So this week, my time on-site is super concentrated since I went out of town to visit TCU and Baylor. But Monday I got to sit in on an education seminar held by a dermatology products company based in Phoenix. And these education seminars are such a great ways of marketing to consumers when products must go through a doctor to reach the consumer. Showing physicians the proper way to use the products and teaching physicians all the innovative science behind products is so helpful, and it gets the physicians jazzed to sell the products!
Thank you to everyone who commented their favorite lip product and cleanser last week! I loved reading your reasoning, and I am taking them into account for my own product. :) If you happened to forget last week, you can totally comment this week too!
When researching for my lip product, I found some really interesting things:
- Your lips cannot moisturize themselves since they have no sweat glands or sebaceous glands, so it is really all up to the individual to care for the lips.
- Lips have vulnerable mucous membrane underneath. In fact, the reddish color of the lips comes from the concentration and proximity of blood vessels and the ultra-thin, transparent layer of skin which allows the color to come through.
- After much research, your lips don't become reliant on lip balm. (This still seems shocking to me!)
- New lines are always being created in your lips!
This week, my personal research focused on a lip product, and I want to create a type of lip butter or lip balm in a tin! I may be going with a lip butter if it's easier for materials to be soaked in. And I definitely want to include an SPF.
Goals for my lip product include first and foremost being able to reduce the appearance of lines in one's lips, creating a long-lasting moisturizer, having an SPF, being all natural, and not leaving the skin sticky.
On Tuesday, Kerwin and I focused a lot on types of ingredients and formulations to be used for my lip product. Then after doing some research, we took a trip to Sephora!
Who would've though we would take a trip to Sephora for research!? This was definitely my longest trip into this store, and absolutely my favorite because we looked into each one of the cleansers and lip products. We compared ingredients and marketing claims and even packaging! By the end I was able to pick up on trends like some cleansers using soaps while others use surfactants. I came out of that trip thoroughly educated and bubbling with information!
I got a bunch of homework from Kerwin to continue to read formulations, read a couple books and magazines on specific products, and pick out ingredients I want to use so when I come back on Tuesday, we can maybe even create a first batch! I am looking forward to creating a really high quality product that I am proud of!
And I will also be working on my cleanser soon so stay tuned! Thank you all for reading!
Goals for my lip product include first and foremost being able to reduce the appearance of lines in one's lips, creating a long-lasting moisturizer, having an SPF, being all natural, and not leaving the skin sticky.
On Tuesday, Kerwin and I focused a lot on types of ingredients and formulations to be used for my lip product. Then after doing some research, we took a trip to Sephora!
Who would've though we would take a trip to Sephora for research!? This was definitely my longest trip into this store, and absolutely my favorite because we looked into each one of the cleansers and lip products. We compared ingredients and marketing claims and even packaging! By the end I was able to pick up on trends like some cleansers using soaps while others use surfactants. I came out of that trip thoroughly educated and bubbling with information!
I got a bunch of homework from Kerwin to continue to read formulations, read a couple books and magazines on specific products, and pick out ingredients I want to use so when I come back on Tuesday, we can maybe even create a first batch! I am looking forward to creating a really high quality product that I am proud of!
And I will also be working on my cleanser soon so stay tuned! Thank you all for reading!
Hi Lauren, hope your trips to TCU and Baylor went well. I have a couple of questions. Do people favor lip balm over lip butter since you actually have to use your finger to apply the lip butter (at least from my understanding, please tell me if I'm completely wrong)? Like if you are just walking around and your lips are chapped you probably don't want to be putting your finger near your mouth without washing your hands first right? Also, you mentioned that you were making your own lip products which is super exciting! Would these actually be made for sale?
ReplyDeleteHey Justin! Thank you!
DeleteSuch a great question! People may favor lip balm over lip butter, but lip butter may have a better ability because of the consistency to actually moisturize better and help fill the lines. But you do have to use your fingers which may be a draw back for some. Something to keep in mind though is that all products have (or should have) preservatives in them to fight against bugs, so that shouldn't be an issue.
I'm not quite sure if I'll make them for sale, but we'll see! I want to be completely confident in a product before I would go ahead and sell them! Thank you for your interest!
