On May 1, 2026, esthetician-favorite heritage brand Pharmagel expanded its presence in CosmoProf stores nationwide with the launch of its new Lip Recovery treatment.
The Lip Recovery treatment will be available nationally in-store, alongside a broader merchandising upgrade to top-shelf placement, signaling increased demand from professionals looking to integrate skincare into their services.
Related: Integrate, Don’t Upsell: Retail Skincare is Driving Patient Results and Medspa Revenue
The expansion comes as lip care continues to emerge as a high-growth category within professional beauty. According to Pharmagel Product & Customer Service Specialist Jennifer Licursi, “The global market for lip care products continues to grow and is projected to reach over $6 billion USD by 2033. With so many colors and flavors currently available in CosmoProf and other beauty suppliers, we feel Lip Recovery stands out for its superior hydrating formula and glossy finish rather than trendy flavors, overly colorful packaging, or an overabundance of pigment options.”
Stylists, spa professionals, and wellness providers alike are seeking ways to elevate their service value with add-ons to meet a growing industry trend. “Absolutely! Clients go to beauty pros to feel pampered,” Licursi added. “The experience needs to feel elevated above their daily routines, and we’re seeing salons add services while color is processing or at the shampoo bowl to add extra value, especially during what might traditionally be appointment downtime.”
That shift reflects a broader rethinking of what professional beauty services deliver—not just technical results, but experience-led care.
“Because it’s the icing on the cake—the finishing touch to a glam makeup application or the added shine to a bare face,” Licursi said of lip care’s rising relevance. “There’s growing awareness about lip health being a meaningful part of overall skin health, and while lip shape trends may change over time, the importance of maintaining healthy, hydrated lips doesn’t.”
For Pharmagel, that consumer behavior is translating into measurable product loyalty. “Lip Recovery sales have continued to increase since relaunching the original formula,” Licursi noted. “It has one of the highest repeat purchase rates amongst all our product offerings, revealing that customers love the formula enough to buy it again and again—even with so many other lip care products on the market.”
The brand is also seeing growing adoption across medical aesthetics. “We’re expanding our traditional outreach to include more med spas and derms,” she said. “Our straightforward formulas with 30–40 years of proven loyalty and results resonate with medical aesthetic providers who are looking for something gentle and effective to recommend to their patients for home care regimens.”
Beyond retail, professionals are also incorporating lip care into treatment workflows. “A soothing lip product is a great last step in almost any aesthetic treatment,” Licursi added. “No matter how invasive the procedure, the client leaves the appointment with soothed and hydrated lips.”
That emphasis on small, experience-driven add-ons is also tied to retention and perceived value. “The more valued a client feels, the more likely they are to come back,” she said. “That increased value comes from additional service offerings both big and small, and something as simple as leaving an appointment with glossy, hydrated, and healthy lips can help enhance the perception of the other treatments they just received.”
For providers looking to integrate skincare without disrupting workflow, Licursi points to low-lift entry points. “If the client is already lying down, you can add a soothing eye treatment to almost any service,” she said. “A spritz of an amazing toner can be a luxurious, feel-good experience during any hair appointment, skin treatment, or makeup application. A five-minute hand massage requires little to no knowledge of basic anatomy or acupressure points. And leaving any appointment with glossy, hydrated lips is a great way to emphasize the natural beauty of a client’s lips and face.”
Looking at broader category momentum, she added that industry shifts are also shaping demand. “We’re seeing more of a focus on scalp health among cosmetologists and hair care brands, so skincare seems like a natural next step in those conversations,” Licursi said. “Social media, especially TikTok trends, continues to promote questionable cosmetic products and DIY hacks, leading to increased awareness regarding barrier health.”
She also pointed to broader cultural pressures shaping demand for gentler solutions: “Celebrity culture continues to silently promote expensive, invasive surgical procedures, rendering the need for gentle, non-irritating formulas that much greater in a hyper-consumer culture driven by both obsession and fatigue.”
Looking ahead, Pharmagel sees hybrid services becoming more central to the beauty experience. “We’re continuing to see a focus on holistic beauty where every aspect of the service—from the atmospherics to the actual treatment—speaks to an enhanced wellness experience,” Licursi said. “Creating a full-service environment where a client can achieve all of their beauty goals without leaving the property seems an obvious solution.”
