THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

www.theevansgroupllc.com

Chip Evans, PH.D.

Tidbit – Found the first “Chapstick” was earwax, but didn’t taste so good.

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

Chap Stick, who's history dates back to the early 1880s, was the brain-child of pharmacological

tinkerer, Dr. C.D. Fleet, a Lynchburg, VA. physician. His product resembled a wickless candle and

was wrapped in tin foil. Now, over a hundred years later, the product has changed forms several

times, with new medicinal ingredients and several different flavors. Also, the product is now

packaged in sticks, squeezable tubes and jars. Chap Stick has long been a leader in the lip balm

market, but it was overtaken in 1996 by Blistex.

Americans spend over $200 million a year on lip balm.

The History of Chapstick

By Mary Bellis

Dr. C. D. Fleet, a physician from Lynchburg, Virginia, invented Chapstick or lip balm in the early

1880s. Fleet made the Chapstick himself that resembled a small wickless candle wrapped in tin foil.

Fleet sold his recipe to fellow Lynchburg resident John Morton in 1912 for five dollars after failing

to sell enough of the product to make it worth his continued efforts. Morton along with his wife

started production of the pink Chapstick in their kitchen. Mrs. Morton melted and mixed the

ingredients and then used brass tubes to mold the sticks. The rack was moved to the porch for

cooling. After that, the molded Chap Stick was cut into sticks and placed in containers for

shippingThe business was successful and the Morton Manufacturing Corporation was founded on

the sales of Chapstick.

In 1963, the A. H. Robbins Company bought the rights to Chapstick lip balm from Morton

Manufacturing Corporation. At first, only Chapstick Lip Balm regular stick was available to

consumers. Since 1963, a number of different flavors and types of Chapstick are being made.

1971 - four Chapstick Lip Balm flavored sticks were added

1981 - Chapstick Sunblock 15 was added

1985 - Chapstick Petroleum Jelly Plus was introduced in Regular, Sunblock 15 and Cherry

Flavored in all squeezable tubes

In December, 1989, A. H. Robins, formerly based in Richmond, was acquired by American Home

Products Corporation. As might be expected, the product has undergone a number of changes in

formula, form and packaging throughout the years. Yet today, at an A. H. Robins Consumers

Products plant in Richmond, Chap Stick is still poured into molds -- but on a modern production

line. During a regular shift, approximately 85,000 units are produced

In December 1989, the A. H. Robins Company was acquired by American Home Products

Corporation. AHB now produces and sells Chapstick.

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

In 1992, in response to growing consumer expectations, Chap Stick Medicated, in three forms --

sticks, squeezable tubes and jars -- was launched. This expanded considerably the selection of lip

care products available to consumers, further solidifying Chap Stick's leadership position in the lip

care category.

According to a September 1996 issue of Med Ad News, WhiteHall-Robins reports that sales of Chap

Stick were up 10.73%, generating $63 million in revenues.

Like the Corner Drug Dealer!

The History of Carmex

Carmex is a salve for chapped lips and cold sores invented in 1936. The ingredients of Carmex are

menthol, camphor, alum and wax. Alfred Woelbing, the founder of Carma Lab Incorporated,

invented Carmex. Woelburg suffered from cold sores. He got the "Carm" from his lab's name and

"ex" was a very popular suffix at the time, which resulted in the name Carmex.

Paul Woelbing (pronounced WELL-bing) knows all about Carmex junkies. Every day, mail arrives at

the lab from people wanting to know if there is an addictive ingredient in the stuff.

"One common suspicion is that we put a really terrible acid in it that roughs up your lips and makes

you need more Carmex," he said. "But the acid we use is salicylic acid, which is aspirin. Another

rumor is that we grind up fiber glass and put that in."

At 36, Paul Woelbing is the treasurer of Carma Lab, Inc. Paul's father is vice president. Paul's 92-

year-old granddad - yes, the inventor of Carmex, Alfred Woelbing! - is still the president, working

50-60 hours a week.

A practical man, Alfred Woelbing created Carmex in 1936 because he had cold sores. He called the

lab, "Carma," because he liked the sound of the word, and he put "ex" on the end because "ex" was a

very popular suffix back in the 1930s.

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

Never in Carmex's 56-year history have the Woelbings advertised or marketed their product -

unless you count "the $10 a year we spend for my dad's vanity (license) plate," said Paul.

"I guess you might say we do business in a unique way," said Alfred Woelbing, who joined his

grandson on the phone. "Maybe our way of doing business is old- fashioned, but it's successful."

Indeed, last May, Adweek praised Carma Lab as one of five, single-product, U.S. companies that has

continually bucked the downward trend of the recession.

"Barely a week goes by that some large company doesn't want to buy out Carma Lab," said Alfred

Woelbing. "But our company is not for sale."

LIP BALM ADDITION??? Lip Balm Anonymous, the largest and most influential anti-lip balm web site in the world (and possibly the only), has generated an almost cult following. They receive over 100 hits-per-day. That's a lot of hits for a web site about lip balm addiction.

"Our primary purpose is to stay free from lip balm and to help others achieve the same freedom," the Lip Balm Anonymous home page reads.

Kevin C.(he doesn't reveal his last name, because he's afraid the Mafia will come hunt him down), the sight's creator, wants to spread the good news: you can break free from the artificial highs of lip balm. Your lips will feel "natural" once you do.

"I was definitely addicted," he said. "For me, it was Cherry Chapstick. I couldn't fall asleep with out the stuff, I fumbled around for it in my car and almost wrecked, not to mention the financial burden."

