Have you ever opened a new bottle of shampoo, jar of face cream or tube of suncream only to find it’s far from full to the top? You’re not alone; tens of thousands of unhappy shoppers have taken to online forums to vent their frustrations about part-empty containers in the beauty world.
Toiletries are among the worst offenders, with super-sized packaging often giving customers a misleading impression of just how much they’re getting for their money.
Some leading brands use opaque bottles or labels, so you can’t see what’s inside, while others have double-walled sides, large lids or false bases that can make quantities appear bigger than they are.
So why do manufacturers put their products in such big containers? And why don’t they fill them to the top? ‘They use bigger containers so it looks like you’re getting more for your money,’ says Ariane Young, a celebrity and media make-up artist.
‘Ingredients, labour and marketing are more expensive but customers are less willing to shell out on new products every month, so brands are finding ways to cut corners.’
There may be a practical reason in some cases. Kyle Frank, a beauty expert, cosmetics formulator and founder of Frank’s Remedies, explains that some products need extra ‘breathing space’ so that the bottles and tubes reach customers intact.
‘Product packaging can expand due to temperature changes and rocky movement during transit,’ he says. ‘Depending on the formulation of the product, this may cause more air to be produced. This is known as thermal expansion.’
Such expansion could cause leakage, or make containers burst open, so leaving a little space at the top of the bottle or jar ensures it reaches customers in one piece.
So how much product is there in your everyday toiletries and are you being fooled by the size or shape of the packaging it’s sold in?
We conducted an experiment, comparing the amount of liquid, gel or cream in beauty products (stated on the packaging) against the total volume of the container (in millilitres).
We did this by squeezing the product into a glass measuring beaker and filling the empty container with water to see how much it could hold when full. The results will make you think twice on your next visit to the beauty aisle.
Unilever and Procter & Gamble, makers of the products we tested, were approached for comment.
Have you ever opened a new bottle of shampoo, jar of face cream or tube of suncream only to find it’s far from full to the top? You’re not alone, writes Sarah Rainey
We conducted an experiment, comparing the amount of liquid, gel or cream in beauty products (stated on the packaging) against the total volume of the container (in millilitres)
Garnier Vitamin C Nutri-Glow Body Cream, (£10)
Jar holds: 530ml
Actually contains: 380ml
Difference: 150ml
Percentage full: 72 per cent
This jar of deliciously-scented body cream looks like a very generous size – enough to last several months.
But when I unscrew the lid I’m disappointed to see it’s only three-quarters full; the rest is empty space. There’s a whopping 150ml difference between the amount of product inside and the total volume capacity of the jar.
This jar of deliciously-scented body cream looks like a very generous size – enough to last several months. But when I unscrew the lid I’m disappointed
Simple Gentle Cleansing Shampoo (£3.25)
Bottle holds: 460ml
Actually contains: 400ml
Difference: 60ml
Percentage full: 87 per cent
This large white bottle stands out as one of the bigger ones on the shelves, but all is not as it seems.
Our experiment shows there would be room inside for another 60ml of product, nearly a fifth more liquid than what is in the bottle.
This large white bottle stands out as one of the bigger ones on the shelves, but all is not as it seems
CeraVe Foaming Face Cleanser (£12.50)
Bottle holds: 285ml
Actually contains: 236ml
Difference: 49ml
Percentage full: 83 per cent
There’s a large pump inside this bottle of face cleanser, so less room for liquid than you’d expect.
But even accounting for that, there’s capacity for another 49ml of product – that’s 21 per cent more than you actually get.
There’s a large pump inside this bottle of face cleanser, so less room for liquid than you’d expect
Garnier Ambre Solaire Soothing After Sun (£6.99)
Bottle holds: 410ml
Actually contains: 400ml
Difference: 10ml
Percentage full: 98 per cent
This bottle feels pleasingly heavy and, looking inside the cap, I can see the white after sun lotion filled very close to the top.
For a large, family-sized bottle, there’s impressively little empty space inside – just 10ml.
