Photo: www.burnerbalm.com

Yes, you really can lose weight by barely lifting a finger -- at least, that's what the makers of Burner Balm want you to believe. Burner Balm is a weight-loss product that appeals to two obsessions of many woman -- an addiction to fabulous lip gloss, and a desire to shed a few pounds. That's right, it's a lip gloss that helps you lose weight. Hold your giggles, I'm being serious here.

Here's how it supposedly works: Slimming ingredients like green tea extracts and hoodia are combined in a tasty lip gloss or lip balm, and when you apply it to your lips, it gives you energy, which increases your metabolism. What's more, the smell and taste of the product helps act as an appetite suppressant, meaning you eat less. You're advised to apply it four to six times a day (but, oddly, not any more than that). According to the makers of the product, you can expect to burn about 8 pounds a month, and it'll set you back $19.95 for all five flavors, or around $6 for each.

So what's the catch?

There is none -- aside from the fact that it doesn't actually seem to work. "They have got hold of these substances and put them in a lip balm, but it is doubtful this will lead to substantive weight loss," Tam Fry of the UK's National Obesity Forum told The Daily Mail. "The amount you would have to consume would be far greater than that found in a simple smear of lip salve. You don't need gimmicks - the only long-term way of losing weight is to make sure you consume less calories than you use."

According to one user, the product didn't lead to "any energy boosting effects, and ... I'd also question its appetite curbing qualities." But it's not all bad news -- she adds, "it made my lips feel soft, and it tasted nice." Bottom line? It's a nice idea, but you'll only get real results from doing it the hard way.