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Bodyshop may sell Lucknow institute's herbal lipstick

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow

A French franchisee of international personal care products chain Bodyshop may soon add a herbal lipstick formulated by an Indian research institute to its wide range of hot-selling cosmetics.

The company is in the final stage of negotiations to strike a deal with Lucknow-based National Botanic Research Institute for the herbal lipstick.

"The unique lipsticks should hit the market by the end of this year as the multinational company is giving final touches to our proposals for granting it the license for transfer of technology," institute director P Pushpangadan said.

Developed by the ethno-pharmacology division of the institute about 18 months ago, the herbal lipstick has unique sensual qualities. "The application of this lipstick could arouse sensual feelings, tranquility and creativity," the director said.

"Because of its herbal nature, the product cannot have any side-effects, which is bound to do wonders in the market," Pushpangadan said, adding that even men could use the lipstick.

Market studies and surveys carried out by Bodyshop got an overwhelming response, prompting the company to pursue the product.

NBRI has been in the news for its work in the rediscovery of ancient medicinal herbs and their application in modern science and technology. The institute director recruited Sanskrit language scholars to study ancient scriptures listing the medicinal qualities of herbs.

In the case of the herbal lipstick, a team of scientists even consulted the Kama Sutra, Vatsyayana's world-renowned ancient treatise on the art of love making, which provided clues to the aphrodisiac properties of certain herbs.

According to Pushpangadan, the efficacy of this lipstick is based on the modern scientific theory that certain aromas can penetrate the human skin.

"The lips, which are the most sensitive to sub-dermal absorption, could therefore be used as the best medium to stimulate the human mind," he said.

"Scientific research has made it amply clear that aromas have an effect not merely with their smell but also penetrate the human mind through the skin," Pushpangadan said. "Our theory was based on the same principle by which incense sticks have a soothing effect on the mind."

Indo-Asian News Service

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