The end of Lip Smackers and our youth.

When I went to Walgreens to pick up my mom's medications, I found the small section that had the Lip Smackers. This section almost became sad and empty after the news that its parent company, Bonnebell is shutting down and laying off employees. I'm pretty sure almost every other 20-something female went frantic and purchased a stash to relive the sweet innocent memories of their childhood. A classmate of mine said she ordered 25 of the Dr. Bell Pepper Lip Smackers after she found out about this. As for me? I prefer watermelon and strawberry. Luckily, this was the last watermelon flavor in that small section. I had to pick it up. There was no strawberry flavor. I was worried that it wouldn't be moisturizing, but I actually find that it's super soft and gentle on my lips, much better than Burts Bees/Chapstick/Maybelline Baby Lips. Trust me, I know about dry lips.

For those outside of North America, you're in luck. Lip Smackers will still be distributed in Europe, Asia and Australia. 

I have a weak sense of smell now but I appreciate every little whiff I can sniff. I remember trying these when I was 8 years old. All I knew was that I loved the smell. I liked Chapstick too, but I knew that Lip Smackers were targeted towards little girls like me based on the marketing, the design, the packaging and the scents.

I started wearing makeup in 8th grade. Yeah, I started wearing Cover Girl, Wet n Wild, and NYC, but I always remembered always having a few Bonnebell and Lip Smacker Products:

I remember never having a shortage of these.

One of my first bronzers.

Who could forget the Cosmic Cheeks body glitter?! Now it seems antiquated in the beauty world.

This is a Smackers book, but I remember when I was in 5th grade in 2000, I subscribed to the Smackers magazine. It had these characters with fun stories and advice. I would even receive little goodies like nail polish.

Before entering the MAC and Sephora world, Lip Smackers were a part of our childhood. And I guess because we are adults now and life is a bit more complicated, we reminisce on the very things that define our childhood. I played video games on my Playstation (I loved Tekken 2 & 3, Croc, Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider, and Tomba), and I had Tamogatchis and Barbies. I was crazy about Pokemon (I made Pokemon websites and even at one point remembered the Pokerap by heart!). I would never stop singing lyrics to Spice Girls, Britney Spears, and Backstreet Boys. My classmates and I squealed with joy when the book fairs came to our school. I was crazy about Magic School Bus. Squeeze its, Lunchables, and Amazin' Fruit Gummi Bears? Yes, I remember those. I also indulged in Gushers, Airheads, Cheez Balls, and Fruit Loops.

Maybe it's because 90s trends are coming back (vampy lips, plaid, and choker necklaces) or maybe because life is truly getting more complicated. I know in the 2000s, there were 80s trends of bright colors in makeup and fashion. But my sister, who was born in 1976, always reminisces of her life in the 80s. She listens to 80s music and still watches The Goonies and Fast Times of Ridgemont High (both of which I love). Buzzfeed's lists always give me nostalgia. I've even contemplated many times of having a 90s themed birthday party. Could this year be that year?

How about you? If you grew up in the mid-late 90s/early 2000s, what type of memories did you have from it? Did you grow up with Lip Smackers? What are your favorite flavors? How did it shape your childhood?