Rethinking the World of Makeup and Skin Care with Objet d'Art
Image: Kindred Black
In recent years, beauty and skin care packaging has undergone a notable transformation, with niche brands drawing inspiration from the world of high-end fragrances. Traditionally, fragrance bottles have long been celebrated for their ornate, sculptural designs, often serving as luxurious keepsakes. Now, this design ethos is being reimagined by skin care and color cosmetics brands, adding a new layer of artistry and consumer engagement to beauty routines.
From Bottles to Sculptures: A New Era in Packaging
Today’s beauty brands are taking cues from the perfume industry, where bottles are seen as collectible works of art. In skin care and makeup, we’re seeing this shift through the introduction of sculptural vessels that are not only functional, but also designed to stand out on a vanity like miniature art pieces.
These vessels play with both minimalistic and vibrant color palettes, creating a balance between the bold and the serene, reflecting the brand’s identity as much as the consumer’s. Much like accessories in the fashion world, these bottles and containers are now seen as extensions of personal style. Just as one might collect jewelry, handbags or shoes to express their personality, today’s beauty packaging offers a similar sense of self-expression.
Beauty is no longer just about the product itself, but about the visual experience and connection to personal taste. Sculptural beauty vessels are becoming coveted pieces for beauty enthusiasts who see them not just as tools but as part of their decor and daily life.
Images: Kindred Black, Foile, Herbar, Simihaze Beauty
The Intersection of Slow Beauty and Sustainable Design
A fascinating overlap is occurring between the "slow fashion" movement and what’s now being dubbed "slow beauty." This movement is pushing brands to adopt eco-friendly practices, including sustainable materials and refillable packaging, all while maintaining high design aesthetics.
Designer packaging made with sustainability in mind is an alluring concept for modern consumers, who are increasingly seeking products that reflect both luxury and responsibility. Brands are mastering this by offering items that are not only functional, but eco-conscious and giving consumers the opportunity to collect beautiful, environmentally mindful pieces.
Beauty as Objet d'Art: Elevating Everyday Rituals
The idea of turning skin care and makeup packaging into objets d’art heightens the consumer experience. It transforms daily beauty routines into moments of joy and luxury, where the act of applying skin care or makeup feels akin to engaging with an art form. This makes beauty more than just a ritual—it becomes a way to collect and display pieces that tell a story about personal style and conscious consumption.
Leading the way in this trend are niche brands like Kindred Black, Herbar, Earth Tu Face, Qquist, Foile, Gezeiten in skin care, and Ever Amid, Simihaze Beauty in the makeup realm. These brands are pushing boundaries with inventive designs that merge functionality with aesthetic appeal. Whether it’s the earthy, ceramic-inspired packaging of Gezeiten or the playful, sculptural shapes of Simihaze Beauty, these brands are proving that beauty packaging can be both an experience and a statement piece.
Images: Oquist, Earth tu Face, Gezeiten, Ever Amid
Our Perspective
As beauty evolves into a more personalized and artistic expression, we’re seeing a new appreciation for the way products are housed. With sculptural, luxurious packaging, skin care and cosmetics are no longer just about the formulas—they’ve become collectible items that consumers cherish for both their beauty and their sustainability. This convergence of art, sustainability and beauty rituals is leading to a redefinition of what it means to indulge in beauty products, making the packaging just as desirable as the product within.