Airless pump bottles are designed to isolate sensitive formulations and restrict exposure to air to prevent oxidation and deterioration, as well as avoid introduction of bacteria. For this reason, airless pump bottles are designed differently to standard pump bottles, featuring an integrated piston mechanism that prevents the creation of air cavities.
Airless pump bottles feature an internal diaphragm which houses a piston mechanism, with a small plastic disc that is placed at the base of the bottle prior to filling. As the pump is depressed by the user, the disc rises upwards, pushing the product up and out through the dispensing nozzle. This avoids the creation of gaps which can fill with air.
This differs in many ways from the dispensing process used by more traditional pump bottles. Standard pumps work by pulling the product from the base of the bottle through a tube. As the product is taken from the bottom, air gaps are formed at the top, exposing the remaining product to oxygen. In addition, as the tube does not reach all the way to the base, standard pump bottles can fail to perform optimally with low levels of product, and can create waste as not all the product can be drawn through.
When using airless pump bottles, the product is drawn from the top of the bottle, and as it is continually pushed closer towards the dispensing nozzle with each depression, waste is minimized and exact product doses can be administered with every use.
The design of airless pump bottles is so effective that major beauty brands around the world are increasingly utilizing airless technology systems to protect formulas that are oxygen sensitive, such as those containing Vitamin A (retinol) or Vitamin C. Airless technology is also facilitating a future of organic beauty, helping to extend the shelf life of products containing natural ingredients or natural preservatives by delaying deterioration onset.