Eco Lips, Inc.
Eco Lips, Inc. is a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based, family-owned manufacturer of certified-organic lip care, Bug Soother® insect repellent, and facial serums, selling direct-to-consumer, through major U.S. and international natural-product retailers, and via B2B contract manufacturing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersCedar Rapids, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Eco Lips, Inc. does
Eco Lips, Inc. is a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based, family-owned manufacturer of certified-organic personal care products, founded in 2003 by Andrea Danielson and Steve Shriver. It operates from an 86,700 sq ft USDA-Certified-Organic, cGMP- and ISO 22716-compliant facility powered entirely by renewable wind energy. The company's core business is formulating and producing organic lip balms (Mongo Kiss®, Vegan Bee Free®, Lip Food™, Hemp, SPF, Lip Soother, scrubs/masks, and Brazilian vegan tints) and — since the April 2021 acquisition of Simply Soothing — the Bug Soother® DEET-free insect repellent line. In 2023 it extended into facial skincare via the Eco Lips + Face serums, and it offers B2B contract manufacturing and private label services to other natural-care brands.
Its commercial model spans three revenue streams: direct-to-consumer e-commerce at $3.49–$24.99 per item (with free U.S. shipping above $40, gift cards, bundles, and a community/ambassador program offering 15% commissions); wholesale through major U.S. retailers including Walmart, Amazon, Whole Foods, Sprouts, MOM's Organic Market, Natural Grocers, Wegmans, and Fresh Thyme; and a network of country-exclusive international distributors across Australia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the UK/Ireland, Greece, Norway, Sweden, the Caribbean (OECS), and a regional partner for Russia/Ukraine/Belarus/Kazakhstan. Its proprietary technology revolves around certified organic and Fair Trade ingredient sourcing (including mongongo oil from rural African women cooperatives), the Plant Pod® 100% plastic-free, plant-based lip balm tube for which it holds exclusive North American rights, and a multi-certification compliance stack (B Corp, USDA Organic, Leaping Bunny, Fair Trade, Non-GMO Project Verified, Vegan.Org). Brand authority is reinforced by nine registered trademarks and earned media in Fortune, BuzzFeed, and HAPPI.
Eco Lips, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Eco Lips, Inc.
- Legal name
- Eco Lips, Inc.
- Website
- https://ecolips.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Eco Lips, Inc. is a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based, family-owned manufacturer of certified-organic lip care, Bug Soother® insect repellent, and facial serums, selling direct-to-consumer, through major U.S. and international natural-product retailers, and via B2B contract manufacturing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Eco Lips, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Organic Lip Care and Natural Personal Care Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (45612), Health and Personal Care Retailers (4561)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Eye & Lip Skincare (CRABAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Natural/Organic & Clean Skincare (CRABAAAH), Lip Makeup (Lipstick, Lip Gloss, Lip Liner, Lip Stain, Lip Balm-Tint) (CRABACAC), Hand & Body Care (Lotions, Creams, Body Oils) (CRADANAC)
Keywords
Where Eco Lips, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cedar Rapids
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Eco Lips, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Products sold directly through ecolips.com online store to individual consumers with various pricing tiers and bundle options.
- Wholesale Distribution: Products sold in bulk to retail partners including Walmart, Amazon, Whole Foods, Sprouts Farmers Market, MOM's Organic Market, and international distributors.
- Private Label/Contract Manufacturing: Offers custom formulation and private label services for other brands wanting to create lip balms and body care products using their manufacturing capabilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual lip balms and products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Multi-pack bundles and variety packs |
| Subscription | Monthly | E-Gift Cards |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
Eco Lips, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Eco Lips manufactures and sells certified organic lip care products including lip balms, lip scrubs, lip masks, vegan lip tints, SPF lip balms, and facial serums, plus DEET-free Bug Soother insect repellent. In addition to branded retail products sold direct-to-consumer, through major retailers, and internationally, Eco Lips provides contract manufacturing and private label services for other brands seeking natural body care products.
Product overview
Eco Lips, Inc. is a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based organic lip care manufacturer offering a diversified portfolio of personal care products. The company pioneered the first certified organic lip balm in 2003 and has expanded beyond lip care to encompass facial serums and insect repellent. Their core product lines include Mongo Kiss® (flagship Mongongo Oil-based balms), Lip Soother (intensive repair), Lip Scrubs & Masks (exfoliating treatments), Vegan Bee Free® (candelilla wax-based vegan balms), LIP FOOD™ (benefit-driven formulas), Hemp, Sunscreen SPF balms, and Vegan Brazilian Lip Tints. In April 2021, Eco Lips acquired Simply Soothing, adding the Bug Soother® insect repellent brand (originally DEET-free formula launched 2008). The company also provides B2B contract manufacturing and private label services. All products feature organic, Fair Trade Certified ingredients where possible, use sustainable packaging including the patented Plant Pod® 100% plastic-free tubes, and are manufactured in a USDA Certified Organic, cGMP-compliant facility powered by 100% renewable energy. Eco Lips is a certified B Corporation committed to people, planet, and profit principles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mongo Kiss®: Organic lip balm line featuring Mongongo oil, rich in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids, sourced from rural African women.