Americans spend over $200 million a year on lip balm. That's a lot of sore, dry, cracked, irritated lips. The problem of chapped lips is compounded by incessant licking. Licking doesn't help because saliva tends to dry out the sensitive lip tissue. But what about lip balms? Do they really have any therapeutic benefits, or is it all just a sensational marketing scheme?

"Carmex is definitely the most addictive," says Kevin C. Carmex. It is made mostly of menthol, camphor, alum and wax, and packs a potent punch. Invented in 1936, the aromatic balm is stored in the trademark milky-white glass mini-jars.

But one problem with Carmex, says Kevin C., is that it, like many other lip balms, contains salicyclic acid, a known exfoliate. "I would say to stay away from Carmex unless you have cold sores," says Kevin C. "Because an exfoliate will just make your chapped lips worse."

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

"There's no agreement on the 'least' addictiveÉ they are ALL addictive, so the question is somewhat moot. Most of the lip gloss/flavored types are probably not as hard[(to quit using] as regular Chap Stick, though."

Kevin C. says people with dry lips should try drinking a lot of good old fashioned water. He also says that if you drink a lot of soda and eat lots of acidic foods like oranges and tomatoes, you may be drying your mouth out. Some people need to change their diets, if they really care about their lips, he says.

The page hints that the lip balm manufacturers are engaged in a kind of "conspiracy."

"There haven't been any published reports made available to the public which do anything to illumine the problem of lip balm addiction," he said "Who knows what lies in the secret vaults of Chap-Stick, or Blistex, or Vaseline? Also, no one has ever proven that lip balms actually are beneficial for your lips."

Well, America, is lip balm addictive?

"Anyone who has stopped using lip balm for an extended period of time knows how hard it is to stay off the stuff," he said. "Your lips feel extremely dry, until your body learns to compensate to the post-lip balm state."

.

Breaking News: A recent study Dr. Brad Radu at the University of Alabama at Birmingham indicates lip balm can have harmful effects. See further info below. LBA will be monitoring this study closely and will bring you further updates.

Overuse of a balm or jelly creates a crust on the lips which traps bacteria and

fungi creating a state of permanent inflammation. The lips become irritated

and the temptation is to apply even more balm, which just exacerbates the

problem. To avoid this condition, known as cheilitis, it's a good idea to leave

off lip balms and jellies every now - rather than routinely applying them each

morning - so you give your lips a chance to 'breathe' naturally.

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

Blistex When we contacted Blistex Inc. for information on their company, they sent several items, including recent press releases, and two pamphlets: "The Sun & Your Lips" and "Your Guide to Healthy Lips." Blistex, started in 1947, is now pushing the stuff in over 70 countries around the world, and has been introducing higher-grade lip balm with products such as Blistex Ultra Protection with SPF 30. Their propaganda included all sorts of scare-literature on why you should be using Blistex. They have a self-test to determine if you are at risk from too much sun.

1. Do you enjoy spending time outdoors? (gardening, walking, biking, etc...) 2. Do you burn easily when you first go into the sun, and later tan? 3. Are you fair skinned and/or freckled? 4. Do you live in a sunny climate or vacation in sunny places? 5. Do you ski or vacation at high altitudes? 6. Do you ever get cold sores?

Who doesn't fit into one or more of the categories above? Who doesn't vacation in sunny climates or go skiing at high altitudes? (Duh!) I guess agoraphobics and shut-ins aren't a big market, or the company would try to sell to these people too as they are about the only people who don't qualify.

Blistex Says Ignore the Directions Packages of Blistex Lip Medex (their Carmex clone) have the instructions "Apply up to 4 times daily." We called Blistex about this and they said that it was because of a Government regulation which says than topical analgesics must have this instruction. But the person at Blistex (who shall remain nameless) said that we shouldn't worry about it as the product is completely safe and that we could use it "as many times a day as we wanted." Can you believe it? The company is explicitly ignoring Federal regulations! Tell your friends and loved ones now to stop using this product more than four times daily (in fact, tell them to quit altogether!).

The evil Industry of Addiction must be stopped!

Blistex World's Most Beautiful Lips Blistex is also turning on teens and other impressionable people by producing their 18th annual list

of the World's Most Beautiful Lips.

Look! 1998 Winners are Here!

Most Mary-able Lips: Cameron Diaz Quickest Lips: David Spade Spiciest Lips: Chef Emeril Lagasse Most ER-resistable Lips: Eric LaSalle Most Screaming Lips: Neve Campbell Most Smashing Lips: Sammy Sosa/Mark McGwire Most Hunted Lips: Matt Damon Most Mask-uline Lips: Antonio Banderas Most Melodiest Lips: Brandy Most Masterful Lips: Mark O'Meara (won Masters) Fairest Lips: Sarah McLachlan (Lillith Fair) Cleanest Lips: Rudolph Giuliani (New York Mayor, tried to clean up city)

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

The 1998 results are continue the Blistex' tradition. There was an emphasis on actors this year, as

movie or television stars took seven out of the twelve spots. Celebrities from the world of sport

(Sosa, McGwire, O'Meara) were chosen again; Blistex wants you to think Blistex helped these people

to achieve greatness in their sports. This is the same thing Chap Stick did in the 70's with Suzy

Chaffee.

Blistex couldn't resist appealing to teens with their choice of Brandy, Damon, Diaz, and Campbell.

Truly sad.

The one person missing from Blistex's list is Tiger Woods. What else does he need to do to get the

fame and notoriety that Blistex looks for. If I was Tiger I'm not sure I would be happy or sad about

missing out on the Blistex list.

Do you see how Blistex is taking some of our most popular celebrities and using their good names

to sell this junk to our kids? This is especially tragic since these stars are not being compensated for

their names being used, but still giving the impression that it is cool to use lip balm. It is an obvious

ploy to capitalize on today's famous stars, since more appropriate choices such as Steven Tyler (of

Aerosmith) or Barbara Hershey haven't ever made the list!

