Burt's Bees Reacts To Bizarre (And Possibly Fake) Beezin' Trend
Apparently kids are bored of snorting Smarties candy, because they've found a new way to get high: Rubbing Burt’s Bees brand lip balm on their eyelids. It's called Beezin' and it's the latest so-called trend.
What’s the appeal of lip balm? According to Cincinnati local news affiliate WKRC-TV, kids claim it keeps them awake while others say it enhances a high from drugs or alcohol. As one student explained to the news station, “College kids, finals week, boring, studying all-nighters ... it just plays little games with your brain.”
Dr. Brett Cauthen at Today Clinic in Oklahoma City reviewed the lip balm's ingredients for WKRC-TV and said, "It's the peppermint oil that's causing the burning sensation and I suppose some people think that is kind of funny.” He added that the oil is an irritant and can cause inflammation and swelling of the eye.
Despite the fact that WKRC-TV claims this is a “growing, viral trend,” there’s not much evidence that one exists: A quick YouTube search yields only three videos of teens attempting the stunt. There is also a reference to the term on Urban Dictionary, which credits its origins to Colby College. Or, could it be a campaign for the upcoming Burt's Bee's documentary debuting on May 3 at the San Francisco International Film Festival?
Burt’s Bee’s sent the following statement to Yahoo Shine that, in part, reads: “There are lots of natural things that probably shouldn’t go in eyes — dirt, twigs, leaves, food — and our lip balm. Burt’s Bees tests all of its products, including the Beeswax Lip Balm to ensure they are safe for their intended use. We recommend that people use our products as directed and we will make every effort to ensure that the intended use of our lip balm is clearly communicated.”
Teen health crisis, averted!
