While in Southern California for MakeUp in LosAngeles and Luxe Pack LA, Beauty Packaging’s publisher Jay Gorga, and Jamie Matusow, visited a sampling of nearby supplier facilities.

Cosmetic Packaging Resources (CPR)

Cyndi Matthews, packaging sales manager, Cosmetic Packaging Resources (CPR), describes the Ontario, CA distributor as a “small company with a huge Internet presence—and great customer service.”

In business since 2008, CPR specializes in airless bottles and jars (including new mini refillable airless), and has created a niche in offering small quantities—“from 1 to whatever”—as stock items, while providing expert guidance.

They also offer deco, printing and labeling services—all done in their Southern California facility. A selection of polypropylene airless bottles now in stock are fully recyclable with no inner springs, said Matthews. They have recently also started carrying glass bottles in various sizes. In most cases, stock can ship the same day. Matthews said CBD business has been particularly strong.

North Pacific International

North Pacific International (NPI) offices, located in Chino CA, look out on the scenic San Bernardino Mountains, with exotic cacti and vibrant flora right outside the front door.

Favian Guarado, marketing coordinator, and Oscar Gordillo, technical support, NPI, spoke to Beauty Packaging about their heat transfer labels and hot stamping foils for cosmetics packaging. High-quality foils for application on bottles, jars, tubes—any type of packaging—are all printed in Japan, where Gordillo said they have “advanced technology for their visual camera system—for precise, vivid deco.”

In addition, QC systems inspect for any rejects and flaws. NPI foils can be applied to both plastic and glass. NPI also manufactures the machinery used to decorate the parts; they now sell the machinery in North America and offer troubleshooting services. They have also expanded their range. Gordillo commented, “With more customers looking to decorate glass, we offer labels that can adhere to glass without the flux.”

PakLab

Founded in 1985—and also located in Chino—is PakLab, a large-scale contract manufacturer for brands from Indies to Fortune 100s. Products range from skincare to hair care and OTC for retail and e-commerce markets, including pouches, wipes and sachets.

Their state-of-the-art laboratories, specialized creative group, and medium-to-high-speed filling operations, are all located within a vast 200,000-sq.-ft. facility—all of which positioned them as turnkey product development and manufacturers, way before full service became the overarching industry trend.

They stock over 12,000 different chemicals and run their own tests on-site to ensure clean formulas. Alex Cripchuck, senior vice president, commercialization, gave Beauty Packaging a fascinating tour of all the areas.

He pointed out one of their latest products—a warming/cooling skincare product that will be launching this Spring at Ulta. Cripchuck also spoke of the company’s Amazonian Rain Forest project, which relies on foraging rather than clearing for ingredients, and employs 2,500 locals. An impressive stat: Cripchuck said last year, PakLab filled over 85 million units across all categories.

Cosmetic Design Group (CDG)

In Culver City, CA, Cosmetic Design Group (CDG), a WWP property, brought California nature inside their innovation center, with a bright airy atmosphere, including live trees growing in the middle of the welcoming facility’s space. Alison Kohlenstein, executive vice president, CDG, explained how important the open environment is to creativity and collaboration—to inspire all their groups, which include product development, operations, regulatory, creative and finance.

First incorporated in 1998 as a Sally Beauty brand (which is still active) and sold to WWP in 2019, the company has grown organically and built out a full turnkey business.

Kohlenstein said: “We understand the running of a supply chain and all the challenges of a brand.” Specialists in nails with ownership of three brands and color cosmetics, they are now also heavily into bespoke skincare.

Recent company successes include the InStudio Cosmetics line, an entry price point brand in Walmart, as well as a lip oil at Ulta that recently sold out overnight and went viral on TikTok. 

Photo: above left is a screenshot from this video via TikTok/@juliadeesso