Agents of LBA have obtained a complete list of award winners going back to 1980. We used the terminology that Blistex uses for most of the entries, although did provide some annotations. The list is available in two formats (your browser must support tables):

1. Winners Alphabetically 2. Winners by Year

The list is an interesting study of popular culture. For example, several couples (or former couples) have made the list: Daryl Hannah and John F. Kennedy Jr., Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, Liz Taylor and Richard Burton, and Lady Diana and Prince Charles. The last three Presidential couples have also all made the list.

There are quite a few athletes on the list. In fact, Michael Jordan has been named to the list a record

three times! Interestingly, tennis seems to be the most popular sport. There are very few pertinent

choices on the list. Nancy Kerrigan looks like someone who might have chapped lips due to

exposure to cold climates, but where are the skiers or other winter athletes?

Most shocking, however, is the lip balm drug connection! Stars such as John Belushi, Boy George,

Don Johnson, Jennifer Capriati, John DeLorean, and Dwight Gooden all made the Blistex list and had

then subsequent drug problems. Did lip balm serve as a "gateway" to hard drugs for these stars?

What about Belushi's untimely death? Was it a heroin-cocaine speedball or an overdose of Carmex?

Unfortunately, we may never know!

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

Chap Stick on the Web! The folks at Whitehall-Robins are getting into the misinformation business with their new Web site Healthfront. The name says it all: it is a front pretending to be about health. You can wade through their graphics and frames-heavy site, or you can go straight to the Chap Stick links we provide here. The first Lip Care page announces proudly that chapped lips aren't funny! We agree, and there's nothing funny about their Chapstick page, either. It provides the typical propaganda about how Chap Stick will keep your lips "looking and feeling healthy". Our problem with these pages, and the whole site in general, is that Whitehall-Robins' name is rarely seen. We think many people are going to think this is some sort of board-certified medical site. Funny how every problem has a Whitehall-Robins solution...

Poor Josie Josie Bisset, of Melrose Place fame, was quoted in a People Weekly article (May 6, 1996, page 108)

that she never leaves the house without Chap Stick! Those who've read our Blistex page know that

there is some evidence that Chap Stick and other lip balms are "gateways" to hard drugs. If Josie

develops a drug problem in the future, you heard it here first! Our thanks to LBAer Joanie M. for

pointing this article out to us.

No, not Winona too! The December 1997 issue of US magazine features an interview with actress Winona Ryder. The

article mentions that she uses lip balm and even says that Chap Stick is her favorite brand. First

Johnny Depp and now this! Stop now, Winona, before you destroy your career. Thanks to LBAer

Jason H. for pointing out this article.

vCarma Lab's Carmex This stuff is probably the strongest lip balm around... with a rush that rivals crack

cocaine when you first apply it. There is probably more brand-loyalty with Carmex

than with any other brand of lip balm. Singer Toni Braxton has said to use use lots of

Carmex (People Weekly, May 9, 1994, page 68), saying "One of the first boys I kissed

had chapped lips, and I vowed I would never have them." What is Carmex and where

does it come from?

While the other lip balm companies are truly large ventures, Carma Labs is still family owned. They

are led by Alfred Woelbing, who still comes to work at the ripe old age of 95. Woelbing founded

Carma Labs in the 1930's and produced the first pot of Carmex in 1937. He claims it was just a way

to stop cold sores, and that the product's fame spread through word of mouth. The company takes

pride in their lack of advertising. Lack of national advertising never hurt drug dealers either!

Carma sent several newspaper articles, including a May 18, 1993 article from the San Francisco

Examiner entitled "Pssst; Wanna Get Lip Balmed?". Examiner columnist Stephanie Salter tells all

about lip balm addiction, but couches the situation in humorous or drug-language, often referring

to Carmex as "junkies". For example, she talks about Carmex users scrambling for pots under bar

stools (like alcoholics) and users sharing their stash with each other (like marijuana).

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

Carma Labs does admit to putting salicylic acid into their lip balm, and they acknowledge the rumor

that they put ground fiber glass into the lip balm. But, they do not deny this rumor! Frankly, Carma

Labs sounds like a mob crime family to me!

When confronted with claims of addiction, Carma's Paul Woelbing was quoted by the Boston Herald

as saying "We're in full compliance with the Food and Drug Administration." So are cigarette

manufacturers, and nobody questions that cigarettes are addictive!

For more information on the addictive qualities of Carmex, check out the alt.folklore.urban Carmex

Addiction page, detailed on the LBA Is Lip Balm Addictive? page.

The alum and salicylic acid are included because Carmex was originally created to use on cold

sores, TO DRY THEM UP. So of course there are these drying agents in the balm. Should regular

sufferers of chapped lips be spreading on a drying agent to heal their lips? Maybe not.

Do you hear that, junkies? Eight ounces of Carmex for under 10 bucks. And Carma Lab's address is

right on your little lid, in gnat-size type. At that price, think of how generous you can be to people

who've never felt the thrill.

Yes, over here, sonny. I've got something that will make those chapped lips feel allll better. And the

first hit is free.

Vaseline Lip Therapy Chesebrough-Pond's lip care product is Vaseline Lip Therapy. Introduced in 1985, Vaseline Lip Therapy introduced the tube applicator, quickly copied by other lip balm companies. Since then, Vaseline has also produced tube lip balms and introduced a Wild Cherry flavor. Lip Therapy is about as popular as Carmex, garnering anywhere from 7-9% of the U.S. lip care market.

