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A September 2026 Reddit post about a four-piece NYX Butter Gloss set prompted a familiar question: why does a small product appear to need so much packaging? The post shows one shopper’s reaction, but it does not establish the package’s dimensions, materials or design rationale. Costco’s published packaging guidance offers useful context—not a confirmed explanation for this particular set.
What prompted the complaint?
A shopper posted an image of a four-piece NYX Butter Gloss set in r/Anticonsumption, with the title “In what world is that much packaging necessary for FOUR LIP GLOSSES?!?” The question reflects the shopper’s impression of the pack’s size; the post does not provide measurements or identify what materials it contains.
That distinction matters: an image can make packaging look disproportionate without showing how much of it is needed for the products, how it is used in a store, or whether the pack serves a security function.
Why might a warehouse-store pack be larger?
Commenters in the thread proposed two possible practical reasons: packaging can help a product display or stock efficiently, and it might make theft more difficult. Other commenters disputed the theft explanation and emphasized shelving and display. These are competing user theories, not verified explanations from Costco or NYX for the pictured package.
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- Display and handling: A multipack’s outer packaging may help it sit on a shelf or work with a display tray. Costco’s supplier specification addresses display trays and pallet requirements.
- Security: Costco’s specification also covers security-resistant finished packages. That shows security is addressed in the document, but does not establish that theft prevention drove the design of this set.
- Material and waste: More visible packaging is not, by itself, enough to determine material use or environmental impact. The available sources offer no measurements or life-cycle comparison for this pack.
What Costco’s packaging guidance says
Costco’s Packaging Specifications state: “Design finished package size to be proportionate to the product, its display tray, and the selling space available for the product.” The copy reviewed shows a revision date of May 2009. It provides a general sizing principle alongside requirements concerning security, display trays and pallets; it does not name NYX or explain the four-piece Butter Gloss packaging.
In a November 22, 2025 report, The Cool Down attributed this broader statement to Tim Wahlquist, head of Costco’s packaging team: “The goal is to reduce packaging waste, while still protecting products, ensuring food safety and complying with laws and regulations.” Wahlquist also said cardboard used to replace plastic should come from certified forests. Those comments describe general packaging goals, not the design rationale for the set in the Reddit post.
Rank #2
- Butter Gloss: Buttery soft and silky smooth, our decadent Butter Gloss is available in a wide variety of sumptuous shades; Each glossy color delivers sheer to medium coverage that melts onto your lips
- Kissable Lips: Our best selling Butter Gloss goes on smooth and creamy and is never sticky, leaving your lips soft, supple and kissable; Try all of our delicious shades, from Angel Food Cake to Tiramisu
- Lip Products for the Perfect Pout: Doll your lips in creamy, long lasting perfection; Try our complete line of lip makeup including liquid lipstick, lip gloss, lip cream, lip liner and butter gloss
- Cruelty Free Cosmetics: We believe animals belong in our arms, not in a lab; All of our makeup is certified and acknowledged by PETA as a cruelty free brand; We don't test any of our products on animals
- Discover NYX Professional Makeup: Try all of our professional makeup products today from eyeshadow, eyeliner, and false lashes to liquid lipstick, lip gloss, primer, concealer, setting sprays and eyebrow makeup
Is the four-piece set the same as Costco’s listed Butter Gloss pack?
No such match is established. Costco Canada separately lists a NYX Butter Gloss Vault 14-pack with a container size of 8 mL (0.27 fl oz). That listing confirms a Butter Gloss multipack is sold through Costco Canada, but it does not show that the 14-pack is the four-piece set pictured in the post. The listing also does not supply measurements or materials for the four-piece set.
What can shoppers reasonably conclude?
The post raises a fair question about apparent package-to-product proportion, but the available evidence cannot settle whether the pictured pack is oversized or why it was designed that way. Costco’s published guidance calls for proportionate sizing while also accounting for display space and other requirements; its public packaging goals include reducing waste while protecting products and meeting food-safety and legal obligations. Neither source confirms how those considerations were balanced for this specific NYX set.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Butter Gloss: Buttery soft and silky smooth, our decadent Butter Gloss is available in a wide variety of sumptuous shades; Each glossy color delivers sheer to medium coverage that melts onto your lips
- Kissable Lips: Our best selling Butter Gloss goes on smooth and creamy and is never sticky, leaving your lips soft, supple and kissable; Try all of our delicious shades, from Angel Food Cake to Tiramisu
- Lip Products for the Perfect Pout: Doll your lips in creamy, long lasting perfection; Try our complete line of lip makeup including liquid lipstick, lip gloss, lip cream, lip liner and butter gloss
- Cruelty Free Cosmetics: We believe animals belong in our arms, not in a lab; All of our makeup is certified and acknowledged by PETA as a cruelty free brand; We don't test any of our products on animals
- Discover NYX Professional Makeup: Try all of our professional makeup products today from eyeshadow, eyeliner, and false lashes to liquid lipstick, lip gloss, primer, concealer, setting sprays and eyebrow makeup
Rank #4
- Butter Gloss: Buttery soft and silky smooth, our decadent Butter Gloss is available in a wide variety of sumptuous shades; Each glossy color delivers sheer to medium coverage that melts onto your lips
- Kissable Lips: Our best selling Butter Gloss goes on smooth and creamy and is never sticky, leaving your lips soft, supple and kissable; Try all of our delicious shades, from Angel Food Cake to Tiramisu
- Lip Products for the Perfect Pout: Doll your lips in creamy, long lasting perfection; Try our complete line of lip makeup including liquid lipstick, lip gloss, lip cream, lip liner and butter gloss
- Cruelty Free Cosmetics: We believe animals belong in our arms, not in a lab; All of our makeup is certified and acknowledged by PETA as a cruelty free brand; We don't test any of our products on animals
- Discover NYX Professional Makeup: Try all of our professional makeup products today from eyeshadow, eyeliner, and false lashes to liquid lipstick, lip gloss, primer, concealer, setting sprays and eyebrow makeup
Rank #3
- Butter Gloss: Buttery soft and silky smooth, our decadent Butter Gloss is available in a wide variety of sumptuous shades; Each glossy color delivers sheer to medium coverage that melts onto your lips
- Kissable Lips: Our best selling lipgloss goes on smooth and creamy and is never sticky, leaving your lips soft, supple and kissable; Try all of our delicious gloss shades, from Angel Food Cake, a true mauve pink lip gloss, to Tiramisu, a brown lip gloss
- Lip Products for the Perfect Pout: Doll your lips in creamy, long lasting perfection; Try our complete line of lip makeup including liquid lipstick, lip gloss, lip cream, lip liner and butter gloss
- Cruelty Free Cosmetics: We believe animals belong in our arms, not in a lab; All of our makeup is certified and acknowledged by PETA as a cruelty free brand; We don't test any of our products on animals
- Discover NYX Professional Makeup: Try all of our professional makeup products today from eyeshadow, eyeliner, and false lashes to liquid lipstick, lip gloss, primer, concealer, setting sprays and eyebrow makeup
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