Shelissa's Lip Balm Company has been featured in many prestigious newspapers, magazines, and websites including USA Today, The Business Monthly, The Baltimore Sun, Tampa Tribune, The Charlotte Observer, Indianapolis Star, Daily Record, Las Cruces Sun, Gainesville Sun, The Oregonian, Knoxville News Sentinel, Democrat and Chronicle, Erie Times, Howard County Times, Gazette, The Columbia Flier, The View, College Bound, Parents, Washingtonian, Bride, Lucky magazine, The Wedding Channel, and The Examiner.

Shelissa's has been recognized by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Johns Hopkins Hospital, What to Expect Foundation, the San Diego Humane Society, Claudia Mayer Cancer and Resource Center, and the Fashion Fights Poverty organization.

Natural Lips The Baltimore Sun

For years, fashion model Shelissa Anne Kemplin Kearney searched for the perfect lip balm -- something that kept her pucker smooth and soft without requiring constant reapplication. She never found a product on the shelves that met her needs, so she invented one.

Kemplin Kearney's My Sexy Lips is an all-natural vegan lip balm that is scented with essential oils and contains such moisturizers as olive oil, Vitamin E and candelilla wax. The balm comes in four flavors -- Peppermint Patty, Spearmint Leaf SPF15, Naturally Naked and the popular Vanilla Bean. Wear it under lipstick, or line lips and fill in with My Sexy Lips for a sheer hint of color. (Copyright- The Baltimore Sun Company)

Successful lip balm puts a smile on model's face

Being a model can be awfully tough on the lips, what with the bright lights and constant smiles. So when Shelissa Kemplin Kearney, who has spent the past 10 years posing for mobile phone companies and world-class designers, couldn't find a balm to keep dried skin from peeling on her lips, she made her own. Kearney envisions her balm becoming a nationally marketed product, and she has a few connections that could help her along. As an international model, Kearney has put the balm, emblazoned with the cartoon face of a dolled-up cow, in the hands of makeup artists who transform models and actors. Being in the business also gives her access to agents and others who can supply the product to celebrities, which could help generate the kind of high profile that can boost sales of My Sexy Lips and get the attention of buyers at department stores.

Local television cameraman Jim Buckley said he uses the balm every day because his job often requires him to be outside. But he said his trouble is keeping the balm. "All my friends took them. My sister took one, and a girlfriend took one, someone on a crew took one," he said. It's really good stuff. It doesn't feel greasy like some of the other ones do. It lasts longer." She advertised in local magazines, got local news coverage and soon had orders pouring in from all over the country. This year, when her husband, a Marine pilot, was sent to Iraq and wrote her that the troops were complaining about dry eyes and lips, she added sun block to the unscented version, had it packaged in desert camouflage and sent tubes to the soldiers. She said she's considering adding other health and beauty products, such as a body scrub and creating a clothing line. For now, though, she plans to expand My Sexy Lips by word of mouth. "Almost everyone who uses it refers two people to buy it, or they buy for their friends and share it," she said. "And they are repeat customers. That tells me they like the product. They're happy with it." (Copyright- The Baltimore Sun Company)