The guide says to be aware of sun, wind, cold, dry air, or forced air heating. In other words, the normal kind of environment we all live in. The illustration shows a woman wearing a white coat. We're supposed to think that's a doctor. Once again, the lip balm companies stoop to deception to make us believe it is actually healthy to wear lip balm. Don't you believe it, folks. It just isn't true.

Mentholatum Co. Mentholatum has a very diverse line of lip balm related products. They are quickly become major players in the industry, so beware of their next marketing tactic. The Mentholatum Co. is headquartered in Buffalo, New York. This certainly explains why they are such major players in the industry. Winters are cold in Buffalo, and it is hard to break addictions when you are miserable from the cold.

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

"Natural" Ice Natural Ice is Mentholatum's mainstream balm product, competing with the likes of Carmex and Blistex. And how nice the name is... "natural ice." Of course, anyone bothering to read the label will this is a crock. The product contains fragrance, lanolin, menthol, mineral oil, ozokerite, and petrolatum. See anything "natural" on that list? I didn't think so.

Mentholatum claims this product "delivers" on several promises. What they don't tell you is that the cooling sensation is nothing more than the menthol, which does nothing to protect your lips. And by explicitly saying they are targeting heavy users, we now know that balm addicts are indeed a favorite marketing target.

The cooling sensation of Natural Ice tells you it's working. Appeals to heavy users, active adults, outdoor enthusiasts. Heals and protects from sun/wind/cold.

Softlips

As the illustration shows (taken from Mentholatum's marketing brochure) the product is designed to appeal to women. Introduced in 1990, the product is available in three flavors: cherry, mint, and UV 17 sun protection. Mentholatum says that "the slimline applicator is instantly recognizable and helps to reinforce a position of quality and serious lip care protection." There's also a line of Softlips Sheer Color (not shown). These products are "bridging the gap between costmetic and health and beauty aid segments" according to Mentholatum, containing a hint of light color. This changes the nautural appearance of a woman's lips, yet it supposedly "enhances each woman's natural lip color." How can something alters nature enhance it?

The newest addition to the Softlips line is Softlips Moisture. This product is designed to be

used under lipstick. They claim the use of this product will reduce the drying effects of

lipstick. Yet they don't say that even if you use this product your lips will try out anyway.

This is a clear example of the Industry of Addiction creating a need that isn't really there.

And their misleading marketing only makes the problem worse!

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

vSex Sells

The Body Shop This "environmentally conscious" company was founded in 1976. Today, they span the globe selling skin, hair, color cosmetics, and yes, even lip balm! When Lip Balm Anonymous contacted The Body Shop for information, we were shocked when we received their material. The press release they sent was full of sexual metaphor. Have your kiss and eat it too -- with The Body Shop's flavor-packed Moisturizing Lip Balms ($4.35 each)! The gender, age, culture-crossing necessity to moisturize the lips is accomplished with these startlingly fresh, fruit-scented balms... Dictionary definitions can't help but fall short in relating the many symbolic and sensory meanings of a kiss. There's the farewell kiss, the brotherly kiss, the kiss of thanks, the double kiss, the kiss of honors, the kiss of death, the kiss of honey, the kiss as blessing, and, aaah, the kiss of love, among others. There are even kisses that have gone down in Hollywood history, like: The Longest Kiss: In the 1941 flag-waving favorite, You're in the Army Now, Jane Wyman and Regis Toomey locked lips for a record three minutes and five seconds.

The Wettest Kiss: Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster smooch in the surf in the 1953 film From Here

to Eternity.

The Most in One Movie: In Don Juan (1926), screen star John Barrymore puckered up plenty. The

official kiss count is 127 split between his two leading ladies, Estelle Taylor and Mary Astor.

Ironically, though, despite the meaning kisses convey, and despite

our obsession with decorating our lips... we tend to treat them

cavalierly, conditioning them only in winter. Often overlooked, our

lips require constant care: they have no sweat glands, few sebaceous

glands, and few malanocytes. Their only protection from outside

aggression is saliva--not much help when you consider that the

constant evaporation of moisture put on the lips by licking them

leads to chapping and cracking.

The Body Shop's Moisturizing Lip Balms also help keep a smile on your face-- and on that of the

person receiving your kisses--thanks to their mouth-watering, lip smacking flavors. Past fans of our

lip balms with notice a few additions to the cast of characters in the range. Joining favorites like

Apricot, Kiwi, and Strawberry are tangy Black Cherry, tropical Coconut & Pineapple, and citrusy

Mandarin.

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

If you're old enough to be kissing (ha! ha!) and want to make your lips their smooch-worthy best,

use The Body Shop's Moisturizing Lip Balms after removing chapped skin with Colorings Lipstuff.

It doesn't take a genius to see what The Body Shop is selling in this press release-- sex! They're

pretty blatant too, using terms like "gone down" and using colorful ways to describe kisses:

smooches, lip smacking, and puckered. And what categories did they choose for their movie list?

Longest, Wettest, and Most in One Movie? Longest and Wettest are pretty blatant sexual metaphors.

They're going for an orgy or threesome with their Most in One Movie, apparently. In these days of

safer sex, do we really need to encourage kids (or even adults) to partake in this kind of activity?

And, what is the deal with "if you're old enough to be kissing (ha! ha!)"? Are they encouraging

toddlers and children to start using lip balms and kissing? That sentence is just plain weird!

Lipscuff Lipscuff is the Body Shop's new lip care product. The product looks like textured lipstick but

contains "natural exfoliators and moisturizers". Exfoliation is the deliberate removal of skin cells!

