FAQS
- Who is Cosmetic Specialties International?
- Where are you located?
- Who Owns CSI?
- Is CSI affiliated with Cosmolab?
- What products & services do you offer?
- Do you manufacture environmentally-friendly packaging?
- Who are your customers?
- What are the benefits of working with CSI?
- What is your environmental and social responsibility policy?
- How does CSI stay competitive in the global market?
- What are your minimum quantities?
- What are your typical lead times?
Package Design, Tooling & Plastic Injection Molding
- What is plastic injection molding?
- What is a mold?
- Can you help me design, develop and produce my packaging?
- Do you produce in-house tooling?
- How long does CSI take to produce custom tooling?
- What size containers do you manufacture?
Jars, Caps, Specialty Closures & Other Products
- What is a double-wall jar?
- What other jars do you manufacture?
- Do you manufacture cosmetic pencil components?
- Do you offer stock packaging?
- What types of caps or specialty closures do you produce?
- What types of sealing discs do you produce?
- What are ScentVent™ induction seals?
- How do I know if my product is compatible with the packaging?
- How do I order samples to test my products in your packaging?
- Do you provide color matching services?
- Does CSI produce glow-in-the-dark components?
Traditional, Recycled, Bio-Based & Biodegradable Packaging
- What traditional plastic injection-molded packaging do you offer?
- Do you manufacture recycled plastic packaging?
- Does PIR perform as well as traditional plastic packaging?
- Do you offer bio-based packaging alternatives to petroleum-based plastics?
- Do you manufacture biodegradable packaging?
- Can you help me select the right material for my product?
Decorating, Printing, & Labeling
About Our Company
Who is Cosmetic Specialties International?
Cosmetic Specialties International, LLC (CSI™) is a leading plastic injection molding manufacturer serving beauty, health and personal care customers for more 30 years. We offer in-house design, tooling, prototyping and decorating for stock and custom components. We manufacture more than 200 million plastic parts annually.
Where are you located?
CSI is a Texas-based company with manufacturing facilities in Southern California and authorized sales representatives throughout North America. CSI was originally founded in Hollywood, California in 1978.
Who Owns CSI?
Asparron Capital, LLC acquired the jars and closures business of Cosmetic Specialties, Inc (CSI-Cosmolab, Cosmetics Specialties, Inc and Cosmolab, Inc) on October 22, 2009. Asparron is a private equity investment firm located in North Richland Hills, Texas.
Is CSI affiliated with Cosmolab?
No. CSI is an independent company. We have no relationship with Cosmolab, which operates out of its Tennessee location.
What products & services do you offer?
Our product line includes single and double-wall jars, caps, sealing discs, liners, pencil components and specialty closures. We provide on-site tooling, prototyping, injection molding, decorating and assembly. On-site decorating services include labeling, silk screening, pad printing, hot stamping, banding and custom options.
Do you manufacture environmentally-friendly packaging?
Yes. Besides traditional plastic and acrylic, we manufacture post-industrial resin, bio-based and biodegradable packaging.
Who are your customers?
We serve U.S. and global beauty, cosmetics, skin care, hair care, nail care, foot care, health, wellness, personal care, fragrance, spa, bath & body, nutraceutical, over-the-counter, and natural, organic and private-label product companies.
What are the benefits of working with CSI?
The benefits to CSI customers include turnkey production, short lead-times, low minimum quantities (MOQ), on-time delivery and excellent customer service. We respond quickly to design changes and custom orders. We are conveniently located close to major private-label manufacturers, contract packagers and transportation hubs. We ship finished goods quickly and reliably. Over the years, customers have relied on CSI for packaging innovation, mold repair, on-site tooling, single-sourcing, quality assurance, on-site decorating and problem-solving.
What is your environmental and social responsibility policy?
We are socially responsible and environmentally conscious, comply with all laws and regulations and strive to protect our climate and natural resources. We practice energy and water efficiency, reduce, reuse and recycle waste and continue to lower our carbon and water footprint. All our products are Bisphenol-A (BPA) and Phthalate-free. We continue to make progress in material sourcing, environmental stewardship, green packaging production and improving the quality of life for our employees, their families and communities around the globe.
