Following the news that the makers of our childhood staple lip gloss, Lip Smackers, is folding, we wept into our keyboards for a moment.
Any woman who grew up in the ‘9os will feel our pain. Lip Smackers were THE coolest.
Since 1973, when Bonne Bell Co. created the world’s first flavoured lip balm, the company have released over 800 Lip Smacker flavours in 50 countries.
And we wanted them all. Well, as many as our pocket money could afford.
Bonne Bell Co. will officially close on the 29th March, and sadly, all 91 employees will be laid off. The only upside here is that Bonne Bell Co. has a new owner, Markwins International Corp – they’ve previously taken over skincare brand Physicians Formula and done great things. So cross your lip-smacking fingers that they’ll keep the waxy yet delicious lip glosses going for the next generation.
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And it’s not all bad news; in a tremendous stroke of luck, Lip Smackers will still be available here in Australia (plus Asia and Europe) beyond March. So while there’s no need to buy out the entire Lip Smackers stock of your local Priceline (just yet), we’re revisiting the best flavours of our youth.
Behold: the definitive ranking of Lip Smacker flavours. We know it’s going to get controversial, so let us know if you agree in the comments below.
The definitive ranking of Lip Smacker flavours.
13. Cherry.
I'm sorry but lip gloss that tastes like the medicine you were forced to drink as a kid? NOPE.
12. Pina Colada.
Sure, this was a blend of coconut lime dreaminess, but where were you going at 13 years old with Pina Colada spread all over your lips? The bar?
11. Sour Apple.
If you loved Sour Apple you probably also loved those hardcore SourHead lollies and tricking your unsuspecting friends into eating ice-cream laced with chilli.
10. Grape Jelly.
There was international outrage when 'Grape Crush' was renamed to 'Grape Fanta'. Lucky the Bonne Bell creators didn't touch the original (and the best) Grape.
9. Bubble Gum.
Appealing to the most rebellious of us, this was like rubbing our lips with Hubba Bubba 24/7. Heaven.
8. French Vanilla.
It was the height of sophistication to own anything with 'French' in the title back then. Okay?
7. Sprite.
Soft drink you could put on your lips? We loved the Lip Smacker flavour creaters HARD for this one.
6. Fanta.
Maybe you weren't a lemonade fan, maybe you're inherently an orange-flavoured person, but just like shrinking your chip packets in the oven and wearing it as a badge of honour, we couldn't get enough of commercialisation in the 90s.
5. Red Raspberry.
Since the news of Bonne Bell Co.'s closing, Red Raspberry has sold out on the company's website. Clearly I'm not alone in loving this one.
4. Paul Frank anything.
I don't remember why Julius, the Paul Frank monkey, was so popular in the 90s, but we wanted it on both our fashion, and our lips. Also, this chocolate one was the best.
3. Watermelon.
In the wise words of one Mamamia writer, "WATERMELON WAS THE KING."
2. Strawberry.
The original and (one of) the best.
1. Coca-Cola.
Our parents might not have let us drink Coke as much as we wanted to (i.e. everyday), but at least we could smother our lips in the sugary sweet goodness. Take that parentals.This article was originally published on The Glow.
What was your favourite Lip Smacker flavour?
Top Comments
The first one my parents bought me was a sour liquid glossy. I was 8. I ate the whole tube.
What I miss is the Bonne Bell medicated lip gloss in the blue tube. It used to be EVERYWHERE but now you can't get it. It was the best.
Yes!!! I used to buy that all the time!!