Pretty Matters: Why Packaging Decisions Are Just As Tough (and important) as the Formula

When I first started formulating my body butter, I thought that would be the hard part. Finding the perfect combination of nourishing ingredients, nailing the texture, testing it on every patch of dry skin I could find—that felt like the heavy lifting.

Spoiler alert: it was only the beginning.

Because once you’ve crafted a product that feels like heaven on skin and smells like a daydream—you’re hit with a new wave of decisions that are just as grueling: packaging and labeling.

Should it be glass or plastic? Amber or clear? Glossy label or matte? Gold foil or minimalist type? Jar size, lid shape, label placement, waterproof adhesive, safety seals, sustainability, postal weight—oh, and don’t forget the aesthetic.

It turns out, packaging isn’t just a pretty outfit. It’s a first impression. It’s protection. It’s branding. It’s legal compliance. It’s your entire vibe bottled up in one container. And just like a killer formula, it has to perform. If the jar leaks, the label peels, or the design doesn’t resonate—it doesn’t matter how magical the butter inside is.

That’s when I realized: packaging is the unsung hero of every product.

It’s what stops people mid-scroll. It’s what makes them reach for your jar on the shelf. And it’s what they’ll photograph, tag, and remember. If your formula is your soul, packaging is your voice—and it better say what you mean.

So yes, I obsessed. I tried a dozen jars, ran through rolls of labels, stood in front of the mirror holding mockups like I was auditioning for Shark Tank. I asked for opinions, changed my mind, and changed it again. And when it finally felt right—simple, luxe, sassy, and me—I knew it was worth every minute.

Because in this business, what’s on the outside counts too.