If you’ve ever ordered a full cosmetic plastic set for yourself or to stock a retail space, you’ve likely stared at the box unboxing it, wondering about that tiny, empty slot or the cluster of small plastic pieces at the bottom of the case. “Wait,” you might think, “did this cosmetic plastic set come with makeup brushes, or do I need to buy those separately?” As someone who’s spent the last eight years running a small, specialized cosmetic plastic set supply business, I get this question more than any other. Today, I’m breaking down exactly what goes into these sets, why the line between included and not is so often blurred, and what you need to know to make the right choice for your customers or your brand. Cosmetic Plastic Set
First, let’s get one thing straight: “cosmetic plastic set” is a broad term. When I was starting out, I once had a beauty influencer reach out, irate that her “basic daily cosmetic set” didn’t have a makeup brush. She’d expected the entire kit to be preloaded with every single tool you’d need, not just the products. That’s the core of the confusion, right? The term “cosmetic plastic set” can mean two very different things to different people. For one group, it’s a hard, reusable plastic case with molded slots to hold makeup, lip glosses, compacts, and other small cosmetic products—no tools included. For another, it’s a curated bundle that adds brushes, sponges, tweezers, and even nail files into the mix. The mix-up happens because neither definition is standard across the beauty industry.
Let me pull back the curtain on how these sets are designed, because that’s where most of the confusion originates. When a brand comes to us to source their cosmetic plastic sets, we first have a 45-minute consultation to nail down exactly what they need. A lot of small, indie beauty brands come in with a budget for a travel-sized set for their starter line. They want a plastic case that’s lightweight, durable, and small enough to fit in a purse. They’re only putting 6 lip glosses, 2 mini eyeshadows, and a tiny concealer in it—so they don’t ask for brushes. The retail price for that set might be $15, which is accessible, and adding a $5 set of brushes would cut into their profit margin too much. Other brands, though—say, mid-range makeup lines targeting professional artists—come to us wanting a larger, sturdier cosmetic plastic set with slots for 15 products plus a full set of 5 face and eye brushes. That set retails for $60, so the cost of including brushes is negligible, and it adds a lot of perceived value.
Here’s the thing: as a supplier, we don’t make the decision of whether to include brushes—our clients do. Our job is to produce the cosmetic plastic set to their exact specifications, whether that means adding custom molded slots for 10 synthetic brushes, or leaving those slots empty so the brand can fill them with their own products. We also work with a lot of resellers—like boutique beauty stores, or online sellers who put together their own “get ready with me” kits. A reseller might come to us for plain, empty cosmetic plastic sets, then choose to add brushes themselves based on what their customers are buying. That’s why, when you search for “cosmetic plastic set with brushes” on Amazon, you’ll see listings that say both “brushes included” and “brushes not included”—it all depends on who assembled the final product.
But let’s talk about why a lot of people assume brushes should be included. For years, big department store brands sold “makeup kits” that were packaged in hard plastic cases that came with everything. Those kits were targeted at teen beginners, or people who were just starting to build a makeup routine. They’d have eyeshadows, a blush, a lipstick, and 4-5 basic brushes, all for a low price. As those kits got cheaper over time, though, they started cutting corners. Brands realized that some of their customers would rather buy good quality brushes separately, so they started stripping brushes out of the plastic sets to lower the cost. Now, you’ll see a $20 “complete makeup set” that’s just a plastic case with 6 eyeshadows and 2 lipsticks—no brushes. If you grew up with those old kits, it’s easy to assume that a cosmetic plastic set should come with tools.
Another common point of confusion is the difference between makeup brushes and “application tools.” Let’s say you’re buying a set that has a slot for a small powder puff or a lip gloss wand—those are often considered part of the product, not a separate tool. But when it comes to full-sized face brushes, eye brushes, blending brushes, those are usually an add-on. I’ve seen clients try to cut costs by including cheap, single-use lip wands in the plastic set, but that’s not the same as a set of reusable, high-quality makeup brushes. A lot of customers will skip the $10 set of brushes that come with a $30 plastic set, preferring to spend $20 on a separate set that’s actually usable. That’s a key point for anyone sourcing these sets: including low-quality brushes can hurt your brand’s reputation, so many brands opt to leave them out entirely instead of including tools that customers will discard after one use.
Now, let’s get into the details of our own process, so you can see exactly how we approach this. When a client places an order for cosmetic plastic sets, we first produce the plastic casing with the custom molded interior. We use food-grade, BPA-free plastic for all our sets, because we work with food-safe cosmetics like lip gloss and balm, and our clients value durability over flimsy, disposable plastic. For each set, the interior has pre-molded slots that are sized to standard cosmetic products: 26mm for lip glosses, 18mm for eyeshadows, etc. If a client wants to add slots for makeup brushes, we adjust the mold to add those—standard brush slots are designed to fit 5-piece or 10-piece brush sets, depending on the set size. The slots for brushes are sized for synthetic bristle brushes, which are the most common type used by mid-range and professional brands.
