BEAUTY
Whatever Happened To Bonne Bell Cosmetics?
By ROBYN SONG
Bonne Bell Cosmetics was known for many cosmetic products, most notably Lip Smackers. However, the brand's presence has diminished quite a lot over the years.
Bonne Bell flourished into the early 2000s, but sales began to drop, partly due to "fickle" youthful consumers. Then, in 2005, its former chairman passed away.
Despite this, the company entered the Asian cosmetic market in 2009 and rebranded as Aspire Brands after partnering with Disney. By the early 2010s, all seemed to be well.
However, in 2015, Bonne Bell and Lip Smackers were sold to Markwins International Corp., which led to the closure of Bonne Bell’s Ohio-based operations.
Despite initial concerns, the acquisition of Aspire Brands by Markwins did not mark the end of Lip Smackers. They continued to evoke a powerful sense of nostalgia for beauty fans.
While the Bonne Bell name may have been retired, Lip Smackers continues to release new flavors, maintain collaborations, and preserve the strawberry flavor from the original lineup.