How to Ship Cosmetics and Skincare Without Leaks: Packing and Returns

Get skincare orders ready to leave without leaks or last-minute confusion

One leaking bottle can ruin the whole box—and your customer’s first impression. Build a simple routine to screen products, pack eligible liquids securely, set clear return expectations and keep orders moving. Moveka, Kenya’s largest courier and one of Kenya’s most deeply connected courier networks, offers Express and Same-Day options.

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What should you have ready before shipping cosmetics?

The product label and available safety data or manufacturer information.
A secure closure, leak-resistant inner bag or container, absorbent material, cushioning and a sturdy outer box for eligible liquid products.
The customer’s order and delivery details, including the destination they entered, such as Westlands, Kilimani, Lavington or Parklands.
A returns policy that customers can read before they buy.

Check for aerosols and flammable ingredients before you pack

Screen products such as aerosols, perfume, nail products, alcohol-containing formulas and anything else that may be flammable. Check the label and available safety information, and ask the delivery provider before handover if a product’s classification or acceptance is unclear. Ordinary liquid packing does not make a restricted item acceptable.

How do you pack skincare liquids to prevent leaks?

Tighten the closure and check that the container is in good condition.
Place each eligible liquid container in a sealed, leak-resistant inner bag or container. Add absorbent material around it.
Cushion bottles and keep them from touching each other or the box walls. Fill empty space so items cannot shift around.
Use a sturdy outer box and seal it securely. Check the packed parcel for signs of leakage before dispatch.
Follow the delivery provider’s packing instructions if they differ from these general steps.

What should your opened-product returns policy say?

Use plain language and make the policy easy to find before purchase. Explain how a customer can request a return and what information you need about the product’s condition and packaging. Set out how you handle sealed and opened items, as well as reports of damage, leakage or a product concern. Have the policy reviewed for compliance; avoid blanket statements that opened cosmetics can never be returned.

How can you make your order handover routine repeatable?

Prepare and check orders in a batch so parcels are less likely to pile up unfinished.
Record each order and parcel’s details, then check that the contents are packed and labelled correctly.
Hand parcels over with the information the delivery provider requires.
Send the customer a dispatch or tracking update when available.
Use a daily checklist to catch orders that are packed but not yet handed over.

Cosmetics shipping checks: common mistakes to avoid

Treating every liquid as acceptable without screening its ingredients and packaging.
Assuming extra cushioning makes a restricted product suitable for dispatch.
Packing multiple bottles together without separating and cushioning them.
Hiding return conditions until after a customer places an order.
Letting parcels wait without a clear handover check or customer update.