Hi Lauren! Your project sounds like it is going great and I'm impressed that you were able to accomplish so much in two weeks and that you are already ready to start creating your lip product. I do have a few questions. You said new lines are constantly being created on your lips--is this a result of aging or a result of improper moisturization (if that even is a word haha)? Also, which ingredients do you think you will use in the creation of your lip product? From my experience, coconut butter lip balms and butters seem to be the big craze right now. Thank you and good luck in the creation of what sounds like will be an amazing product!
ReplyDeleteHi Olivia! Thank you!
DeleteLips constantly get new lines just due to new cell regeneration and aging.
Totally! I want to use trending ingredients like coconut butter (probably coconut oil) and almond oil but mainly focusing on the benefits of each ingredient. I should have an update on finalized ingredients this week so stay tuned!
Thank you for following my blog!
Hey Lauren, it's so exciting to read about your experience in this project, especially because you show how everything you learn applies to what one should pay attention to when buying a product, and how you can make your own product based on what you've learned.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the lines forming on your lips, are they bad? You said that new lines are always forming on people's lips, but is this a bad thing, as in does it make one's lip skin weaker or more chapped, or do people just want to get rid of the lines so their lips look prettier, not necessarily for health reasons?
Also, you said that lips have a very thin skin layer to protect them. Is this why chapped lips are such a big problem, since once that thin layer is broken there are no more layers of skin to protect the lips? Or is it because there simply has not been a product made that heals chapped lips, so those with the problem cannot fix it?
Hey Annalise! Thank you so much! It's really awesome to get to create a product since I am learning all the materials behind it.
DeleteLines forming on the lips totally aren't a bad thing, it's just normal. But lots of people (including myself) would like to try to minimize them as much as possible just for trends and looking cute. :D But lines are not a health issue unless one's lips are extremely chapped, which my product would not be targeting.
Yeah! Lips only have about 4-6 layers of epidermal cells compared to your skin which has much more, so we must protect them a lot more, and this is why I think it is so important! But my product is mainly targeting the appearance of lines, not necessarily health concerns.
Hi Lauren, it seems like your project is to create the ultimate lip formula, which is pretty cool. I am wondering what are you planning to do to help your product stand out from the myriad of other products that accomplish the same thing?
ReplyDeleteHey Evan! Definitely, I hope to separate my product by being all natural, and actually helping decrease the amount of lines whereas most products just cover them up!
DeleteHey Lauren, I always love reading your new posts. They are always so interesting! As Annalise said before, are the lines on your lips a bad thing. Do people want to get the lines off for health reasons or because their lips will look better. Also is the reason why we put lip balm on is because their is such a thin skin layer and if our lips get dry, it causes our lips to bleed. Also do lip balms have SPF because our lips can get burned. What happens when our lips get burned? It is also really interesting how you are going to make a lip balm! Are you also going to make other products after the lip balm?
ReplyDeleteHey Christina! Aw thank you!
DeleteThe lines on your lips definitely aren't a bad thing unless one has a serious case of chapped lips to where his or her lips are beginning to break open and bleed. I think it would be super cool to minimize the lines on one's lips just for beauty purposes, plus, less chapstick would be needed, and your lips would be truly hydrated.
Exactly! We must put lip balm on because our lips don't have sebaceous glands which usually keep the rest of our skin slightly hydrated with oil. Lips can totally get burned and it's just another place for cancer to arise which would be super bad!
If I have time, I am planning on making a facial cleanser, but I really want to perfect the lip balm first!
Hi Lauren! I love reading your posts, because they are so interesting! You said that you might be creating a lip butter instead of a lip balm. What do you prefer to use on the daily, a lip balm or lip butter?
ReplyDeleteAlso, how much profit do physicians get from the sale of each product they test? I knew that products are tested before they are put out on the market, but there are still products out there that do not really really work like they claim to. so how does that work exactly?
Hi Divya! Thank you so much! Currently I use a lip balm knowing that I have to reapply at least every 3 hours, but I would love to use a lip butter, and I should probably go pick one up at the store! Thank you!
DeletePhysicians can make such different margins on different products with varying companies. Of course some companies are more motivated by profit and not social responsibility, so unfortunately they can create studies and use specific information to market their products.
Hey Lauren! I absolutely love reading each of your posts, they always present exciting and new knowledge! In regards to the lines on your lips, are there any health concerns that are related to those lines? Also, is it "healthy" to fill in those lines, either with products or by surgery? I'm thoroughly impressed that it is only your second week and you already have plans for product development! Are you planning to feature more natural ingredients, or are chemicals the ingredients that have the greatest effects? Also, is this lip balm going to be more arsthetic, medical, or a combination? What are your marketing plans for this product? I'm super excited to follow along in the production process!
