What materials are used in the display stands for cosmetics?

Cosmetic brands face a constant struggle between maintaining a luxury image and managing rising costs. You need to choose materials that protect fragile glass bottles while catching the customer’s eye.

Cosmetic display stands primarily utilize acrylic, glass, metal, and wood for high-end durability. However, corrugated cardboard is increasingly popular for temporary promotions due to its cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and advanced digital printing capabilities that mimic premium textures.

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each material is vital for your retail success. Let us look at the specific components and material choices available to you.

What are display cases made of?

Walking into a store, you see hundreds of stands. Have you ever wondered what actually holds that heavy makeup inventory safely?

Display cases generally consist of rigid materials like acrylic (Plexiglas), tempered glass, wood, or metal for permanent fixtures. For temporary retail campaigns, high-strength corrugated cardboard is the industry standard because it offers recyclability and easy customization.

The Shift from Permanent to Temporary Materials

The material choice for display cases largely depends on the intended lifespan of the unit. In the past, department stores relied almost exclusively on permanent fixtures made from injection-molded plastic, wood, or metal. These materials are heavy and durable but come with extremely high shipping costs and long production lead times. Today, the retail landscape is moving faster. Brands need to launch seasonal collections quickly, which has pushed the industry toward corrugated cardboard.

You might think cardboard is too weak for heavy cosmetic bottles, but the engineering has changed. We now use high-strength corrugated board¹, specifically double-wall (BC-flute) or reinforced single-wall (E-flute or B-flute) structures. These materials are laminated with CCNB (Clay Coated News Back) paper, which allows for high-quality lithographic or digital printing. This means the display can look just as glossy and premium as plastic but costs a fraction of the price. For specific heavy-duty needs, we can even integrate internal metal support bars² hidden within the cardboard structure. This hybrid approach gives you the strength of metal with the marketing surface area and low weight of cardboard. It also solves the issue of disposal; once the campaign is over, the retailer can simply recycle the entire unit.

I operate three production lines dedicated to converting these raw materials into finished displays. We focus on material strength testing before mass production begins. I ensure that we select the exact grade of corrugated board that matches your product weight so you never face a structural collapse in a retail store.

Which elements does a display stand usually consist of?

A display isn’t just a box. It needs specific structural parts to survive shipping and grab customer attention.

A standard display stand comprises the main body (chassis), shelves or trays for product holding, a header card for branding, and a base for stability. Additional elements may include internal support bars, plastic hooks, or digital screens for interactive customer engagement.

Structural Anatomy and Functionality

To create a successful display, we must break it down into its core components. The most critical part is the chassis or main body. This is the backbone of the unit. In cardboard displays, this is often designed to fold flat for shipping, which we call "knock-down⁵" or flat-pack design. This saves you massive amounts of money on logistics. The next critical element is the shelving system⁶. For cosmetics, shelves often need custom inserts or cutouts to hold tubes and bottles upright. Without these inserts, products would slide around and look messy.

The header card is another vital component. It is the top-most part of the display and serves as a billboard for your brand. It is usually a separate piece that slots into the main body, allowing you to swap out marketing messages without replacing the whole stand. The base is equally important, especially for floor displays. We often apply a waterproof coating or use a plastic mop guard at the bottom. This prevents water damage from store cleaning crews mopping the floors. Finally, many modern displays now include tech integration elements, such as LCD screens or spaces for QR codes. These interactive elements require precise internal cutouts to hide wires and battery packs, keeping the visual presentation clean and professional.

We provide full-service design solutions, starting with the structural concept. My team creates 3D renderings to show you exactly how these elements fit together before we cut a single piece of paper. I do not charge for these initial design concepts because I want to ensure the structure works perfectly for your specific products.

Which material is used for makeup?

Makeup products are small, heavy, and fragile. Choosing the wrong support material can lead to collapsed shelves and damaged inventory.

Makeup displays frequently use injection-molded plastic or acrylic for precise product slots (testers). However, the structural frame often utilizes high-density cardboard or corrugated fiberboard printed with glossy finishes to combine strength with premium visual appeal.

The Balance Between Presentation and Protection

When we talk about materials specifically for makeup, we have to focus on the product inserts. Makeup items like lipstick, mascara, and compacts are irregular in shape and easy to tip over. Traditionally, brands used vacuum-formed plastic trays (VAC trays) to hold these items. While effective, these plastics are becoming less popular due to environmental concerns. Retailers and consumers are pushing for plastic-free solutions.

The modern alternative is molded paper pulp⁹ or precision die-cut cardboard layers. We stack multiple layers of cardboard to create deep recesses that hold the product just as securely as plastic. For the outer visual surfaces, we use paperboard with high-quality surface treatments. We apply UV coatings, foil stamping, or matte lamination to give the cardboard a luxury feel that matches the high price point of cosmetic products. Color consistency is also a major technical requirement here. The red on the display header must match the red of the lipstick box exactly. This requires precise color management¹⁰ during the printing process using CMYK and PMS (Pantone) values. If the color is off, the customer might perceive the product as fake or low quality.

I understand that color inconsistencies are a major pain point for buyers. We use advanced printing equipment to ensure the final print matches your design file exactly. I also provide physical prototypes with free modifications until you are satisfied with how your makeup products sit in the display.

Are acrylic display cases good?

Acrylic looks expensive and clear. But is it actually the best choice for your budget and your sustainability goals?

Acrylic display cases offer excellent optical clarity and durability for long-term use. However, they are significantly more expensive, heavier to ship, and prone to scratching compared to cardboard options, which are better suited for short-term, high-volume retail rollouts.

Strategic Cost and Utility Analysis

Acrylic (often known by the brand name Plexiglas) is the gold standard for clarity. It allows light to pass through better than glass and is shatter-resistant. For a permanent counter display in a high-end department store that needs to last for a year, acrylic¹³ is a good choice. However, for most brands selling in retail chains like Walmart or Costco, acrylic is often an unnecessary expense. The cost of raw acrylic sheet is significantly higher than corrugated board. Furthermore, acrylic displays cannot be easily folded. They usually ship fully assembled, which means you are paying to ship a lot of empty air. This drives your logistics costs up massively.

Another issue with acrylic is its environmental footprint. It is a plastic product derived from fossil fuels and is difficult to recycle in many municipal systems. As consumer preference shifts toward sustainability¹⁴, a large acrylic display can sometimes hurt a brand’s eco-friendly image. Cardboard, by contrast, offers a temporary solution that is strong enough for a 3-month promotion and can be tossed straight into the recycling bin at the back of the store. New manufacturing techniques allow us to create "hybrid" displays where we use cardboard for the main body and a small strip of acrylic only where necessary, such as for a shelf edge or a clear window. This gives you the premium look without the premium price tag.

I advise my clients to look at their profit model. If you rely on repeat orders and quick turnover, investing heavily in acrylic displays might eat into your margins. We can produce cardboard prototypes that look incredibly high-end, saving you money that you can reinvest in product development or marketing.

Conclusion

Choosing the right material depends on your campaign duration and budget. While acrylic serves permanent needs, cardboard dominates modern retail for its cost and sustainability. Focus on structural design to ensure your products are safe and attractive.