A Guide to Selling Lip Balm in the UK: Ingredients, Sales, and Best Sellers

Lip balm is a small product that can bring large profits for your retail or beauty business. Today, this product is sold worldwide to a very diverse audience, with the product line continually expanding through the introduction of new types, ingredients, brands, flavours and benefit-based innovations. If you are a reseller, retailer or running a beauty business, and want to make a profit from this lucrative product in the UK, here’s a detailed sales guide for you. This blog breaks down ingredients, types, trends, products and sales of lip balm in the UK.

History of Lip Balm:

Lip balm isn’t some new innovation, its history traces back to ancient civilisations, where people used to apply beeswax, oils and plant extracts to protect their lips from harsh environments, and fun fact, most of these ingredients are even found in today’s lip balms. Later in the 19th century, these natural ingredients took the shape of Chapstick, which became increasingly common towards the early 20^th century. From hand-wrapped Chapstick, it transitioned into tube packaging, which we today call lip balm.

Ingredients of Lip Balm

Ingredients of lip balm may vary for each type, brand and product, but some of the most common ones are:

1. Moisturising Ingredients:

   Beeswax, petroleum jelly, shea butter, cocoa butter.

2. Oils:

   Coconut oil, almond oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil.

3. Other ingredients

   (For added benefit): SPF agents, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera.

From a Commercial Perspective

If we look at the charts, we can see a clear spike in sales over the past few years. Some reasons why lip balm in the UK is a great product from a sales perspective are:

1. Affordability

The first reason behind the consistent sales of lip balm is its affordability across all market segments. It is a low-cost product, budget-friendly, and an everyday use essential, which is why, from premium branded lip balms to local ones, all types see consistent demand and sales.

2. Need and Luxury Combined

Whether you are a retailer, reseller or a beauty business owner, you probably know which products are highest in demand and dominate the sales: the ones which combine benefits and luxury. This is because the sales are driven by a necessity over fashion, and the same goes for lip balm. It is a crucial part of everyday skincare and makeup routine, not just for enhancing aesthetic beauty but also for plumping, protecting, soothing and hydrating lips.

3. Benefit-Driven Sales

Lip balm is a product that is not just a makeup trend, but a lot more than that. It is often used as a treatment for damaged, chapped or dry lips, as a moisturiser to protect against harsh weather, and for adding scent and natural colour to the lips. So, by targeting the audience with these dream results and pain points, you can surely boost sales.

4. Diverse Target Audience

Unlike most cosmetic products, lip balm in the UK is far more diverse, another reason why it is great from a sales perspective. This product line targets audience from all genders and age groups, including baby care, teenage skincare, women beauty and men grooming categories. Furthermore, demand spans across multiple segments, including salons, beauty businesses, healthcare institutions, dermatologists, and individual consumers, significantly broadening its market reach and sales opportunities.

5. Consistent Sales

The sales of lip gloss aren’t affected by seasons; they usually stay consistent in all year. The reason is that the UK’s harsh weather needs extra care, and lips are the most delicate part of our body, requiring more gentle care. Lip balm provides that, by offering hydration in winters by locking moisture and providing required protection from the sun with infused SPF in summers.

6. Profit Margin

The most important thing for resellers and retailers is profit margin, and the lip balm fits best in this category due to low sourcing and production costs and higher profit margins that can range up to 60% depending on brand, type, and positioning.