This bottle feels pleasingly heavy and, looking inside the cap, I can see the white after sun lotion filled very close to the top
Dove Moisturising Hand Wash (£1.49)
Bottle holds: 300ml
Actually contains: 250ml
Difference: 50ml
Percentage full: 83 per cent
The hand pump fills up a whopping sixth of this bottle. But when I tip it out and fill it to the top with water I find there is enough missing for 10 to 15 more hand washes.
The hand pump fills up a whopping sixth of this bottle
Nivea Sun Protect Suncream Factor 30 (£6.79)
Bottle holds: 205ml
Actually contains: 200ml
Difference: 5ml
Percentage full: 98 per cent
At this time of year, we go through bottles of suncream weekly – so it’s important to know what you’re getting (and how long it will last) when you stock up. Impressively, this 200ml bottle is almost full to the top; there’s space for just 5ml more liquid inside.
At this time of year, we go through bottles of suncream weekly. This is almost full to the top
Sanex Expert Soothing Bath Soak (£3)
Bottle holds: 505ml
Actually contains: 450ml
Difference: 55ml
Percentage full: 89 per cent
This big bottle of bath soak feels weighty, so I’m hopeful about the amount of product inside. When I open the cap, it looks like it’s almost filled to the brim – but looks can be deceiving. When decanted from the container, you could still fit another 55ml liquid in there.
This big bottle of bath soak feels weighty, so I’m hopeful about the amount of product inside. But looks can be deceiving
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Intensive Body Lotion (£3.25)
Bottle holds: 275ml
Actually contains: 275ml
Difference: 0ml
Percentage full: 100 per cent
This thick, luxurious lotion is incredibly hard to get out, and I resort to hitting it on the end like a ketchup bottle. It would be much more user-friendly in a jar. But rest assured; the results show the quantity of product inside fills the bottle right the way to the top.
This thick, luxurious lotion is incredibly hard to get out, and I resort to hitting it on the end like a ketchup bottle. But the product fills the bottle right the way to the top
Dove Body Love Self-Tan Lotion (£3.99)
Bottle holds: 450ml
Actually contains: 400ml
Difference: 50ml
Percentage full: 89 per cent
This gradual fake tan lotion comes in a tall, sleek bottle, but the beige packaging makes it impossible to see how much is inside. Our experiment showed there’s room for another 50ml – or one sixth of the total liquid already in the bottle – in there.
This gradual fake tan lotion comes in a tall, sleek bottle, but the beige packaging makes it impossible to see how much is inside
Oral B 3D White Luxe Mouthwash (£1.99)
Bottle holds: 540ml
Actually contains: 500ml
Difference: 40ml
Percentage full: 93 per cent
When I take the cap off and look inside, this bottle of mouthwash looks remarkably full. But the results show there’s room for 40ml more liquid (mostly inside the narrow neck) if it were completely full.
When I take the cap off and look inside, this bottle of mouthwash looks remarkably full
Nivea 2 in 1 Cleansing Milk and Refreshing Toner (£4.60)
Bottle holds: 198ml
Contains: 175ml Difference: 23ml
Percentage full: 88 per cent
Though it’s a small bottle, this feels light in my hands, and the product doesn’t feel like it’s filling the container. So I’m not surprised to find you could fit 23ml more (or 13 per cent of the quantity of liquid listed on the bottle) inside.
Though it’s a small bottle, this feels light in my hands, and the product doesn’t feel like it’s filling the container
Nivea Men Energy Shower Gel (£1.70)
Bottle holds: 424ml
Actually contains: 400ml
Difference: 24ml
Percentage full: 94 per cent
It’s not only women’s products that come in part-full packaging, men’s toiletry brands are just as guilty of giving customers less than they bargained for. This luminous blue shower gel comes in a bottle that could hold 24ml more than it does.
