Custom Waterproof Labels

Products that are meant to be placed in a refrigerator or exposed to moisture could benefit greatly from a custom waterproof label. With the proper label adhesive and material your label will hold its form without suffering any tears, scratches, smudges, or other defects.

Here’s how water-resistant labels help protect against the three leading causes of label integrity issues – oil, water, and moisture.

• Protection Against Oil: One factor that may affect the integrity of your label that many people don’t think about is oil. Whether it is oil from the product itself or oil from the hands of consumers if your packaging is going to be frequently touched you need a label that can stand up to the job. Waterproof labels provide solid protection against oils, especially when combined with a label material like BOPP. Together the two create a solid base that will help prevent oil from becoming a problem.
• Protection Against Water: The main benefit of going with a waterproof label is its ability to hold form and shape when exposed to water. A custom printed waterproof label is often best when your product is often exposed to conditions where it could get wet. For example, if it is used outside by a pool or around your shower, then you should consider a water-resistant label.
• Protection Against Moisture: Regardless of the product, there is a good chance that it will be exposed to moisture at some point. This could be moisture found in a home or even moisture during transportation. No matter the cause, a waterproof label will help your packaging maintain its intended label design.

While almost every product will be exposed to some form of moisture, there are several types of products that will be subjected to water exposure frequently. Here are a few products where it is recommended to have a waterproof label.

• Beverage Bottles: Not only do beverage bottles contain liquid, but they are also typically stored in a refrigerator or cooler where they are exposed to moisture. Also, the constant touching from consumers means that your label will need to withstand oil and friction as well. A custom waterproof label would help to protect against all of these concerns.
• Cosmetic Products: Companies who manufacture a cosmetic product often want a label that makes them stand out, but forget about functionality. A custom waterproof label can help protect against water exposure if your beauty products are used in a shower or around a sink. They can also be paired with one of our other label finishes to give a luxurious, high-end look.
• Skincare Products: Most skin care products will have to contend with constant oil exposure, whether that is from consumer use or the product itself. An oil-resistant waterproof label is often the best option to help protect your packaging.

Here’s the simplest way to think about it, it’s about how much exposure your label needs to survive.

• Water-resistant: Handles light moisture like splashes or occasional condensation, but it’s not meant for frequent soaking.

• Waterproof: Built for heavy moisture and wet handling, like ice buckets, constant condensation, and steamy bathrooms. We’ll typically lean on film materials (often BOPP) and pair the right adhesive with protective finishes when needed.

• Weatherproof: Waterproof plus outdoor durability, including UV exposure, temperature swings, and abrasion. If your label lives outside, this is usually the better spec.

Sometimes, but “waterproof” isn’t automatically “chemical-proof.” Waterproof labels are built to handle moisture, but resistance to oils, soaps, and cleaners depends on the full label system, not just the face stock.

What usually works well for oils/soaps: We typically recommend film materials (often BOPP) for wet environments, then pair them with the right adhesive and a protective finish so the print doesn’t scuff or fade when your product gets handled with oily or soapy hands.

Why the finish matters as much as the material: Even if the label material holds up, chemicals can attack the ink surface over time. When you’re dealing with soaps, lotions, or common cleaners, we’ll often add lamination or UV coating to help protect the print and keep your label looking sharp.

The key variables we’ll ask you about:

• What the “chemicals” actually are (dish soap, alcohol wipes, degreasers, bathroom cleaners, etc.)
• How often the container gets exposed (occasional splashes vs. daily wipe-downs)
• Your container and application conditions (cold, wet, textured, squeezable)

We offer shipping through several vendors like UPS, Fedex, and USPS. Ground, Next-Day, 2-Day, 3-Day, and custom freight options. 

Our preferred file formats are Adobe Illustrator or High-Resolution PDF.  You can view our complete artwork file standards checklist here.

While Blue Label Packaging does not directly offer label design services, we do have resources to help with your custom label design needs. We maintain a directory of Blue Label Approved designers who specialize in label design and understand the unique requirements and technical details involved. We also showcase a gallery of label designs for inspiration.

Our printers are capable of matching up to 97% of the full color spectrum, allowing us to achieve precise color reproduction for your beer labels. We use advanced CMYK printing to produce an extensive gamut of millions of colors. For designs requiring an expanded range, we also print using WOVG ink sets which add white, orange, violet and green.

Our top-of-the-line color management program and processes ensure we hit the correct hues, tints and shades. We color calibrate and profile all of our presses so your unique color palettes and gradations print true to your vision.