This removal of dead skin cells is claimed to promote smooth, healthy skin. Lipscuff also contains

blue corn, walnut shell powder, pineapple juice, macadamia nut oil, avocado oil, vitamin E, and

peppermint oil. After rubbing this concoction on your lips, you wipe it all off with a tissue. Boy,

these folks sure have devised an efficient system! Apply the product, then wipe it off? No chance of

keeping that Lipscuff for very long! Soon, you'll be back at the store buying more. Or so they hope!

Folks, dead skin is shed naturally by your own body! You don't need to apply this product to shed

skin! And you certainly don't need to pay the expensive Body Shop price to get a mixture of

pineapple juice and peppermint oil!

We also wonder if the shedding of protective skin makes lips more susceptible to becoming

dependent on lip balm for protection, causing users to become hooked on the balm.

Little Licks Just when you thought the balm industry couldn't stoop any lower, they give

us Little Licks. It is one thing to use sex to sell lip balm. And it is one thing to

sell to children. But it is another to use children to sell sex!

Look at this stuff. You can't help but notice the famous image of the little girl

with her behind showing. That would be bad enough, but look at the rest of

the packaging. What are all those cherries doing there? A subtle message

regarding the chaste status of the little girl? And what about the name itself.

Little Licks? Are they saying that little girls will actually lick the balm? Or are

they implying the girl will be licking something else? Truly sickening!

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

Lipsex You know, we've been doing the LBA thing for a few years now, but we've never seen a company so

anxious to be added to our pages. You'd think that the negative publicity regarding the harmful

effects of balm addiction would cause companies to avoid us. But, one company took a different

approach.

In fact, Lizard Lipcare of Palm Desert, CA mocked our entire site with their letter to us. Jeffrey S.

Goolst wrote to LBA, enclosing several samples of their products. The second paragraph read "The

first ones are free to get you ADDICTED, in case you've relapsed already. I'm about to check

myself in if I can't find a meeting today." Maybe this Goolst fellow thought he was being funny,

but we weren't laughing here at LBA!

Lizard has several lip balm products. Lizard Lips is their main product, an "exotic lip balm" made

with 100% natural and organic ingredients. On the tube itself is a phrase "tested on friends." I don't

know about you, but I don't "test" things that might be harmful on my friends. Goolst says that the

products are tested on "friends, not animals... although, a few lizards have been spotted trying to

score some Lipsex." There you go again with the mocking tone, Jeffrey.

Lizard's most famous (or infamous) product is Lipsex ("the best for your lips"). It's not hard to

imagine why this product sells so well. Since lips are among the most sensual of body parts, it is no

wonder that Lizard has stooped and exploited this factor. Goolst even claims the name was coined

by high-schoolers. Why am I not surprised?

Un-petroleum Lip Balm Several companies have begun introducing lip balm products made without

the petroleum products so common in most balms. These "natural" lip balms

claim that they are a healthier alternative to the major brands. Lip Balm

Anonymous checked out some of these companies and found them to be less

than successful.

Autumn Harp Un-Petroleum Products

Autumn Harp got the unpetroleum ball rolling in 1987. According to an

Autumn Harp press release, founder Kevin Harper believes Un-Petroleum

provides a natural alternative to the lip products which normally contain

petroleum jelly, mineral oil, or paraffin. The company's Un-Petroleum Jelly is

made from Amazonian bassu oil and vegetable waxes which are blended with Tanzanian or

Zambian beeswax. Natural fruit flavors are added, with Original and Harvest Cherry flavors

available.

The company is aggressively using the hard-sell to market their products. The company produces

all lip care products for The Body Shop, a company known for fanaticism. They also try to gain entry

into the community by using giveaways. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on January 21, 1996

that Autumn Harp named that city the winner of its second "Winter Heroes City" award (Boston

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

won the first award). In addition to a certificate praising the snow removal workers, Autumn Harp

also send them 500 sticks of lip balm. Autumn Harp marketing manager Christine Hoar said "they

absolutely needed a morale boost." Yes, and what other kind of boost, Christine? How many of these

500 sticks ended up not with the workers, but on the street, or worse yet, in the hands of the

workers' children? And, do we really want snow removal workers fumbling in their pockets for lip

balm when they should be paying attention to icy conditions and their ten ton trucks?

Kevin Harper believes that people will "most health-conscious consumers will stop using petroleum

products on their skin and lips once they have all natural alternatives." What Harper doesn't tell

you is that the only healthy alternative is to use your lips' natural protection by stopping use of

any kind of lip balm. After all, what could be more natural than that?

Autumn Harp's New Marketing "Push" Autumn Harp has jumped on the kid's lip balm market with product called Smart Mouth Un-

Petroleum Lip Balm. Touted as being "the only kids' lip balm made with lots of read, mouth

watering flavors, natural plant oils and beeswax instead of petroleum, the same crude oil that is

used to make gasoline and grease." Why even their display blister packs say they are targeting 8-12

year-olds! You know these lip balms are flavored, and what a list of flavors they are: Staw-Bee-

Berry, Bee-Na Colada, Bumble Gum and Orange Bee'Nilla! We criticized Bonne Bell for providing a

Pina Colada flavor, so it is only fair that we mention Autumn Harp's similar tactic. Not only are the

flavors subtly telling kids it is ok to drink, it is also telling them that spelling doesn't matter!

But here's one thing Autumn Harp probably won't mention to the kids: the product contains Castor

Oil. Yuck!

Autumn Harp Update from Andrew D.

Autumn Harp makes another flavor of lip balm -- "Citrus Sunscreen". It's SPF18, and i'm addicted

to it. Not only do i use it on my lips, but it's also quite handy to use on your nose when you go

snowshoeing or skiing.

Hey Andrew... maybe sticking lip balm up and around your nose isn't such a good idea. Who

knows what will go up the nose next, right?