It’s not only women’s products that come in part-full packaging, men’s toiletry brands are just as guilty
Herbal Essences Dazzling Shine Shampoo (£1.95)
Bottle holds: 455ml
Actually contains: 400ml
Difference: 55ml
Percentage full: 88 per cent
This is the tallest, thinnest bottle in the test and, though the packaging is bright green, when I hold it up to the light I can just about see the product inside. There’s a clear inch without any liquid in it, and the results show this is equivalent to 55ml shampoo.
This is the tallest, thinnest bottle in the test and, though the packaging is bright green, when I hold it up to the light I can just about see the product inside
Head & Shoulders Classic Clean 2 in 1 Shampoo (£2.49)
Bottle holds: 268ml
Actually contains: 250ml
Difference: 18ml
Percentage full: 93 per cent
There isn’t a huge difference between the amount this Head & Shoulders bottle could hold (268ml) and the amount of product that’s actually inside (250ml). The spout is quite wide, with a flat cap so it’s easy to get almost every bit of shampoo out.
There isn’t a huge difference between the amount this Head & Shoulders bottle could hold (268ml) and the amount of product that’s actually inside (250ml)
Aussie Miracle Moist Conditioner XL (£5.89)
Bottle holds: 580ml
Actually contains: 470ml
Difference: 110ml
Percentage full: 81 per cent
Promising to turn ‘parched locks to fabulously refreshed’ ones, this bottle is deceptive because it’s nowhere near full. Our experiment shows that there is enough room for 110ml more conditioner in here. As the product is thick, it’s tricky to get it all out so customers will get even less value for money.
Promising to turn ‘parched locks to fabulously refreshed’ ones, this bottle is deceptive because it’s nowhere near full
Palmolive Naturals Coconut Milk Shower Cream (£1.62)
Bottle holds: 542ml
Actually contains: 500ml
Difference: 42ml
Percentage full: 92 per cent
This super-sized bottle of shower cream looks ideal for a family, but there’s less product inside than you would expect. My experiment showed you could fit another 42ml of liquid in there if it was full – enough for 8-10 more showers.
This super-sized bottle of shower cream looks ideal for a family, but there’s less product inside than you would expect
Baylis and Harding Goodness Natural Body Wash (£4)
Bottle holds: 542ml
Actually contains: 500ml
Difference: 42ml
Percentage full: 92 per cent
While lots of body wash products come in clear containers, this one is in an opaque black bottle. At 500ml, it’s one of the bigger sizes around and certainly one I’d buy to last the family several weeks. But it’s not as full as it appears, there’s space for another 42ml.
While lots of body wash products come in clear containers, this one is in an opaque black bottle
Lynx Africa Body, Face and Hair Wash (£1.49)
Bottle holds: 230ml
Actually contains: 225ml
Difference: 5ml
Percentage full: 98 per cent
In its distinctive black container, with an opaque red and green label, this body, face and hair wash contains 225ml of product. When full to the top, the bottle – which is squat and wide, with a narrow bit in the middle – could squeeze just 5ml more inside.
In its distinctive black container, with an opaque red and green label, this body, face and hair wash contains 225ml of product
Bulldog Original Shave Gel (£3.75)
Tube holds: 190ml
Actually contains: 175ml
Difference: 15ml
Percentage full: 92 per cent
This clear shave gel comes in a squeezy tube, which is white so you can’t see how much is inside. There’s just 15ml difference between the amount of liquid that could fit inside the tube and what’s in there when I buy it – not too bad.
This clear shave gel comes in a squeezy tube, which is white so you can’t see how much is inside
This little bottle of hand cream doesn’t have much surplus space inside; you could squeeze just 9ml more inside
Vaseline Healthy Hands and Stronger Nails Hand Cream (£2.85)
Bottle holds: 209ml
Actually contains: 200ml
Difference: 9ml
Percentage full: 96 per cent
This little bottle of hand cream doesn’t have much surplus space inside; you could squeeze just 9ml more inside. It might seem more expensive per millilitre than a big bottle but you’re getting more for your money and less empty space.
