TuLIP Tool Is a Sanity Saver for Gloss Lovers

A tulip is a symbol of romantic relationships and second chances — similar to women and their love affairs with their favorite lip gloss.

And, while a flower associated with springtime, it was a sizzling summer afternoon in Gilbert, AZ when Karen Johnson was cruising around and casually reached for her beloved pink lip gloss in her designer handbag. But her sigh of relief quickly turned to grief when she discovered a goopy hot mess — a trail of gloss stained both her expensive purse and her ego. While her confidence was nearly lost in the fiasco, she chose to handle herself like a wise woman keeping it cool as a cucumber over staging a sundrenched hissy fit. After all, in the words of zen Fred Rogers, when life presents such unpredictable disasters, “look for the helpers.” Seeing no use in crying over spilt lip gloss, for Johnson, a traffic reporter for her local radio station, that helper was an invention. She created the TuLIP Tool with interior designers T Murray and Janet Gilliland and expert advice from her husband, a rocket scientist.

“Statisically, cosmetic waste affects 122 million US consumers of lip gloss,” Johnson explained. “Based on annual sales of lip gloss tubes at $3.6 billion, scientifically, there is a loss of 58 million ounces of gloss because of the gratitational effect when the wand or squeezeable action causes the excess, brushed-off liquid, to settle on the container’s flange and leak even when the cap is re-tightened. Gravity outwits every lip gloss customer.”

In lieu of throwing her stained handbag away along with the sticky gloss applicator, it was surely worthy of a second chance, Johnson thought. Enter the TuLIP Tool. The attachment comes in three shapes — circular, square and pentagonal — designed to fit most traditional-sized lip glosses. Made with food-grade silicone material, it slides from the bottom of the gloss tube to the seam to prevent spillage. The TuLIP is also patent-pending and classifies as a “clean beauty” chachka in-line with 2025’s three rules of beauty alongisde longevity, food and sensorial splurges. What’s more, it’s reusable and dishwasher-friendly.

“The gripping action of the product resembles a blossoming TuLIP,” Johnson told Happi. “Looking closer at the word TuLIP — with our creative senses on high alert after a girls’ lunch — the TuLIP, emphasis on ‘lip’ tool became the name of this revolutionary product. Plus, in the flower world, tulips are a symbol of love and beauty. What could be a better thought for glossy girls?”

And users are singing its praises.

“Someone finally figured it out,” wrote one user. “I’ll never ruin another purse,” wrote another, with another chiming in, “Genius.”

The TuLIP Tool fits many popular glosses from Yves Saint Laurent to ELF, Fenty Gloss Bomb Univeral Lip Luminizer and more. Plus, the trusty flower-shaped accessory is currently in the discovery and nurturing stages with Ulta Beauty with aim to land on store shelves, major drugstore chains and a company supplying products to hotels and cruise ships.

In addition to the TuLIP Tool, other collections in the works include The Boss and All Things Nails Collections.

Flower Power

With all the fanfare, TikTok influencer Hunter Realini will present contest details on Friday, Aug. 29, about the TuLIP Tool Contest, which will offer the first 50 entrants a complimentary gift of the TuLIP Tool product and a chance to win a $100 gift card to Ulta. Contestants will be asked to “like” The TuLIP Tool’s TikTok and IG pages, tag a friend and create a 10-second video answering the question: “Why do you need the TuLIP Tool for your beauty sanity?”

For the founders, that’s a no-brainer: to unapologetically be the boss of their gloss! (Their TuLIPs serving as a metaphorical bouquet just because.)

The TuLIP Tool can be shopped on thetuliptool.com, Amazon, Shein and TikTok for $10.