How does CSI stay competitive in the global market?
The challenges of off-shore sourcing include cultural, communications, financial, legal, environmental, political, and product quality issues. We stay competitive offering high quality, single-sourcing, fast service, reliability, innovative solutions and just-in-time shipping without customs duties or quotas. Also, by working with major resin suppliers for more than 30 years has allowed us to keep overheads low and pass these savings on to our customers.
What are your minimum quantities?
Our minimum quantity for components is 25,000 decorated and 10,000 undecorated. Our stock jars and caps sold by the case in quantities that vary by product.
What are your typical lead times?
Lead times are four to six-weeks for undecorated components. Stock orders are shipped within several days based on inventory.
Package Design, Tooling & Plastic Injection Molding
What is plastic injection molding?
Plastic injection molding is a manufacturing process that forms products when heat-softened molding material (resin) is forced into a mold cavity where it cools and hardens into the desired shape. Used to make parts from tiny components to automobile body panels, injection molding is accomplished by large injection molding machines. Plastic injection molding is an ideal process for producing high volumes of the same object.
What is a mold?
A mold or die is a common term used to describe the tooling used to produce the plastic parts in injection molding. When a product is designed, a mold is made from steel or aluminum and machined to form the features of the desired part. Molds consist of two primary components, the injection mold (plate A) and the ejector mold (plate B). The barrel of the mold is known as the mold cavity.
Can you help me design, develop and produce my packaging?
Yes. Our experienced team can provide turnkey packaging services from concepts, design, tooling and prototyping to manufacturing, on-site decorating and final assembly.
Do you produce in-house tooling?
Yes. We build our tools on-site providing single-source manufacturing that saves customers time, resources and money. We also accept and maintain customer-supplied tooling. Expert on-site mold repair service is also available.
How long does CSI take to produce custom tooling?
In-house tooling usually takes about eight to 10 weeks. Tooling sourced outside of our facility requires about 14 to 16 weeks. Expedited tooling services may be available.
What size containers do you manufacture?
Double-wall jars which feature an inner and outer shell range from 1/4-oz to 8-oz. Single-wall jars are available in 18-oz capacity.
Jars, Caps, Specialty Closures & Other Products
What is a double-wall jar?
Double-wall jars are elegant, lightweight containers with a durable outer shell and inner liner that is compatible with cosmetics, skincare, hair care and personal care products. These jars provide visual impact, shelf appeal, attract attention and distinguish your products from the competition. The smooth sides facilitate easy silk-screening, labeling or custom decorating. Straight, round base and pumpkin shapes are available in sizes to coordinate an entire family of products.
What other jars do you manufacture?
We manufacture single-wall jars, in-mold frosted jars, PETG thick-wall jars, recycled, bio-based and biodegradable jars and matching caps. We also produce specialty jars, seasonal, and promotional products. Choose traditional plastics and acrylics or eco-friendly resins in styles, sizes and colors to meet your needs.
Do you manufacture cosmetic pencil components?
Yes. We manufacture eight different parts for cosmetic pencil components. Ask your authorized CSI sales representative for details. (805)487-6698
Do you offer stock packaging?
Yes. Use the search feature to view our stock packaging.
What types of caps or specialty closures do you produce?
We produce a wide range of caps and closures including liners and heat sealers. Choose ribbed, dome, straight side, high-profile, low-profile and other styles. We produce specialty closures for jars tubes, bottles, pumps, sprayers and droppers in snap fit, dome, dispensing and other styles. We also develop custom caps and closures for specific needs. Decorating options include hot stamping, offset printing and banding.
What types of sealing discs do you produce?
We produce high quality sealing discs that ensure products remain pristine until they reach the customers and keep the product inside the jar where it belongs. More durable than dust covers, these discs feature an insert tab for easy opening, closing and added protection.
What are ScentVent™ induction seals?
