Product packaging design can seem daunting at first glance, but it doesn’t have to be. Some of the most effective designs are based on surprisingly simple templates, you just have to know how to focus on the must-haves.
If you’re looking for tips on how to make a soap label, you’re sure to find something here to inspire you, which is why we’ll focus on 3 main approaches to soap labeling.
Meet regulatory requirements
Before starting, and making a nice and attractive packaging, the most important thing is to comply with all the necessary regulations so that your soaps can be sold without problems, in itself is the base of the pyramid to correctly label your soaps for sale.
Before obtaining labels, it is important to know that soaps may be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Both are federal agencies that regulate products to protect the public, but what distinguishes them is which products they regulate. Food, drugs, cosmetics and tobacco products fall under the purview of the FDA, while the CPSC regulates other types of consumer goods such as toys, sporting goods, clothing, household cleaning chemicals and many other items.
Soap, however, is a special category. This is because the regulatory definition of “soap” is different from the way people commonly use the word. According to the FDA website, the term “soap” only applies when.
The majority of the nonvolatile matter in the product consists of an alkali salt of fatty acids and the detergent properties of the product are due to alkali fatty acid compounds, and the product is labeled, sold, and represented solely as soap [21 CFR 701.20].
Products that meet this definition of soap are regulated by the CPSC, not the FDA. Questions about these products, such as safety and labeling requirements, should be directed to the CPSC. If a product intended for cleaning the human body does not meet all of the criteria for soap, as listed above, it is considered a cosmetic or drug, and is therefore regulated by FDA. For example:
If a product is composed of detergents, or primarily alkaline salts of fatty acids, and is intended not only for cleaning, but also for other cosmetic uses, it is regulated as a cosmetic. Some examples of cosmetic uses are making the user more attractive, acting as a deodorant, imparting fragrance to the user, or moisturizing the skin.
With these definitions, you should be able to tell if your product is legally defined as a soap, cosmetic and/or drug. Under the Federal Drug and Cosmetic Act, cosmetic products and ingredients (with the exception of color additives) do not require FDA approval before going to market. Drugs, however, must receive premarket approval from the FDA. In addition, cosmetics and drugs must be labeled according to their respective regulations, and if the product is considered both a drug and a cosmetic, it must have both types of labeling. For more information on cosmetics and drugs, visit the FDA website.
Clarity and simplicity
Packaging is an effective tool to achieve the purchase objective. It helps us to transmit the image of the product and informs the consumer of what is inside. It is a means of communication with the customer, who only spends about four seconds to observe.
That’s right, only a few seconds is what a person will dedicate to the packaging. Time in which you will have to send a clear, simple and forceful message; a few seconds to make him fall in love.
Then, the main mission of the packaging will be to answer these two questions:
1. What is this product for?
2. What is the brand behind it?
It will have to do it in the best way since the rest of the competitors are trying to do it. To do this, your product’s packaging design will have to follow the rules of clarity, simplicity and a lot of creativity to solve these two questions.
The next time you go to the supermarket or store, check the shelf of your choice to see how many of these products have too much information on their labels, what they offer is very attractive, but it is not clear what it is for and, apparently, they do not have any affiliation.
So keep in mind this first rule: your label must be clear about the nature of the product and the brand.
Take advantage of color, texture and typography.
A common question you may be asking yourself, “What is the label and packaging design process?”
At The Label Shoppe we create effective, eye-catching designs that sell your product. Our first step is our initial contact with the client – Our consultation is Free! (you can contact us and ask) – During that first contact, we discuss your goals – the generalities of the project – the types of packaging that might work best for you – and of course your time and budget. All of these elements are considered in the design.
But it is also important to consider color in terms of presentation and color psychology in the design. We make sure that the font for the information is legible and that the colors make it easy to read from any distance.
A reflective metallic label can be eye-catching, but can also be difficult to read when combined with certain colors and textures. A rustic-looking label may be perfect for botanicals and products that use recycled materials, but may not be appropriate for a high-tech product.
A rustic label is often very useful for soaps, but can also be difficult to read when combined with certain colors and textures.
It is also important to consider the psychological interpretation of color when designing packaging: silver labels convey sophistication, elegance or a high-tech feel; brown paper labels can convey solidity, reliability and sustainability; blue packaging can convey confidence and authority.