products (brow pencil, stick concealer, stick highlighter). Carton is a short square footprint sized to the stick diameter.

What every cosmetic carton has to carry

US cosmetic labels have a required checklist. We route the dieline with room for each item; your regulatory team writes the copy:

Statement of identity (product name)
Net contents
INCI ingredient list in descending order
Name and place of business, with a US domestic contact (MoCRA 2024 rule)
Warnings your formula requires
California Prop 65 warning if the formula has a listed chemical and sells into CA
Batch code and manufacture date or PAO symbol
Barcode

Shade codes across a line

Beauty lines live and die by shade consistency. A blush "Peach" that reads pink on one SKU and orange on another kills trust at the shelf. Free Pantone (PMS) spot-color matching locks the same shade across every carton in your line. Send your brand color codes and we build every print file against them.

Finishes that lift a beauty brand

Soft-touch matte lamination — the modern-beauty default; feels premium in hand.
Gold, silver, rose-gold, copper foil stamping — brand name or logo in metallic; works over any base color.
Spot UV — gloss finish over specific artwork (usually the logo) against a matte background.
Embossing / debossing — a raised or recessed brand mark; tactile signal of quality.
Window die-cut with PET film — shows the actual product color inside. Common on gummy vitamins; rare on cosmetics.

Special-case: SPF products need a Drug Facts panel

Any cosmetic sold with an SPF rating is classified by FDA as an OTC drug (sunscreen monograph). The carton needs a Drug Facts panel — not the standard INCI ingredient list. This applies to sunscreens, SPF-rated cushion foundations, and SPF lip products. See our dedicated Drug Facts panel guide for how it looks in practice.

MOQ, cost, and timeline

Practical numbers for launching a US beauty line:

MOQ: 100 cartons per SKU. No plate, die, or setup fees.
Per-unit: ~$2.30-$2.80 at 250 qty (14 pt SBS reverse tuck-end); drops toward $1.90 at 500+.
Turnaround: 8-10 US business days from artwork approval. Free contiguous-US shipping.
Free extras: free 3D digital mockup + physical sample (refunded on your first order) on larger runs (cost refunded on production).

Hub: cosmetic packaging and makeup boxes
Related guides: how to choose cosmetic packaging by product, sunscreen Drug Facts panel

Ordering custom boxes — common questions

What is the minimum order for custom boxes?

Runs start at 100 units for folding cartons (cosmetic, food, bakery, CBD, mailer), 50 units for rigid setup boxes, and 5,000 units for printed paper (deli, butcher, tissue, kraft, sandwich wrap). No die, plate, or setup fees at any quantity.

Do you ship custom boxes free in the US?

Yes — standard shipping is free anywhere in the contiguous United States on every order. Rush production (3–5 business days) and expedited shipping are available for an additional fee.

How long does a custom box order take?

Typical timeline is 1 business day for a quote, 1–2 days to approve a free 3D digital mockup, then 7–10 business days for production plus 2–5 business days for free US shipping. Rush production is available on request.

Can I see a sample before I commit to a full order?

Yes — free 3D digital mockup with every quote, and a physical sample on request (refunded on your first order) before you place a production run. You can also design and preview your box live in our free 3D box designer.

What artwork files do you need to start printing?

Print-ready PDF, AI, EPS, or PSD at 300 DPI in CMYK with 0.125" bleed is ideal. Don't have artwork? Our in-house design team builds your dieline and preps files at no cost — just send your logo and any brand references.

Do you charge setup, plate, or die-cutting fees?

No — there are no setup, plate, die, or tooling fees at any quantity. Custom dielines, artwork prep, 3D mockups, and physical samples are all included free with every order.

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