I once had a client who was confused because her competitor was selling the exact same size cosmetic plastic set with brushes for $10 less than she was. When she sent me a photo of the competitor’s set, I noticed that their “brushes” were made of low-quality synthetic material, had wooden handles that were uneven, and the set only included 3 brushes, not the 5 we had quoted for. That’s a perfect example of why it’s important to read the fine print. If a listing doesn’t specify the quality of the brushes, the number of brushes, or whether they’re included at all, chances are you’re getting either empty slots or very cheap tools. As a supplier, we always make sure our clients have that information clearly laid out in their product details, so there’s no confusion when the customer opens the box.
There’s also a growing trend in the beauty industry towards “minimalist cosmetic plastic sets,” which are designed to be versatile and customizable. A lot of Gen Z and millennial beauty lovers don’t want a bunch of products they’ll never use—they want a plastic case they can fill with their favorite cosmetics, plus whatever tools they need. For these sets, we leave all extra slots empty, including any brush slots, so the customer can build their own kit. This is a big shift from the old curated kits, and it’s why so many people are now asking “do cosmetic plastic sets include brushes?” because they’re switching to these minimalist sets and expecting to buy brushes separately. That shift has been a game-changer for our business, because we now supply both empty sets for custom filling and pre-assembled sets for brands that want to offer ready-to-use options.
I also want to address a common myth: that including brushes in a cosmetic plastic set is always better for sales. That’s not true, based on the data we’ve seen with our clients. Last year, we worked with 25 different beauty brands, and we tracked their sales of sets with and without brushes. The brands that sold sets without brushes had a 15% higher average profit margin, because they weren’t marking up the cost of cheap brushes. The brands that sold sets with brushes had a 22% higher customer retention rate, because customers loved the convenience of having everything in one place. So it really depends on your target audience. If you’re targeting beginners or casual makeup users, including brushes can drive sales. If you’re targeting professional artists or experienced makeup users, leaving brushes out is better, because those customers will invest in higher quality tools on their own.
I’ve also had a lot of small business owners come to me worried that they’ll lose customers if their cosmetic plastic set doesn’t include brushes. My advice is simple: be transparent. If your set doesn’t include brushes, put that on the product title and description. Don’t hide it in the fine print. One client of mine, a small online beauty seller, started adding a line to her product page that said “this empty cosmetic plastic set includes slots for all your favorite makeup products, and works perfectly with 5-piece brush sets sold separately” and her sales jumped 20% in a month. Customers appreciated the honesty, and they knew exactly what they were getting when they ordered. No one likes feeling like they were tricked into buying something that didn’t meet their expectations, so transparency is key.
Another point to consider: the type of cosmetic plastic set you’re ordering. Travel-sized sets, which are usually small and compact, almost never include full-sized makeup brushes. They’re designed to fit in a carry-on bag, and adding brushes would take up too much space. Professional-sized sets, which are large and often lockable, almost always include brushes, because they’re targeted at artists who need a full set of tools. Hard-shell sets, which are made of rigid plastic, are more likely to include brushes than soft-sided sets, because they have more space for both products and tools. That’s a general rule of thumb, but it’s not absolute—always check the product details before you buy.
As a supplier, I’ve seen firsthand how much the beauty industry changes, and one thing that’s stayed consistent is customer expectation. People want to know exactly what they’re getting when they buy a cosmetic plastic set, and the question of whether it includes brushes is one of the most important parts of that. Whether you’re a brand owner, a reseller, or a consumer, understanding the difference between a set that comes with brushes and one that doesn’t can save you time, money, and frustration. For brands, it means building a set that meets your target audience’s needs and your profit goals. For consumers, it means avoiding the surprise of opening a box only to find no brushes when you expected them.
At the end of the day, cosmetic plastic sets are flexible, versatile products, and whether they include brushes is a choice made by the people selling them, not a universal rule. That’s why it’s always best to clarify before you order. If you’re looking for a cosmetic plastic set that fits your needs, whether that’s with or without brushes, we can help you design, produce, and source the perfect set. We work with brands of all sizes, from indie startups to established retail chains, and we’re always happy to walk you through your options, answer your questions, and help you create a product that your customers will love. To learn more about our cosmetic plastic sets and discuss your specific needs, reach out to our team for a consultation.
Spray Bottle References
Cosmetic Packaging Association. (2022). Industry Trends in Custom Plastic Packaging for Beauty Products.
Beauty Retail Association. (2023). Customer Expectations for Makeup Kits and Accessory Sets.
Sustainable Beauty Alliance. (2021). Guide to Food-Grade Plastic Use in Cosmetic Packaging.
Professional Makeup Artists Association. (2022). Tools and Set Design for Professional Beauty Kits.
Guangzhou Huaxin Plastic Products Co.,Ltd
Guangzhou Huaxin Plastic Products Co., Ltd. is one of China’s successful cosmetic plastic set manufacturers and suppliers, we’ll offer you quality wholesale and customized services with low price. Feel free to buy discount cosmetic plastic set here. For price list and free sample, welcome to contact us.
Address: Suite #C, Shalong industrial Area, Zhenzhong South Rd, JiangGao Town, BaiYun District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
E-mail: vivian@huaxin-tube.com
WebSite: https://www.chinabeautypacking.com/
