A jar is the natural home for anything too thick to pour, pump or squeeze: face creams, body butters, balms, masks and scrubs. Customers open it every day, so the jar does a lot of work for your brand. The wrong one makes a premium cream look cheap, or a large jar too heavy to ship.
This guide matches the four main jar materials, glass, plastic, acrylic and aluminium, to the products they suit best, then covers sizes, checks to make before you order and the cosmetic jars Snak Holdings keeps in stock. Snak Holdings has no minimum order quantity on standard items, so you can buy the number of jars your first batch needs and reorder as you grow.
Quick answer
- Face and night creams, premium skincare: a glass jar, in amber, black or clear, with a frosted, glossy or matte finish.
- Everyday creams, gels, scrubs and hair masks: a lightweight plastic jar, from 15g to 250g.
- A glossy, gift-ready look for creams and gels: an acrylic jar in gold, silver or white.
- Balms, salves, waxes and solid perfume: a compact aluminium jar.
- No minimum order on standard items, so you can test several jars with your product before committing.
Cosmetic jar materials at a glance
Every jar in the Snak Holdings range closes with a screw cap, so the real choice is the material: it decides the look, the weight and which products the jar suits.
1. Start with your product’s texture
Jars suit products thick enough to stay put when the jar is open. If your product flows easily, a tube or pump bottle is usually cleaner. Use this table as a starting point.
| Your product | Good jar choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Face cream, night cream, eye cream | Glass or acrylic, 15g – 50g | Premium look and a size used up while fresh |
| Body butter, thick body cream | Glass or plastic, 100g – 300g | Wide opening for scooping a generous amount |
| Face mask, clay mask, hair mask | Plastic or glass, 50g – 250g | Easy to scoop; plastic is lighter for larger sizes |
| Body scrub, sugar or salt scrub | Plastic, 150g – 250g | Light and practical for use in the shower |
| Lip balm, salve, beard balm, solid perfume | Aluminium, 10g – 50g | Compact, light and suits firm, waxy textures |
| Samples, testers, travel sizes | 5ml plastic or 5g – 15g glass | Small and low cost for trials and giveaways |
Because a jar is opened and touched every time it is used, many brands include a small spatula or advise customers to use clean, dry hands. How well your formula copes with daily opening is a question for your formulator.
2. Glass jars for creams and premium skincare
Glass is the classic choice for skincare that needs to feel premium. Its weight reads as quality, and the wide mouth suits face creams, body butters, masks and balms.
Glass Cosmetic Jars are listed in 5g, 10g, 15g, 20g, 30g, 42g, 50g, 100g, 170g, 200g and 300g, in amber, black or clear glass with a frosted, glossy or matte finish. That makes it easy to build a whole range in one style.
- Amber: reduces light reaching the product; suits natural and botanical creams.
- Black: bold and modern, popular for men’s grooming.
- Clear: shows off the colour and texture of the cream.
- Frosted or matte: a soft, spa-like look that hides fingerprints.
The trade-offs are weight and breakage: glass costs more to courier and needs careful packing.
3. Plastic jars for everyday creams, gels and scrubs
Plastic jars are the practical all-rounder: light, less likely to break and cheaper to ship, which matters for large sizes and shower products such as scrubs.
Plastic Cosmetic Jars are listed in 15g, 20g, 25g, 30g, 50g, 100g, 150g and 250g, in plastic and PP, with a frosted or glossy finish. Colours are black, clear, green, orange, pearl white, pink and yellow, so you can colour-code variants, for example one colour per scent or skin type.
For samples and testers, the 5ml Plastic Chinese Jars are small screw-cap containers for cream and balm samples, testers, pigments and promotional packs.
4. Acrylic jars for a premium display look
Acrylic jars are chosen for presentation. Their polished finish gives a cream or gel a high-end look for gift sets and display-focused ranges.
Acrylic Jars are listed in 30g and 50g, in gold, silver or white with a glossy finish and a screw cap. They are a good step up when you want a more luxurious look than a standard plastic jar.
5. Aluminium jars for balms, salves and solids
Aluminium jars, often called tins, are the go-to format for firm, waxy products. They are light and compact, with a clean metallic look that suits natural and men’s grooming brands.
Aluminum Jars are listed in 10g, 15g, 30g, 50g, 100g and 150g, in black, gold, silver or white with a glossy or matte finish. Small sizes suit lip balm, solid perfume and travel creams; 50g to 150g suits body balms, beard balms and salves.
Not sure which jar suits your formula? Send us a message on WhatsApp with your product type and size and we will suggest options that are in stock.