Saurus Sport Another example of the non-petroleum lip balm is Saurus Sport. They have a

colorful logo on the top of their pot. While this product does not contain

petroleum, their unique formula causes the balm to feel very much like rubber.

No doubt, this cannot be popular with even the most addicted balm users.

This theory was played out when we tried to contact the company, listed on the

package as being in Navarre, Florida. In fact, the company was nowhere to be

found. Apparently, they are a casualty of the balm wars.

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

The Lip Balm Drug Connection Many people thought we were joking when we brought up the connection between Blistex Most

Beautiful Lips winners and subsequent drug problems and deaths. We thought it strange that some

lip balms, usually the most addictive like Carmex, tended to come in containers typically referred to

as "pots". We also noticed that one of the pages at Bonne Bell's Web site has the document title

Smack (we're not kidding). For a while we thought we were just being paranoid about a lip balm

drug connection. Now we have proof!

High Country Hemp Company High Country Hemp Company is actually a tradestyle name for Straight from

the Hip Press, Inc. Since 1989, the company has been publishing counter-

culture books and other publications which deal with the growing of

marijuana or psychedelic mushrooms. They also sell "cigarette papers" and

stickers, T-shirts, or patches with marijuana leafs on them. Due to their

"involvement in the hemp re-legalization movement and a belief that hemp

products do not need to be so expensive" lead to the creation of the High

County Hemp Company. Here's some of the names of their "hemp oil"

products: "Bud's Original", "Mary Jane's Hemp N' Calendula" and "Uncle Herb's Homegrown

Remedy." Who are these people trying to fool? They use slang drug terms in all of these products.

It's obvious they are marketing addictive hemp products!

We thought we were dreaming when we saw this stuff sold at a flea-market in Kentucky. Now I'm

sure the company would "officially" say that that there were no narcotic or addictive properties in

their lip balm. On the other hand, look how the product is packaged and sold. There are marijuana

leaves right on the label! And notice how they don't sell this product at the local Wal-Mart. Yep,

these folks distribute by going underground to the unregulated flea-market, often ignored by local

authorities.

Hemp Balm Another of these illicit balms comes from Eugene, Oregon, home to many counter-culture types. Hemp Balm comes to us from The Merry Hempsters. Look how blatantly they are trying to get teens to use this stuff. There's peer pressure in their motto: "hip trip for lips". They also appeal to addicts of all types with the sun logo that looks like it was taken from an old Grateful Dead poster. We know that crack and heroin are a large problem, but can't the Drug Enforcement

Agency or even the Food and Drug Administration send a few agents out to shut

these companies down? After all, the marijuana from 25 years ago was much less

potent than the pot of today. Who knows what we'll be putting on our lips next

century if somebody doesn't act soon!

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

"The First One's Free!" Drug dealers have been using this sales technique for centuries. Give away the first "hit" for free, get

your customer addicted, and they will keep coming back for more. Many of the lip balm companies

are aware of this effective technique and use it to hook new users.

Lip Balm Anonymous has definitive evidence that the following balm companies use the "The First

One's Free!" technique:

Chap Stick

Vaseline Lip Therapy

Viractin

Fat Lips Balm (though they claim it is not addictive)

Ice Drops

The Marketing of Lip Balm

For a while now we've talked about how the Industry of Addiction tries to push their wares to an

unsuspecting public. Too often, we've been met with scepticism. In a few cases we were even met

by hostility from people in the Industry.

In May of 1997, Lip Balm Anonymous was able to obtain marketing documents from the

Metholatum Co. Don't ask us how we did it, but rest assured all involved are recovering nicely!

These documents, entitled "Lip Care Category Sales Strategy 1997-1998," provide conclusive proof

that the balm-makers will stoop at nothing to sell their products.

Lip Care Categories The chart taken from the Mentholatum report shows the different balm market segments. There are

value priced brands such as Chapet, private labels, and Chap Stick. There are "medicated" balms

such as Carmex or Blistex. And there are cosmetic lines such as Bonne Bell, Lip Tone, and others.

You would think these balms are quite different from each other, but they're not. Price differences

are mostly a factor of packaging and "perceived worth." To quote the Mentholatum material,

"Lipcare is not a price driven category. Highest category sales (are) found in stores with higher

pricing. Proven potential to price up and increases (sic) profitability. Higher priced products

continue to show (the) greatest growth in food and drug."

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

Advertising The chart shows the extent of advertising and promotion

for balm products. Different product lines are advertised in

different magazines. You can check the dates yourself to

determine the authenticity of the documentation.

Most scary however, is continued proof that balm

companies use techniques employed by drug dealers.

Detailed on our Lip Balm Drug Connection page, "the first

one's free" technique is shown here too! See how the advertising starts? They start with $1-off

coupons as the first assault of their marketing blitz. Worse, you can see that the young people of our

college campuses are among the first targets. Don't students have enough problems with substance

abuse? The National Sweepstakes to win a Geo Tracker is a venture with Seventeen magazine. You

see, marketing to children never stops!

Selling Year-Round!

Some people claimed we were crazy when we said lip balm

addiction was a year-round disorder. Now we have proof! This

Blistex ad ran in U.S. Sunday newspapers during May 1997. As you

can see, the ad is very direct about trying to get people to use balm

during the summer. If you think you only need lip balm during the

winter, Blistex wants you to think differently!

Here's the proof in the pudding! These sales figures for the lip care

category come from Mentholatum. Sales are the highest during

December, and certainly winter is a busy time in the lip balm

market. But look at the numbers another way.

Sales are steady throughout the entire year! You don't see a nose-dive during the summer months

at all.

