Marino Belotti took part in The Beauty Factory at Milano Beauty Week, from 16 to 20 September. The project took visitors through compact powder production, an icon of Italian cosmetics. Technology and Italian craftsmanship came together under one roof.
Inside The Beauty Factory at Milano Beauty Week
Milano Beauty Week celebrates cosmetics and creativity across Milan every year. This year, one of its stops revealed a process most people never see. The event took place in the Sala della Camera dei Notari, a beautiful and iconic room. It sits inside Palazzo Giureconsulti, just steps from Milan’s Duomo. Visitors followed compact powder production from raw ingredients to finished pack. Every stage had its own station, with real machines and real materials.
“The Beauty Factory – Storia di un’eccellenza italiana” was part of the official Milano Beauty Week programme. Four Italian companies worked together, and each one handled a different stage. We took care of the last one: the case that houses the pressed powder.
Six steps, one story
Compact powder production, step by step
From raw ingredients to finished compact, one continuous thread linked every station.
The raw materials
It all starts with a careful choice of powders and pigments. Mineral fillers, colours and binders are weighed out with great precision. Get the balance right, and you set the texture, the payoff and the final shade.
Mixing
Next, everything goes into the mixer. The ingredients are blended into a smooth, even powder. Spreading the pigment evenly keeps the colour consistent from one pan to the next.
Pressing
Pressing is where compact powder production really comes into its own. A traditional compacting cloth is used, a technique deeply rooted in Italian cosmetic craft. It leaves a fine texture on the surface of the pan. Just as importantly, it gives the right density: firm to the touch, yet easy to pick up.
Our contribution
The packaging
This is where Marino Belotti came in. For the event, we supplied our Olimpia compact, ready for the freshly pressed powder. Its soft, rounded-square shape frames the pan beautifully.
Setting the pan
Then, one by one, the pressed pans are set into their compacts. At this stage, precision is everything. Each pan has to sit perfectly, ready for everyday use and life on the go.
The result
The finished product
The result is a compact made in the spirit of Milano Beauty Week. Our Olimpia lid has a pearlescent finish, brought to life with digital printing. Slightly raised, the print can be felt as well as seen. Every visitor left with a compact powder of their own.
Where Italian craftsmanship meets innovation
For us, the project brought together the two sides of what we do. One is a long heritage in Italian cosmetic manufacturing. The other is a set of decoration techniques that keep opening up new creative possibilities. Pearlescent effects, tactile prints and bespoke colours are just some of what our tailored compact solutions can offer.
Seeing compact powder production up close was a revelation for many visitors. It showed how much goes into an object most of us use without a second thought. Behind every compact lie skilled people, precise machinery and decades of experience. To explore the full range of shapes, take a look at our compact product lines.
Being part of The Beauty Factory at Milano Beauty Week made our whole team proud. More than an exhibition, it was a celebration of how beauty is made in Italy. Our thanks go to our fellow partners, the organisers and everyone who came along. Planning your next launch? Get in touch with our packaging team – we’d love to help bring your next compact to life.