6. Choosing the right jar size
Jar sizes are given by weight (g). The right size depends on how much is used each time and how long one jar should last.
| Size | Typical use | Listed in |
|---|---|---|
| 5g – 15g | Samples, testers, eye creams, lip and solid balms | Glass, aluminium, 5ml plastic, plastic (15g) |
| 20g – 50g | Face creams, night creams, gels, balms | Glass, plastic, acrylic, aluminium |
| 100g – 170g | Body butters, hair masks, body balms | Glass, plastic, aluminium |
| 200g – 300g | Large body creams, scrubs and value sizes | Glass, plastic (250g) |
For a new face cream, a 30g or 50g retail jar plus a small sample jar in the same style is a practical starting pair.
7. Jar, tube or bottle?
If your cream flows when squeezed, a tube keeps fingers out of the product; see our guide to the types of cosmetic tubes and what each is for. Thin serums and oils belong in a dropper bottle, covered in how to choose the right dropper bottle for serums and skincare. Lotions are easier from a bottle with a pump; browse Pumps & Caps. Planning a whole first range? Read our guide to choosing cosmetic packaging for a startup in Sri Lanka.
Checks to make before you order jars
A few simple tests with sample jars and your real product can save you from problems with a full batch.
- Fill test: fill a sample to your planned weight and check the jar looks full.
- Seal test: close the lid, store the jar upside down for a day and check the cap and thread.
- Compatibility test: leave your product in the jar for several weeks and watch for changes in the product, jar or lid, especially with strong fragrances, essential oils or actives.
- Heat test: keep a filled sample somewhere warm to see how a balm or butter behaves in Sri Lankan heat.
- Label test: stick a printed mock-up of your label on the jar and lid.
- Reorder check: confirm the same jar, size, colour and finish will be available when you reorder, so every batch looks the same.
Cosmetic jars at Snak Holdings
Snak Holdings manufactures and supplies cosmetic packaging in Sri Lanka, with no minimum order quantity on any standard item, whether it is listed on this website or part of the wider range in the shop. Snak Holdings sells both retail and wholesale, with wholesale pricing available, so you can start with the quantity your first batch needs, test the market and reorder as you grow. Every jar listed below is in stock.
Because the catalogue is large, you can mix and match jars, bottles, tubes, closures, colours and finishes from the standard range to build your own look, still with no minimum order on standard items. Logo printing and fully custom OEM packaging are also available on request. Because customization costs are high, fully custom OEM packaging is recommended from about 500 pieces, and it usually takes around two weeks depending on the customization.
| Jar | Listed sizes | Colour / finish | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glass Cosmetic Jars | 5g – 300g | Amber, black or clear; frosted, glossy or matte | Face creams, body butters, masks, balms |
| Plastic Cosmetic Jars | 15g – 250g | Black, clear, green, orange, pearl white, pink or yellow; frosted or glossy | Everyday creams, gels, scrubs, hair masks |
| Acrylic Jars | 30g, 50g | Gold, silver or white; glossy | Premium creams and gels |
| Aluminum Jars | 10g – 150g | Black, gold, silver or white; glossy or matte | Balms, salves, waxes, solid perfume |
| 5ml Plastic Chinese Jars | 5ml | Plastic | Samples, testers, promotions |
All the jars listed close with a screw cap. The full range in the shop is wider than what is shown online, with no minimum order on standard items, so if you need a different size, colour or finish, ask. You can browse everything in the Cosmetic Jars category.
Where to buy: visit the Snak Holdings shop at 24, Madampitiya Road, Colombo 01500, Sri Lanka. The shop is open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5.30pm, and closed on Sunday.
Not sure which jar fits your product?
Tell us what your product is, how thick it is and the size you have in mind. We’ll suggest jars that suit it and let you know what’s in stock.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best jar for a face cream?
A 30g or 50g glass or acrylic jar is the most common choice. Glass gives a premium feel, acrylic a glossy, gift-ready look, and plastic is a lighter, lower-cost alternative.
What size jar should I use for a body butter?
Body butters are usually sold in 100g to 200g jars, with 50g as a trial or travel size. Snak Holdings lists glass jars up to 300g and plastic jars up to 250g.
Can I buy cosmetic jars in small quantities in Sri Lanka?
Yes. Snak Holdings has no minimum order quantity on any standard item, including every jar on this website and the wider range in the shop. It sells both retail and wholesale, with wholesale pricing available, so small brands can order the quantity their first batch needs and reorder as sales grow.
Can cosmetic jars be customized for my brand?
Yes. The simplest way is to mix and match from the standard range: choose the jar material, size, colour and finish that suit your brand, with no minimum order quantity on standard items. Logo printing and fully custom OEM packaging are also available on request; fully custom OEM is recommended from about 500 pieces and usually takes around two weeks, depending on the customization. Share your requirements on WhatsApp and the team will explain what is possible for your product.
How do I know a jar is compatible with my product?
The only reliable way is to test it. Fill a sample jar with your product, store it for several weeks and check for leaks or changes in the product, the jar or the lid. Products with strong fragrances, essential oils or active ingredients are the most important to test.