LIPSTICKS AND LIP-GLOSSES

The lip area of a person has been one of the attraction features of beauty in many cultures around the
world. Properties such as fullness, shape, definition, and volume have all been associated with desire to
enhance beauty and attractiveness. An example of extreme contrast enhancement can be seen for
geishas in the Japanese culture, in which case bright red lip color is commonly used on a near-white skin
background makeup. It is therefore natural for consumers to have a high interest in products enhancing
the lips. While in the past, lipsticks have mainly focused on bringing decorative benefits (color shade,
gloss), they now also bring functional (sun protection) and skincare (moisturizing, plumping) benefits to
the lip skin.

a. Colour:

First of all, lipsticks are intended to enhance or bring color to lips. This is generally achieved by adding
colorants to the product, which is applied to lips as a thin coating. Most shades found nowadays contain
some red dye and range from pale pink/orange to bright red and to darker tones of red, brown, or
purple. Some unusual lipstick colors such as green, blue, or black can also be found. The color imparts a
higher visibility to lips and shades are also considered to reflect the occasional environment of the
consumer. Color has also been found in the form of skin dyes such as eosin and bromofluoresceins.
These dyes penetrate slightly into the first lay- er of lip skin, which makes them more wear resistant. As
a consequence, they also can induce some sensitization, even irritation or allergic reactions in
consumers.

b. Gloss ingredients

Lipsticks and lip-glosses are often intended to bring high gloss and shine when applied on lips. This is
generally obtained by use of oils, esters, and silicones helping to form a homogeneous coating on lips
and enhancing the light reflection by increasing the refractive index of the lipstick film. These
ingredients also help the cohesion of a formulation, especially when using fillers and larger pigments
that disrupt the cohesion of a lipstick during molding.

c. Oils

Many oils can be used in lipsticks, such as castor oil, mineral oils, and hydroge- nated vegetable oils.
Their viscosity ranges from liquid to near wax-like, and they play a role of dispersant for colorants as
well as cohesion enhancer in lipsticks. Excessive amounts can lead to heavy feel, rancidity, or too much
payoff when lipsticks are being applied by a consumer. Many oils need a co-solvent such as fatty
alcohols to ensure their good dissolution in a formulation. Typical oil concen- trations range from 6 to
10%.

d. Waxes

The most commonly used waxes in lipsticks are beeswax and Carnauba wax. Generally, waxes are used
to increase the viscosity of a lipstick and balance the effects of oils and esters. Waxes are harder
ingredients and they raise the melting point of a formulation. This control in the melting temperature of
the lipstick also controls the payoff of a lipstick, which is the amount of product transferred from the
lipstick to the lips of a consumer. Payoff needs to be adjusted based on the amount of colorants and the
expected degree of coverage. Excessive use of waxes can lead to tackiness, graininess, and unpleasant
application feel. Typical wax con- centrations range from 8 to 18%.

e. Solvents

Alcohols and esters are generally used as solvents to disperse color pigments and waxes. Many esters
are available for this: linear and branched alkyl esters, and from stearates (e.g., glyceryl-, iso-, hydroxyl-
stearates) to palmitates, lanolin alco- hols, caprylates, and others. Typical solvent concentrations range
from 3 to 10%.

f. Silicones

These ingredients can range from liquids to wax-like consistency. They bring a lighter feel to the lipstick
and decrease the greasy/heavy perception for consum- ers. Polar esters are often used as co-solvent
with silicones. Typical concentrations range from 1 to 5%.

g. Polymers

Polymers are used to impart film-forming properties to lipsticks as well as to ensure the global film
cohesion once applied onto lips. Another critical benefit of poly- mers is wear resistance. Usually, a
large-scale polymer is used for film adhesion and flexibility to follow the movements of the lips while a
finer-branched poly- mer serves to create the three-dimensional local network inside the film and traps
colorant dyes, preventing their release on textiles or drinking containers (glass, ceramics). Polymers such
as an acrylate/C12–22 alkylmethacrylate copolymers also provide good adhesion of the lipstick during
application on lips. Finally, polymers can contribute to gloss in a lipstick by improving the quality of the
film on lips and/or by increasing the refractive index of the lipstick. Typical polymer concentrations
range from 0.2 to 2%.

i. Additional ingredients

Moisturizing ingredients such as glycerol are sometimes used in lipsticks. Adding a moisturizer helps
maintain the skin condition but also the fullness of lips and thus more attractiveness. Antioxidants are
sometimes used in lipsticks at lower concentrations (0.1–1%) and intended to remove ultraviolet-
induced radicals inside the skin of lips. Numerous fragrances can be used in lipsticks to give a fruity
smell/taste to products or sometimes to mask heavier greasy ingredients.

B) Copy platform of the product? Appeal and buying motives:

There are many copy products in the cosmetic industries and it take simple steps to identify them.

 A style that reflects your brand identity and personality

 The type of illustrations (or lack thereof) you want in your packaging
 The brand colors that signify your lipgloss business
 A font that remains visible even in small packaging

This can be minimized by changing the product appeal and following few tips:

Determine your packaging style

Get the necessary equipment like

 1. Blending or mixing machines
2. Molding equipment
3. Packaging containers
4. Branding labels
5. Sealing machines

Get the necessary premium quality supplies like

1. Coconut oil - for moisturizing properties

2. Olive oil or grapeseed oil - for skin barrier protection
3. Vitamin E essence - for dry lips and skin regeneration
4. Beeswax - for sun and UV rays protection
5. Cocoa butter or shea butter - for smooth hydration
6. Mica pigments (purified, and not synthetic) - for that color sheen

Maintain your own standards in production and manufacturing can curb the possibility of duplication
and specific supply chain management can be used to monitor the copy products.

C) Market your products

Running a full-fledged business means being proactive when it comes to the brand marketing of your
products. You put in the time and effort into making your lipgloss products look and feel phenomenal—
they deserve to be out and proud for the people to see.

Though the lipgloss market is vast and promising, you also have quite a bit of competition doing the
same things you are. Having marketing strategies for your small business can provide you with
significant growth at the start, which accumulates to long-term success if you’re consistent enough with
it.

Here are some marketing strategies to consider for your lipgloss business:

1. Advertise on blogs, forums, social media channels

2. Create a strong website for a just as strong online presence
3. Engage with targeted communities when you can to sell your products
4. Provide discounts for new customers or when they refer a friend
5. Join in on events, tradeshows, and fairs, and let people test out some samples
6. Encourage word-of-mouth marketing; prioritize referrals