In fact, one could argue that the increased sales during December are a factor of the holiday gift

season more than weather. As you'll see on the next few pages, there is a big market for lip balm

marketed to children. And you know a lot of that lip balm ends in Christmas stockings...

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

Bonne Bell Lip Smackers Bonne Bell was started by Jesse G. Bell in 1927, naming the company

after his daughter. Their most popular brand is the Lip Smacker lip

gloss. In 1973, Bonne Bell introduced a flavored lip gloss. The first

flavor created was Strawberry and today, there are 26 flavors to

choose from: Dr. Pepper, Watermelon, Cherry, Bubble Gum. Wild

Raspberry, Pina Colada, Passion Fruit, Orange Pop, Peppermint, Red

Raspberry, Grape Jelly, Vanilla, Blueberry, Peach, Starfruit, Pink

Lemonade, Pineapple, Guava, Banana, Apple, Raspberry Chocolate,

Tropical Punch, Jelly Bean, Kiwi, and Mango.

Bonne Bell makes no bones about targeting kids: their press releases

tout the large ($133 billion) purchasing power of children. They also

make a big deal about the fact that they do not test on animals. While

that is to be commended, wouldn't it be wonderful is Bonne Bell

stopped testing on our kids! Although Bonne Bell literature touts

children as being "aware of brands and advertising" and "receptive to

new products, new technologies, and new styles" we would rather

think of kids as being plain old impressionable. Don't our kids have

enough trouble finding acceptance in the world without companies like Bonne Bell brain-washing

them into thinking using a lip product is cool?

Where do Lip Smackers come from?

Here's an excerpt from a Bonne Bell press release: Thanks to modern science, any flavor (synthetic interpretations of natural flavor) can be duplicated, such as Mango, Bubble Gum, and Guava, just to name a few. These flavoring ingredients are also used widely in processed and prepackaged foods and beverages. In developing the individual flavors, our research staff works with independent essential oil manufacturers to achieve the best intended flavor. The finished flavor submission is often composed of two dozen or more ingredients and may take several months of refinements before the final approval by labs. Many of our combination flavors are achieved by creative blending in our own labs. Lip Smackers are also sensitively tested by outside clinical laboratories to make sure our products are of the highest quality. Each new Lip Smackers is also tested to insure complete safety to the consumer. The raw materials which make up Lip Smackers are melted together, and the warm liquid is poured into containers. The flavor is added a the last minute to insure the freshest taste and smell. The stick is sent through a cooling tunnel which makes it solid. Doesn't modern science have anything better to do than create Raspberry Chocolate lip balm? Aren't all the starving people in the world a higher priority for scientists than creating yet another lip balm flavor? I tell you, these companies will not stop until we're all hooked!

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

Club Smackers Bonne Bell's latest tool is Club Smackers. For $4, your child can

get a colorful membership certificate, along with a bag full of

Bonne Bell products: Apple Blossom Cologne Spritzer, Starfruit

Body Lotion, Vanilla Vibes Smackers Bath and Shower Gel, and

Pina Colada Lip Smacker lip gloss.

What kind of parents allow their kids to use Pina Colada flavor

lip balm? What's next, beer, rum, or whiskey flavors? Some

parents probably won't stop even when they bring out Heroin

Balm.

Bonne Bell Web Site We've saved the worst for last! Bonne Bell now has a Web site propagandizing their products,

including Lip Smackers, their lip gloss product. Lip Smackers are detailed in the Lip Balm

Anonymous Industry of Addiction pages, and we found their Web site to be despicable on several

counts. The site is obviously geared for children, yet the large graphics take forever to download via

modem, the method most kids use to access the Internet. There is even a large Lip Smacker Flavor

Glossary in Adobe Acrobat format. There are also pertinent links describing the "fun, fruitlicious,

collectable flavors" of Lip Smackers, or the "colorful fun" of Lip Lix, their new lip color plus flavor

product. There's even an advice column where kids ask for advice and solutions always involve

Bonne Bell products. Someone ought to ask these folks if they know how much damage they're

doing to our kids! The Bonne Bell Web site is truly a bad omen for us all.

Web of Addiction

Lip Balm on the World-Wide Web As with any subject covered on the Internet, there is a wide variety of opinion regarding lip balm.

Some of the material chronicled below takes a cautioned medical approach to lip balm usage. Sadly,

others are still in lip balm industry brainwash mode. There are even some sick entrepreneurs out

there who are hawking the stuff on the net!

Street Cents Online Street Cents Online provides a wonderful overview of lip balm, giving an overview of ingredients

used in various types of lip balms. Would you believe that both Blistex and Chap Stick medicated

contain coal tar? The profile also indicates that lip balms dry out quickly, requiring re-application

every thirty minutes! Is it any wonder we've had so many problems with lip balm addiction? This

page even makes reference to "Chap Stick addicts" who doctors call "liplickers". Street Cents quotes

the Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients and finds that differences between brands is

"largely a matter of taste and packaging." However, note that they didn't review Carmex for their

article.

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

A Lip Balm Addict's Guide To the Internet A Lip Balm Addict's Everywhere proves the old adage that the more things change, the more things stay the same. Similar, but less detailed, than our LBA site but covering the same topic. Except these folks revel in their addiction, and unhealthy attitude to say the least! Get help, folks!

