BUTTER ME UP

I want my MTV lip balm!

First MTV conquered music videos.

Then the channel introduced reality TV.

Next up? Lip balm.

MTV is softening lips and spreading the safe-sex gospel with its “Tantalising Lip Butter”. The balm features preservative-free ingredients, many of which are sourced through community trade programs (like shea, which comes from a women’s co-operative in Ghana).

The channel certainly knows a lot when it comes to lip action, but to get the perfect blend they needed some outside help, courtesy of The Body Shop. The resulting partnership is a white balm that goes on clear—but will stay on all day. As for the sweet scent? Extract of dragon fruit, an exotic Central American plant, is to thank for that.

And while this might be the same channel that broadcasted Real World: Las Vegas, MTV’s lip balm is all about saying “yes” to safe sex. 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to the Staying Alive Foundation, which empowers and protects young people against HIV/AIDS, and the balm’s packaging is covered in ecstatic affirmations.

Just don’t ask us to say "yes" to a House Of Style clothing line…
REBECCA WILLA DAVIS

Visit yestosafesex.com for more info.



This story was published on March 23, 2009.