- Bug Soother®
- Vegan Bee Free®
- Lip Food®
- Eco Lips + Face
- Plant Pod®
Products and services
- Mongo Kiss® Organic Lip Balm Flagship organic lip balm line featuring wild-harvested Mongongo Oil from Africa, rich in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids, made with organic sunflower oil, Fair Trade Certified cocoa butter, and beeswax; available in flavors including Coconut, Strawberry Lavender, Peppermint, Vanilla Honey, Yumberry, Blood Orange, Black Cherry, and Pomegranate.
- Lip Soother Deep conditioning lip care for severely chapped lips featuring Murumuru butter, Mango butter rich in Vitamins A, C, and E, and rosehip oil; available in Creamy Cherry, Melon Lemon, and Warm Vanilla variants.
- Lip Scrubs & Masks Exfoliating and intensive moisturizing treatments; Sugar Lip Scrubs feature Organic, Fair Trade Certified sugar with coconut oil, olive oil, and jojoba oil; the Overnight Intensive Lip Mask features gotu kola extract, argan and coconut oil; the Plumping Daytime Lip Mask with Hyaluronic Acid won the 2024 Delicious Living Beauty Award Gold.
- Vegan Brazilian Lip Tints Vegan lip color delivering sheer-to-buildable matte coverage without carmine, lanolin, or beeswax; made with ethically-sourced Brazilian butters including babacu oil, cupuaçu butter, and pracaxi oil; available in five shades: Blessed (rouge pink), Bold, Brave, Brazen, and Blissful.
- Vegan Bee Free® Lip Balm 100% beeswax-free vegan lip balm made with candelilla wax, certified organic and Fair Trade Certified cocoa butter and coconut oil; packaged in Plant Pod® plastic-free tubes.
- LIP FOOD™ Lip Balm Benefit-driven lip balm line with curated ingredients like spirulina algae extract, pumpkin seed oil, and chamomile mushroom extract, featuring organic golden jojoba oil and Fair Trade Certified cocoa butter and coconut oil; varieties include Nourish, Protect, and Plump.
- Hemp Lip Balm Lip balm featuring certified organic hemp seed oil for nourishing and conditioning skin; available in Cherry, Vanilla Mint, and Vanilla varieties.
- Plant Pod® Sunscreen Lip Balm Broad spectrum SPF sunscreen lip balms protecting against UVA/UVB rays, featuring organic aloe vera, Fair Trade Certified coconut oil, and cocoa butter; available in SPF 15 Berry and SPF 30 Sport varieties, packaged in 100% plastic-free Plant Pod® tubes.
- Eco Lips + Face Facial Serums Vegan facial serums harnessing botanical ingredients and vitamins: Morning Facial Serum features Kakadu plum oil with 5% vitamin C; Nighttime Facial Serum for restorative care; Anytime Facial Serum with 5% Niacinamide for balanced skin; HSA/FSA eligible.
- Bug Soother® Insect Repellent DEET-free natural insect repellent acquired with Simply Soothing in 2021 (formula originally introduced in 2008); includes Original Bug Repellent Spray in multiple sizes, Bug Soother MAX Extra Strength for mosquito and tick protection, Balm, Wipes, and Candles; widely distributed in the US and internationally.
- Specialty & Seasonal Products Limited edition and seasonal lip balms including Gold (with baobab oil), Medicinal (with essential oils trio), Candy Cane holiday flavors, and novelty gift sets.
- Contract Manufacturing & Private Label Services Full-service B2B contract manufacturing for natural body care products including lip balm, solid perfumes, body balms, lip/face masks, scrubs, deodorants, salves, skin care oils, hair products, baby products, beard oils, and pet balms; services include custom formulation, flavor matching, Amazon/3PL fulfillment, and turnkey packaging.
Quantifiable outcome
- 86,700 sq ft manufacturing facility powered by renewable energy
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Eco Lips, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Eco Lips, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Eco Lips, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Unique Health ProductscoreAustralian distributor for Eco Lips products in Australia
- EcoilibriumcoreGreek distributor for Eco Lips products in Greece
- Mitoku Company, Ltd.coreJapanese distributor for Eco Lips products in Japan
- International Cosmetics, Inc.coreJapanese distributor for Eco Lips products in Japan
- Ambermed, Ltd.coreUK and Ireland distributor for Eco Lips products
- LaColle AScoreNorwegian distributor for Eco Lips products in Norway
- Inessence Distributors, LTD.coreCaribbean distributor for Eco Lips products in OECS Member States
- World CompanycoreSouth Korean distributor for Eco Lips products (Busan office)
- Maxima TradecoreSwedish distributor for Eco Lips products in Sweden
- ADH Health Products, Inc.coreTaiwan distributor for Eco Lips products
- Rainbow Beauty, COcoreTaiwan distributor for Eco Lips products
- International Company BIOMEDICINAminorRegional distributor for Eco Lips products in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan
- Simply Soothing (Bug Soother brand)coreAcquired in April 2021. Simply Soothing is a personal care company known for Bug Soother insect repellent. Sales surged after introducing DEET-free Bug Soother in 2008. Products are widely distributed in US and internationally.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Eco Lips, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ChapStick: ChapStick (owned by Haleon) is the legacy mass-market lip balm incumbent and the category baseline. While positioned at a lower price tier, ChapStick competes for the same shelf space at Walmart, Amazon, and grocery, and is the primary generic substitute Eco Lips must out-position on natural/organic credentials.