These specialty liners allow customers to sample your fragrance while keeping the product sealed and untouched. ScentVent seals increase trial purchase, satisfied customers and reduce product returns. Lead time approximately ten weeks.
How do I know if my product is compatible with the packaging?
Our long-term experience in manufacturing and plastic materials help ensure your products and packaging are well-suited for each other and meet or exceed stability, compatibility, barrier resistance and other quality standards. This is especially critical for products containing chemicals, oils, alcohol, or complex formulas. Ingredients can also sensitive to light, air, heat and moisture. To this end we work closely with your development personnel, testing laboratories, and suppliers. We provide sample components, pilot batches, material evaluations, analytics, process validations and other support services to ensure you packaging is compliant in all areas.
How do I order samples to test my products in your packaging?
Visit our home page then click on samples & quotes to forward your request.
Do you provide color matching services?
Yes. Color matching reinforces product quality and brand integrity to ensure rich consistent color throughout every run. Choose frosted, metallic, pearl, sparkle, luminescent, translucent, or marbling in a gloss or dull finish. After you supply a Pantone number or plastic standard it takes 7 to 10 days for matching. We will then forward color chips for approval. Two chips must be signed and returned as approval standards. If the color match is rejected more than twice a set up fee may be required.
Does CSI produce glow-in-the-dark components?
Yes. We offer distinctive, glow-in-the-dark packaging including pumpkin-shape jars that add an appealing, interactive element to seasonal packaging and promotional items. Our phosphorescent plastic resins emit a green glow when viewed in dark environments.
Traditional, Recycled, Bio-Based & Biodegradable Packaging
What traditional plastic injection-molded packaging do you offer?
Our traditional plastic packaging includes (PP) Polypropylene, polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), PETG and acrylic resins.
Do you manufacture recycled plastic packaging?
Yes. Our post-industrial resin (PIR) components are a blend of recycled polypropylene made from plastic destined for landfills. No virgin resins or materials are used. This affordable eco-friendly packaging reduces the use of petroleum-based plastics and new raw materials.
Does PIR (post-industrial resin) perform as well as traditional plastic packaging?
Yes. Recycled resins are cleaned to the highest standards and perfectly safe for cosmetics, skincare and personal care products. Material properties including heat resistance, moisture resistance and shelf stability are similar to traditional plastics, so added stability and compatibility testing may not be required.
Do you offer bio-based packaging alternatives to petroleum-based plastics?
Yes. Our bio-based jars and caps are a blend of 68% polypropylene and 32% sustainable plant-based starches derived from corn, wheat, tapioca and potatoes which that don’t divert resources from the food supply. Material properties are similar to traditional plastics, so added stability or compatibility testing may not be required. Using less petroleum-based plastics, fewer new raw materials and made at lower temperatures reducing cycle times and energy use, these bio-based jars and caps are among the lowest carbon footprint components available.
Do you manufacture biodegradable packaging?
Yes. Our 100% biodegradable jars and caps feature Mirel™ bio-plastics from Telles. Made from semi-crystalline polyester derived from corn sugar engineered for injection-molding this packaging biodegrades in natural soil and water environments, and home and industrial composting systems. Material properties include heat and moisture resistance and shelf stability similar to traditional plastics. Like most bio-plastics and organics, Mirel is not designed to biodegrade in conventional landfills. The rate and extent of biodegradability will depend on the size and shape of the packaging.
Can you help me select the right material for my product?
Yes. Choosing the correct resin depends on product formulation, compatibility, size, weight, light, moisture or oxygen transmission, molding properties, decorating options, regulatory compliance, environmental factors, shelf appeal and other considerations. Please contact your CSI sales representative for information and assistance. (805)487-6698
Decorating, Printing, & Labeling
Does CSI provide full-service decorating?
Yes. We provide complete on-site decorating including silk-screening, pad printing, hot stamping, labeling, banding, and custom decorating options. Contact your CSI sales representatives for details. (805)487-6698
How are your products shipped?
We can ship bulk or layer-packaged depending on your needs.