What Happened to Bonne Bell?

Bonne Bell was an American cosmetics and skincare company founded in 1927 by Jesse Bell in Cincinnati, Ohio. It became a defining brand for teenage girls across multiple generations. While the company produced various beauty products, it achieved iconic status through Lip Smacker, the flavored lip balm that was a required product for teen girls from the 1970s to the 2000s.

The company was named after Jesse's daughter Bonn, and for decades it remained a family-run business focused on wholesome, affordable beauty products for young women. The company emphasized, natural ingredients and simple formulations—revolutionary concepts in an era when cosmetics were often heavy and artificial.

The breakthrough came in 1973 when Bonne Bell introduced Lip Smacker. Prior lip balms were medicinal and boring; Lip Smacker made lip care fun with flavors like Strawberry, Dr Pepper, Bubble Gum, and Root Beer Float. The product became an instant sensation, instant sensation, trading like currency on school playgrounds.

Clever licensing partnerships were key to Lip Smacker's success. Bonne Bell secured deals with dozens of candy and soda brands - like Dr. Pepper, Starburst, and Skittles - creating lip balms that tasted like the products themselves. At its peak, Lip Smacker offered over 100 different flavors, and the brand sold billions of units.

The product became a cultural touchstone. For millions of Gen X and Millennial women, Lip Smacker was their first beauty product—the gateway between childhood and makeup. The brand appeared in movies, TV shows, and teen magazines.

Beyond Lip Smacker, Bonne Bell had other successful products. Ten-O-Six lotion, introduced in 1933, was a cult-favorite acne treatment that remained popular for decades. Skin Musk fragrance was a teen staple in the 1970s and 80s. The company also produced foundations, blushes, and other color cosmetics under the Bonne Bell name, though none achieved Lip Smacker's dominance.

However, by the 2000s, Bonne Bell faced challenges. The beauty market had become intensely competitive, with new brands like Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret Beauty, and prestige brands expanding into younger demographics. Teen tastes were shifting toward more sophisticated products. Retail was consolidating, and Bonne Bell's traditional drugstore distribution channels were under pressure.

After nearly 90 years, the Bell family decided to sell to Markwins International, a Los Angeles based beauty company. The Lip Smacker brand was too valuable to abandon, but Markwins chose to completely discontinue the Bonne Bell name.

Lip Smacker continues its legacy with flavored lip balms in drugstores and online. The formulations and flavors remain similar, and the brand retains its teen appeal. However, the Bonne Bell name—which once appeared on every tube—is gone. The Ten-O-Six lotion, Skin Musk, and other Bonne Bell-branded products were discontinued. The family company that Jesse Bell built in 1927 no longer exists.

Bonne Bell's story reflects broader changes in American retail and corporate ownership - a preference for large corporations who see little worth in the small, family-owned company names behind them.