- Burt's Bees: Burt's Bees (owned by Clorox) is the category-defining natural lip balm brand in North America and the most direct mainstream peer to Eco Lips. Both compete in beeswax-based and natural lip care sold through mass and natural grocery channels; Burt's Bees' scale and Clorox distribution muscle is the primary competitive benchmark Eco Lips must outperform on certifications and ingredient storytelling.
- Dr. Bronner's: Dr. Bronner's is the largest independent organic personal care brand in the U.S. and a comparable for Eco Lips on B Corp credentials, organic formulation, fair trade supply chain, and natural food channel distribution. Dr. Bronner's broader portfolio also illustrates the multi-category scale ceiling Eco Lips could approach.
Direct peers
- Carmex: Carmex is a direct peer in medicated and conditioning lip care, sold across drug, mass, and grocery. It is a relevant comparable for Eco Lips' Lip Soother line (deep conditioning for chapped lips) on formulation positioning and on competitive shelf presence.
- Hurraw! Balm: Hurraw! is a small, organic, vegan lip balm brand competing in the same premium natural channel as Eco Lips. Comparable on ingredient philosophy (organic, fair trade, vegan options), price point, and target consumer (health-conscious buyers at natural grocers and online).
- Sun Bum: Sun Bum is a relevant peer for Eco Lips' Plant Pod Sunscreen Lip Balm (SPF 15/30) line. Both brands sell sun-care lip balms with lifestyle positioning in beach, outdoor, and sport channels, and overlap at retailers like Walmart and Amazon.
- EOS (Evolution of Smooth): EOS is a direct lip balm peer, best known for its signature sphere-shaped packaging and a broad flavored lip balm line sold in mass retail. EOS competes for the same end consumer at the same price points, particularly in drug, mass, and grocery channels where Eco Lips is also listed.
- Badger Balm: Badger is a family-run, certified B Corporation producing organic balms, lip care, and natural personal care. Direct comparable on mission-driven branding, organic certification, B Corp status, and presence in natural grocery channels like Whole Foods and Sprouts.
Emerging players
- Bite Beauty: Bite Beauty is a clean-beauty lip care and lip color brand that overlaps with Eco Lips' Vegan Brazilian Lip Tints on natural, vegan lip color. Comparable on consumer target (clean beauty shoppers) and on positioning lip color as natural/vegan rather than conventional cosmetics.
- Juice Beauty: Juice Beauty is a certified-organic skincare and beauty brand carried in natural and prestige channels like Whole Foods and Sephora. Comparable on USDA organic formulation, clean beauty positioning, and the strategic challenge of extending an organic personal care brand into adjacent face/skincare categories.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Eco Lips, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceEco Lips, Inc. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
Eco Lips, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Eco Lips, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Eco Lips, Inc. subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Eco Lips, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Eco Lips, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Eco Lips, Inc.
What does Eco Lips, Inc. do?
Eco Lips manufactures and sells certified organic lip care products including lip balms, lip scrubs, lip masks, vegan lip tints, SPF lip balms, and facial serums, plus DEET-free Bug Soother insect repellent. In addition to branded retail products sold direct-to-consumer, through major retailers, and internationally, Eco Lips provides contract manufacturing and private label services for other brands seeking natural body care products.
Is Eco Lips, Inc. a public or private company?
Eco Lips, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Eco Lips, Inc. founded?
Eco Lips, Inc. was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Eco Lips, Inc. based?
Eco Lips, Inc. is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, United States, in the North America region.
How does Eco Lips, Inc. make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce is the primary driver. The others are wholesale Distribution and private Label/Contract Manufacturing.
Who are Eco Lips, Inc.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ChapStick, Burt's Bees and Dr. Bronner's. Direct peers are Carmex, Hurraw! Balm, Sun Bum, EOS (Evolution of Smooth) and Badger Balm. Emerging players are Bite Beauty and Juice Beauty.
Does Eco Lips, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Eco Lips, Inc..
What industry is Eco Lips, Inc. in?
Eco Lips, Inc.'s product category is Organic Lip Care and Natural Personal Care Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRABAAAC, Eye & Lip Skincare, with a secondary code of CRABAAAH, Natural/Organic & Clean Skincare. Its NAICS code is 45612 and its SIC code is 2844.