Lip Lix

On January 15th, 1996, Bonne Bell introduced Lip Smackers older, more rebellious and unapologetic sister Lip Lix to the world. An expressive color + shine + flavor, sheer-to-medium coverage, tinted glossy lip balm that let you have it all, in the convenience of an easy to use stick tube. For those who felt too mature for Lip Smackers (how could anyone ever!?), found ease in the more hardcore, deeper toned tubes, with a colorful cap that matched the tint in the tube. And for those not quite old enough to wear lipstick, it was easy to convince your parents that it's "just lip balm" with the sleek yet unassuming tubes.

The first Lip Lix displayer shipped to stores on January 15, 1996.

Either way, Lip Lix were a peak 90's product to have in your purse or pocket and being Bonne Bell they didn't disappoint, offering a huge variety of flavors and colors to choose from over their life span. The names were like decoding a license plate at times, whether it be a clever play on words or pop culture reference. Bonne Bell wasn't afraid to push the flavor offerings here either as there were plenty of pucker pleasers for the more pronounced palates. 

There has not been another tinted lip product on the market since...

1996 Bonne Bell Lip Lix display in color

Lip Lix color + flavors:

A Surebet

Boyz-n-Berry

Can’t-Elope

Choc-it-up

Cran-versation

Gotta Date?

Gettin' Punchy

Grapevine Whine

Incrediberry

Milkshake-It

Nut-so-fast

Rantin’ n Raisin

Lip Lix hit the scene with 12 incredibly edible (JK, don't eat them!) sassy-chic shades and flavors, covering all major corners of the color wheel. Some colors were matte/cream, while others offered a soft shimmer or metallic frost, each one more unique and tastier than the last. So many note worthy shades and flavors to bask your lips in. This first slew of Lip Lix shades were primarily mattes and the others soft satin-y shimmers. The more metallic ones came with the later launches. 

A Surebet gave lips a pretty peachy-pink tint with a sensational fruity sherbet flavor. 

Boyz-n-Berry was a cool-tone lavender mauve with a boysenberry flavor, pretty much the same flavor used later for the Boysenberry Ruby Jewel Lips Lip Smacker.

Can’t-Elope was a juicy, coral-melon shade with a soft silver shimmer suspended throughout and a yummy cantaloupe flavor.

Choc-it-up decorated lips in a deep, velvety brown tint, with cool undertones and a yummy chocolate flavor, different than the 90's Chocolate Lip Smacker that was on the market at the same time.

Cran-versation was a warm but bright red tint and a totally tart cranberry flavor. Bonne Bell was experimenting with different cranberry flavors around this time. 

Gotta Date? enveloped lips in a rich red-brown tint and a decadent date dessert flavor.

Gettin' Punchy painted pouts in a stunning, electric fuchsia tint that was suspended with a cool blue sheen, while lips drank in the delicious tropical punch flavor. Very similar to the Tropical Punch Lip Smacker. This color was mesmerizing!

Grapevine Whine deepened lips with a stunning wine stain and a luscious grape flavor.

Incrediberry was a bright and less than bashful yellow toned flamingo pink and an incredible berry flavor that specifically reminded me of Red Radberry Now and Later candy.

Milkshake-It was a creamy, dreamy nude beige and a vanilla chocolate milkshake flavor. I love all the innovative flavors Bonne Bell experimented with for Lip Lix.

Nut-So-Fast was a warm brown shade with a nutty chocolate flavor, like a candy bar and more similar to the Chocolate Lip Smacker that I always thought smelled like a nutty chocolate. This could have easily been a Snickers flavor.

Rantin’ n Raisin gave lips the prettiest deep but cool dusty pink and a sweet raisin flavor. A raisin flavor was still innovative for the 90's but it was nothing new for Bonne Bell who brought out the Rum 'n Raisin Lip Smacker in 1978, nearly 20 years, 2 decades before this.

Each Lip Lix cap matched the shade and flavor inside.

Lip Lix luv started as a single swipe and quickly blossomed into a full spectrum story. What began as one launch grew into a vibrant collection filled with playful names, bold shades, and innovative flavors that turned everyday makeup moments into something more colorful and fun. Lip Lix became more than an all-in-one balm, gloss and lip color, it became a collectible ritual. Each new drop after this felt like adding another gem to the lineup, from innovative flavors to unforgettable shades that made it impossible to stop at just one. The thrill was in the hunt for new collections and the big pop of personality in each new Lip Lix phrase and flavor.

Stay tuned as there are plenty more unforgettable Lip Lix legends waiting to take center stage here at The Oz of Lip Smacker Land. What was your flavor-ite from the original 12?

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