Barrier properties, heavy metals, coefficient of friction, tensile strength and elongation at break, appearance, heat resistance, cold resistance, pH, total bacterial count, total mold and yeast count, compatibility, peel strength, thermal wind resistance, sealing and leak‑proofness, impact resistance, thickness, residual solvents, print quality, and more.

I. Testing of Cosmetic Transport Packaging

To ensure that cosmetics arrive intact in the hands of consumers after transportation and shelf display, they require robust transport packaging. At present, corrugated cardboard boxes are the predominant choice for cosmetic shipping, with key performance indicators including box compressive strength and stacking tests.

1. Carton compression strength testing: During the test, place the corrugated cardboard box between the two pressure plates of the XYD-15K carton compression tester, set the compression speed, and start the test. The pressure at which the carton collapses is defined as its compressive strength, expressed in kilonewtons (kN). When conducting this test, be sure to set the pre‑load value according to the relevant standards—typically 220 N—before beginning the measurement.

2. Carton stacking test: During storage and transportation, cartons are stacked, with the bottom layer bearing the weight of multiple upper layers. To prevent collapse, the cartons must maintain adequate compressive strength after stacking; therefore, it is essential to conduct both stacking tests and maximum crush‑force measurements.

II. Quality Inspection of Cosmetic Packaging Printing

Cosmetic products, designed to deliver strong visual appeal, are typically printed with exquisite precision, making the assessment of print quality particularly important. At present, standard tests for cosmetic print quality include evaluating the abrasion resistance (scratch resistance) and adhesion of the ink layer, as well as color discrimination.

1. Abrasion resistance testing: Prepare test specimens in accordance with GB 7706, then secure them on the testing plane of an abrasion tester. Attach an 80 g/m² clean offset paper to the weight block. After setting the number of friction cycles, start the test (typically 40 reciprocating strokes). Finally, evaluate print quality by measuring the change in density before and after the test. A value greater than 70% is generally used as the acceptance criterion.

2. Ink adhesion strength testing: For plastic printing, testing shall be conducted in accordance with the GB 7707 standard. First, apply a piece of adhesive tape to the ink‑printed surface; then, pass it over the YGJ‑02 adhesive tape roller three times. After allowing it to stand for 5 minutes, clamp the specimen onto the A platen of the BLJ‑02 disc‑peel tester, securing the exposed portion of the tape on the B platen. Start the machine and rotate the A platen at a speed of 0.8 m/s to peel off the adhesive tape. Observe the condition of the ink layer as it is stripped from the test specimen, thereby determining the adhesion strength of the printed ink layer.

3. Color discrimination: People typically observe colors under daylight. In industrial settings, precise color‑matching tasks require lighting with a spectral power distribution that closely approximates natural daylight—specifically, the D65 standard illuminant as defined by the CIE. During color formulation, a peculiar phenomenon can occur: a sample and a test specimen may appear identical under one light source but exhibit perceptible color differences under another—known as metamerism. When selecting a standard‑lighting cabinet, it is essential to ensure it provides dual illumination sources.

3. Testing of adhesive labels for cosmetics

Adhesive labels are widely used in cosmetic packaging, and their testing primarily focuses on the adhesive performance of pressure-sensitive adhesives. The key test parameters include initial adhesion, holding adhesion, and peel strength (peel force).

1. Initial Adhesion Test: The inclined plane ball‑rolling method is employed. By bringing a steel ball into brief contact with the adhesive surface of the pressure‑sensitive tape under slight pressure, the adhesion between the tape and the steel ball is measured to assess the sample’s initial adhesion. The initial adhesion performance of the pressure‑sensitive adhesive is characterized by the largest steel ball size that can be retained.

2. Adhesive Holding Performance: The test panel bearing the adhesive specimen is suspended vertically from the upper and lower ends of the test frame, with a specified weight attached to the lower end. Adhesive holding performance of pressure-sensitive labels is evaluated by measuring either the displacement of the adhesive layer after a given period or the time required for complete detachment of the specimen.

3. Peel Strength: Peel strength is an important indicator for evaluating the adhesive performance of pressure-sensitive labels. Cut the label into 25 mm-wide strips using a sampling knife, then use a standard roller to press the label onto a standard test panel. Next, pre‑peel the specimen from the test panel, and place the test panel and the pre‑peeled label respectively in the upper and lower or left and right chucks of an intelligent electronic tensile testing machine or an electronic peel tester. Set the test speed to 300 mm/min, start the test, and record the final peel strength in kN/m.

4. Barrier Performance Testing of Cosmetic Packaging

Barrier properties are one of the key testing parameters for cosmetic packaging. Barrier performance refers to the ability of packaging materials to prevent the permeation of gases, liquids, and other substances, and it is a critical factor influencing product quality throughout its shelf life.

Unsaturated bonds in cosmetic ingredients are highly susceptible to oxidation, leading to rancidity and degradation. Loss of moisture can cause cosmetics to dry out and harden, while preserving the fragrance is crucial for product sales. Barrier‑property testing encompasses assessments of a cosmetic package’s resistance to the permeation of oxygen, water vapor, and aromatic gases.

1. Oxygen transmission rate testing: This parameter is primarily used to measure the oxygen transmission rate of thin films, composite films, and the overall packaging—such as bags or bottles—used for cosmetics. The pre‑conditioned sample is clamped between the test chambers; oxygen or air flows on one side of the film, while high‑purity nitrogen flows on the other. Oxygen molecules diffuse through the film into the high‑purity nitrogen on the opposite side, where they are carried by the flowing nitrogen to the sensor. By analyzing the oxygen concentration measured by the sensor, the oxygen transmission rate can be calculated. The testing principle for bag‑type or bottle‑type packaging is similar.

2. Water vapor transmission rate testing is primarily used to determine the water vapor transmission rate of cosmetic packaging films as well as packaging containers such as bottles, bags, and cans. By measuring the water vapor transmission rate, it is possible to control and adjust the technical specifications of packaging materials and other products, thereby meeting diverse application requirements. The sample is clamped between the test chambers: a nitrogen gas stream at a stable relative humidity flows on one side of the film, while dry nitrogen flows on the other side. Due to the humidity gradient, water vapor migrates from the high-humidity side through the film into the low-humidity side. On the low-humidity side, the permeated water vapor is carried by the flowing dry nitrogen to the sensor, which generates an electrical signal that is then processed to calculate the amount of water vapor transmitted. For packaging containers such as bottles and bags, dry nitrogen flows inside the container, while the exterior remains at a high-humidity condition.

3. Fragrance‑retention performance testing: This parameter is of great importance for cosmetics, as the loss or alteration of fragrance can significantly impact product sales. Evaluating the fragrance‑retention properties of cosmetic packaging is therefore critical. Under specified temperature conditions, a test specimen is used to partition a permeation chamber, with one side maintained at a high concentration of aromatic gases and the other at a lower concentration. This establishes a defined concentration gradient across the specimen. The aromatic compounds diffuse through the membrane into the low‑concentration side, where they are carried by a carrier gas into the separation chamber. A hydrogen flame ionization detector (FID) then measures the concentration of the aromatic gases in the carrier gas, enabling calculation of the amount of aromatic gas that permeates per unit area of the specimen over a given time period.