Carmex Cult SuperChurch's Big Rules Expounded verges on brainwash territory. This cult-like entity's first rule is "Use Lots of Carmex." Frankly, we always thought that Carmex has a little more "kick" than the other brands, and here's proof! These cultists probably rub Carmex on ritual sacrifices also! Here's the complete rule from the SuperChurch page: Throughout our human history and prehistory, people have found that certain substances enable them to achieve a higher state of consciousness. It could be they were actually hitting a lower level of consciousness, but once you leave the normal one, who really cares? These substances have ranged from various fermented foods to oils to plants to certain fungi, each with its own merits and drawbacks. At the SuperChurch, our substance of choice is Carmex. Within the guise of a cheery lip balm is a truly mind-opening product. Rub a large amount on your lips, and then smear some inside each nostril and take a deep breath through your nose. The Benign All is around us, and it smells something like menthol.

Lipstick=Lipbalm??

The Lipstick Page provides more information on lipstick than we thought humanly possible. The page indexes over 400 lipsticks, provides information on how to purchase them, and provides information on what kind of lipsticks various models and actresses prefer. Sound familiar? That's the same technique used by Blistex and their annual World's Most Beautiful Lips. Now we're not sure if lipstick is as dangerous as lip balm is, but it does seem pretty coincidental that the sales methods are the same!

Just What the "Doctor" Ordered The folks at Whitehall-Robins are getting into the misinformation business with their new Web site

Healthfront. The name says it all: it is a front pretending to be about health. You can wade through

their graphics and frames-heavy site, or you can go straight to the Chap Stick links we provide here.

The first Lip Care page announces proudly that chapped lips aren't funny! We agree, and there's

nothing funny about their Chapstick page, either. It provides the typical propaganda about how

Chap Stick will keep your lips "looking and feeling healthy". Our problem with these pages, and the

whole site in general, is that Whitehall-Robins' name is rarely seen. We think many people are going

to think this is some sort of board-certified medical site. Funny how every problem has a Whitehall-

Robins solution...

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

Viractin

Viractin is the new cold sore remedy from Schering-Plough HealthCare Products, Inc.

The Viractin Web Site provides all sorts of educational information on causes and

remedies for cold sores. They even offer to send you a free sample of the product if you

fill out a survey or two. We've seen this "first one's free" technique before... on the

streets with your corner drug dealer.

Most disturbing is the section which links to other lip-related Web sites. That is the section where

Viractin celebrates all that is related to lips. There are several of the well known lip-related pages,

but is Lip Balm Anonymous on the list? No way! These folks don't have the guts to let their

customers know about the addictive qualities of their product. (Note: they don't link to Chap Stick

or Bonne Bell either, but I guess that's understandable) We can only hope they sunk a ton of money

on their Web site and that it will soon die a quick death.

Fat Lips Balm Remember when you were a kid and some bully beat you up and gave you a fat lip? Is that a

pleasant memory? It isn't for us and it shouldn't be for you (unless you are a bully). But the folks at

Multex Mfg. have created a new lip balm blend called Fat Lips Balm. Their Web site provides exactly

the same information provided to Lip Balm Anonymous by postal mail, along with an ability to get

free samples by e-mail. Incredibily, the stuff is a noxious concoction of numerous components; their

Web site also lists the over 20 active ingredients. Fat Lips Balm is available in several sizes and

packages and flavors including Root Beer and Mighty Melon.

It seems silly to mention this, given that you should avoid Fat Lips Web page on general principles

anyway, but we've go to say that Fat Lips is the least attractive of all the lip balm Web pages. The

home page greets you with a cheesy GIF-89 animated logo, but the subsequent pages are not HTML

text but actual scanned images from their paper promotional flyer. The scans themselves are

not even very good. Be prepared for a long download.

Multex also claims their product is not addictive. Yeah, right!

The reason why Fat Lips is non-addictive is because of the unique ingredients it contains. I agree

that normally a person using a lip balm for long periods of time can become addicted no matter

what the ingredients, but Fat Lips is different! When my lips get chapped, I can simply put on some

Fat Lips that day, and the next their back to normal!

We recently received this note from Fat Lips:

Sorry, do to the overwhelming amount of requests for the free Fat Lips sample, we had to make

some minor changes, but not necessarily for the worse! We've now added in a couple more free

gifts to keep you interested in trying our product.

THE HISTORY OF CHAPSTICK

Chip Evans, Ph.D. www.theevansgroupllc.com

To get your free sample of FAT LIPS lip & facial balm, a Free FAT LIPS sticker, and a free FAT LIPS

temporary tattoo, just send $1.25 for shipping and handling

We can only hope that their "first one's free" sales method is failing, causing them to actually charge

for your "free" sample. Multex is shameless in using this technique to push their product! And why

would anyone need a lip balm tattoo?

Bonne Bell's Web Site We've saved the worst for last! Bonne Bell now has a Web site propagandizing their products,

including Lip Smackers, their lip gloss product. Lip Smackers are detailed in the Lip Balm

Anonymous Industry of Addiction pages, and we found their Web site to be despicable on several

counts. The site is obviously geared for children, yet the large graphics take forever to download via

modem, the method most kids use to access the Internet. There is even a large Lip Smacker Flavor

Glossary in Adobe Acrobat format. There are also pertinent links describing the "fun, fruitlicious,

collectable flavors" of Lip Smackers, or the "colorful fun" of Lip Lix, their new lip color plus flavor

product. There's even an advice column where kids ask for advice and solutions always involve

Bonne Bell products. Someone ought to ask these folks if they know how much damage they're

doing to our kids! The Bonne Bell Web site is truly a bad omen for us all.

Many lip balms contain ingredients that may cause irritation, allergy and stress in local tissues -

disruptions that have been linked with cold sore recurrences. But Pure Lip's products have been

optimized for the cold-sore sufferer: the formulae are anhydrous (no water), so they don't require

preservatives or emulsifiers. Furthermore, they do not contain fragrances, chemical sunscreens,

counter irritants, or drying agents. Pure Lip steers clear of these adverse ingredients found in many

popular products.