Tubes are one of the most practical formats in cosmetic packaging: light, easy to squeeze and good for travel. But “cosmetic tube” covers very different containers, from a 300ml squeeze tube for aloe gel to a 5g twist-up stick for lip balm, and the wrong choice makes a product awkward to use.
This guide explains the main types of cosmetic packaging tubes, what each one is for and how to match a tube to your product, finishing with the tubes Snak Holdings keeps in stock.
Quick answer
- Cleansers, gels and creams: a squeeze tube with a flip top cap, from 30ml for trial sizes to 150ml for retail.
- Aloe vera and soothing gels: a leaf-shaped aloe vera tube tells customers what the product is before they read the label.
- Lip balm and solid sticks: a twist-up lip balm tube.
- Mascara, lip gloss and brow gel: an applicator-style mascara and lip gloss tube.
- Thin liquids such as serums, toners and oils usually suit a bottle with a dropper, pump or sprayer better than a tube.
Cosmetic tube types at a glance
Tubes fall into two groups. Squeeze tubes are soft-sided and dispense through a cap when pressed. Stick and applicator tubes are rigid and built for one job: twisting up a solid balm, or holding the applicator for mascara and gloss.
1. Squeeze tubes for cleansers, creams and gels
The squeeze tube is the workhorse of skincare packaging. Customers press the tube and the product comes out through the cap; because nobody dips their fingers in, it is a cleaner choice than a jar for everyday products.
Squeeze tubes suit medium-thickness products best: face washes, gel cleansers, hand creams, body gels, scrubs and hair care. Very thin liquids run out too fast and stiff balms are hard to squeeze.
Face wash tubes
Face Wash Tubes are plastic squeeze tubes with a flip top cap, available in 30ml, 50ml, 100ml, 120ml and 150ml. A 30ml or 50ml tube works as a trial or travel size; 100ml to 150ml is a typical retail size. Despite the name, they also suit creams, gels, scrubs and some hair and body products.
Snak Tubes
Snak Tubes are 100ml plastic tubes with a flip top cap, available in black or clear. Their clean shape is easy to label, suiting hand cream, body gel, hair care and private label ranges. Black looks bold and premium; clear shows off the gel inside.
2. Aloe vera tubes for soothing gels
The Aloe Vera Tube is a 300ml leaf-shaped squeeze tube with a flip top cap. Its shape does the marketing for you: customers recognise an aloe or plant-based gel before they read the label.
It suits aloe vera gel, after-sun gel, cooling gel and herbal body care gels. At 300ml it is a value-size pack, best for products used freely over large areas of skin.
3. Lip balm tubes for solid sticks
Lip Balm Tubes are compact 5g twist-up plastic tubes. The customer twists the base to raise the stick. The format is familiar, fits in a pocket and suits lip balm, solid balm sticks and small treatment sticks.
They are available in black, clear, pink, white and yellow. Colour is an easy way to separate flavours or variants, for example pink for a tinted balm and white for an unscented one.
4. Mascara and lip gloss tubes for applicator products
Mascara & Lip Gloss Tubes are 10ml plastic tubes designed for colour cosmetics that are applied with a built-in applicator. They are available in black or gold: black is the classic mascara look, while gold suits gloss and gift ranges.
Use them for mascara, lip gloss, brow gel and lash serum. One tube colour across an eye and lip line keeps the range consistent.
Not sure which tube suits your formula? Send us a message on WhatsApp with your product type and size and we will suggest options that are in stock.
5. Tube, bottle or jar? Matching the format to your product
A tube is not always the right answer. Start with how thick your product is and how customers will use it.
| Your product | Usually best in | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Face wash, gel cleanser, hand cream, body gel | Squeeze tube | Easy daily dispensing; no fingers in the product |
| Aloe vera or cooling gel in a large size | Aloe vera tube | Generous size and a shape that signals the product |
| Serum, facial oil, essential oil | Dropper bottle | Measured drops of a thin liquid |
| Lotion or body wash in a larger size | Bottle with a lotion pump | Controlled dose from a bottle that stands upright |
| Thick cream, balm or body butter | Jar | Too stiff to squeeze; easy to scoop |
For thin liquids, see our guide on how to choose the right dropper bottle for serums and skincare. For lotions, browse Pumps & Caps, and for thick creams, Cosmetic Jars. If you are putting together your first range, our guide to choosing cosmetic packaging for a startup in Sri Lanka covers the bigger decisions.
Checks to make before you order tubes
A few tests with sample tubes and your real formula can save you from problems with a full batch.
- Squeeze test: fill a sample and check the product flows through the cap at the right rate.
- Filling and sealing: ask how the tube is filled and closed, and make sure you can do it with the equipment you have.
- Leak test: close the cap, store the tube on its side and upside down for a day, and check the cap and seams.
- Compatibility test: leave your formula in the tube for several weeks and watch for changes in the product or the tube, especially with strong fragrances, essential oils or actives.
- Label test: wrap a printed mock-up of your label around the tube and check it stays readable when squeezed.
- Reorder check: confirm the same tube, size, colour and cap will be available when you reorder, so every batch looks the same.
Cosmetic tubes 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 tube listed below is in stock.
Because the catalogue is large, you can mix and match tubes, bottles, jars, closures, colours and finishes from the standard range to build your own look, still with no minimum order. 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.
| Tube | Capacity | Colour / closure | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face Wash Tubes | 30ml, 50ml, 100ml, 120ml, 150ml | Flip top | Cleansers, gels, creams, scrubs |
| Snak Tubes | 100ml | Black or clear; flip top | Hand cream, body gel, hair care |
| Aloe Vera Tube | 300ml | Leaf shape; flip top | Aloe vera, after-sun and cooling gels |
| Lip Balm Tubes | 5g | Black, clear, pink, white or yellow; twist-up | Lip balm and solid sticks |
| Mascara & Lip Gloss Tubes | 10ml | Black or gold; applicator cap | Mascara, lip gloss, brow gel, lash serum |
All the tubes listed are plastic. 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 cap, ask. You can browse everything in the Cosmetic Tubes category.
Not sure which tube fits your product?
Tell us what your product is, how thick it is and the size you have in mind. We’ll suggest tubes that suit it and let you know what’s in stock.
Frequently asked questions
What size tube is best for a face wash?
100ml to 150ml is a common retail size; 30ml or 50ml suits trial and travel sizes. Snak Holdings’ face wash tubes come in all of these, so you can offer several sizes in one style.
Is a tube or a jar better for a face cream?
It depends on the texture. A cream that flows when squeezed works well in a tube and stays cleaner. A very thick cream, balm or butter is easier to use from a jar.
Can I buy cosmetic tubes in small quantities in Sri Lanka?
Yes. Snak Holdings has no minimum order quantity on any standard item, including every tube on this website and the wider range in the shop. It sells both retail and wholesale, with wholesale pricing available, so startups and small brands can order the quantity their first batch needs and reorder as sales grow.
Can cosmetic tubes be customized for my brand?
Yes. The simplest way is to mix and match from the standard range: choose the tube style, size and colour that suit your brand and pair them with bottles and jars across your range, with no minimum order quantity. 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 tube is compatible with my formula?
The only reliable way is to test it. Fill a sample tube with your product, store it for several weeks and check for leaks or changes in the product or the tube. Products with strong fragrances, essential oils or active ingredients are the most important to test.