ReplyDeleteHey Bobby! Aw thank you!
DeleteThere are not too many regards to health concerns related to lines in one's lips unless they are so deep that one's lips begin to bleed. It is totally natural to fill in the lines at least the way I will be doing it because I am using ingredients naturally produced in the body, just to a higher extent. I would never put plastics into my body because that just does not seem 'healthy' as you point out.
I want to use natural ingredients, although synthetics allow products to be more stable, so after a few trials, I'll let you know!
This product will definitely be more aesthetic, not something to work on highly chapped lips, although it may help, this is just to fill in fine lines.
I am planning on using my claims to natural, SPF, contains anti-oxidants, and anti-pollution which seems to be gaining popularity.
Thank you for following my blog! I can't wait to keep on updating you!
Hi Lauren! I'm happy to see how well your project is progressing, especially in regards to your research about what it takes to make a successful lip product! You mentioned that you were surprised that your lips do not become reliant on lip balm. Is this because the balm helps to heal and moisturize the lips in the long-run, or is reapplication consistently necessary? Also, after using the same lip balm for a while, does the effectiveness of that specific product decrease on moisturizing the lips? Finally, what does incorporating SPF into a lip product actually help with in regards to dryness? I'm glad to learn that you are making a lip butter, and I look forward to seeing your finished product!
ReplyDeleteHi Esha! Thank you!
DeleteReapplication is constantly necessary since our lips don't have their own sebaceous glands. The effectiveness of a lip balm may decrease over time, but I am not quite sure.
SPF is just something I want to add into my product because I think it is super important to protect the lips which have such a small epidermis.
Hi Lauren! It's so exciting to see your project progress! You mentioned that our lips have a vulnerable layer underneath them. When they become chapped, is that what is damaged? What exactly do lip balms and butters restore? Also, do you know how people dealt with chapped lips before we had developed lip balms? Thank you! Your project really seems to be coming along, and I can't wait to see what you come up with!
ReplyDeleteHi Nitya! Thank you!
DeleteWhen the lips are chapped, just the epidermis (top layer is damaged) but we can really injure the dermis by not taking care of our lips especially with the sun. Lip balms and butters restore moisture lost to the environment.
Ooh, I do not know who people dealt with chapped lips before lip balm. That's a wonderful question!
Thank you for following my blog!
Hi Lauren.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that having moisturized lips is completely up to the individual, but I have heard that staying hydrated helps keep them from getting dry, so how does that work? I am glad to hear you are honing on some of the details of your lip butter. When you went to Sephora, were there any certain ingredients you found that you wanted to add to your product? Also, was there any specific reason you chose to put your lip butter in a tin rather than in a chapstick form? Thank you, and I look forward to reading more!
Hi Zafeerah! Totally, the more water in your body, the more water flowing, so in turn, your whole epidermis will be more hydrated.
DeleteThere were definitely ingredients in the cleansers I learned to avoid, and I want to include almond oil in my lip product!
I think lip butters can be perceived as more hydrating, and you can market them in a cute way!
Thank you!
Hey Lauren!
ReplyDeleteIm glad to hear your project is progressing so fast! Were there any ingredients or packaging styles that stood out to you when you were shopping that you might want to add to your own product? Keep up the good work!
Hey Anil!
DeleteThank you! Me too! Ooh totally! I love the minimalist packaging as well as bright pops of color which are very common to a bunch of people's favorite chapsticks!
Thank you! Have fun in drama!
Are you actually going to market and sell your products? With so many products like this out there, how is yours going to stand out?
ReplyDeleteHi Dr. Sahu,
DeleteI am currently not sure if I will go to sell this, because I would need much testing to actually sell this, but I will be marketing it to observe buying patterns.
I hope mine will stand out due to the SPF, truly filling in lip lines, being all natural, and being a great moisturizer as well as containing high quality ingredients!
Hi Lauren! You seem to have had amazing opportunities so far on your project! I'm glad that you've had such a range of experience from professional meetings to interactive and engaging tours through a store specifically concerned with your interests! I had a couple questions about lip care. What are the most often ways people damage their lips? And are products the only way to take care of them?
ReplyDeleteHey Lauren! Sounds like you are learning a lot! I was wondering what kinds of things did you learn at the education seminar? Was it more chemistry or medical focused?
ReplyDelete