Raspberry pink lip balms, blue raspberry toothpaste, berry lemonades, and festival desserts might seem worlds apart. While together, they signal a bigger shift. Berries are moving beyond the jam jar and becoming inspiration across food, beverage, and beauty. Their bold color, bright flavor, and nostalgic appeal make them perfect for playful, sensory products that resonate with today’s consumers. From café menus to personal care routines, berries are getting reimagined in fresh and unexpected ways. Read on to learn more!

Raspberry returns to the beverage spotlight

Raspberry continues to gain momentum in cafés and ready-to-drink beverages. In early 2025, Starbucks brought back its raspberry syrup after removing it from menus two years earlier. Strong customer demand drove the decision and quickly sparked new drink combinations across social media. Fans began experimenting with custom drinks and sharing their ideas online. In one Reddit discussion, Starbucks customers trade suggestions for raspberry-based drinks and “secret menu” combinations, from raspberry lemonades to berry-infused espresso drinks. The return also inspired drinks like Raspberry Cream Cold Brew, which pairs cold brew coffee with raspberry cold foam and vanilla syrup.

Beyond coffee shops, brands continue to expand raspberry into fruit-forward beverages and wellness drinks. Culture Pop introduced Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade probiotic soda to meet growing demand for lighter, functional drinks with recognizable fruit flavors. Together, these launches highlight raspberry’s shift from a classic dessert flavor to a bright, refreshing ingredient across beverages and wellness formats.

Flavor becomes an active ingredient in beauty

Berry inspiration now expands into beauty and personal care. Brands increasingly use flavor as a sensory tool to differentiate products and create memorable routines. Australian oral care brand Hismile demonstrates this shift. The brand transforms teeth-brushing into a flavor experience with toothpaste varieties including: Blue Raspberry, Grapple Berry, and Strawberry. Hismile extends the concept with matching lip balms that echo the same flavors, showing how flavor can reshape everyday personal care rituals.

Berry notes also influence fragrance and haircare. Fragrance brand Commodity blends strawberry, rhubarb, and raspberry pulp into its Juice perfume, highlighting the juicy complexity of red-berry accords. Meanwhile, Indian haircare brand 3TENX incorporates raspberry seed oil into its Hydrify Gloss Mist to support hydration and heat protection.

In color cosmetics, berry tones continue to shape makeup trends. Raspberry shades appear across lip products and blush palettes, often paired with playful textures. Milk Makeup’s Cooling Water Jelly Tint Lip + Cheek Blush highlights the rise of jelly formats in makeup, delivering sheer berry color with a cooling feel. Rhode takes a similar approach with Peptide Lip Tint in Raspberry Jelly, which blends glossy berry color with lip care.

Berry ingredients also drive skincare innovation. Raspberry extract contains antioxidants and vitamins that support hydration and help protect skin from environmental stress. Brands increasingly highlight these benefits in serums, creams, and lip care products.

Together, these examples show how berry color, flavor cues, and ingredient benefits help beauty brands create playful routines that resonate with younger consumers.

Heritage berries reenter the culinary conversation

Alongside raspberry, heritage berries such as boysenberry are also gaining renewed attention. The hybrid fruit, which combines elements of blackberry and raspberry, has become the centerpiece of the annual Knott’s Boysenberry Festival in California. The event celebrates the berry that helped establish Knott’s Berry Farm nearly a century ago. Each spring, chefs create dozens of new dishes built around boysenberries, from pastries and cocktails to savory sauces.

Festival menus highlight the fruit’s versatility across sweet and savory formats. Events like this help bring regional ingredients back into the culinary conversation while inspiring new flavor experimentation.

What it means for flavor innovation

For flavor innovators, the berry revival highlights the power of familiar ingredients with strong sensory identities. Raspberry offers a bright, adaptable flavor that pairs easily with citrus, botanicals, chocolate, and floral notes. Heritage berries like boysenberry add depth through regional storytelling and culinary experimentation.

For companies like Symrise, these fruits provide a versatile foundation for innovation across beverages, dairy products, bakery, confectionery, and personal care. As brands continue to explore playful textures and cross-category experiences, berries are likely to remain a key source of inspiration.

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The ski season moves beyond sport into lifestyle territory. As the Winter Olympics and Paralympics head to Italy, brands lean into cold-weather performance as cultural currency. As Milan-Cortina 2026 approaches, winter style, function, and identity begin to merge.

Fashion and lifestyle labels treat the slopes as a global stage. EA7 Emporio Armani, Ralph Lauren, and Lululemon design uniforms for Team Italy, Team U.S.A., and Team Canada, turning performance wear into storytelling. Ralph Lauren sets the tone with a statement winter-white wool coat for the Opening Ceremony, then looks to vintage ski-racing kits for the Closing Ceremony. Salomon reinforces credibility at scale by outfitting 18,000 Olympic and Paralympic volunteers with jackets and boots.

The narrative extends beyond outerwear and into daily rituals. Dagsmejan brings thermoregulating sleepwear and eye masks to athletes, while J.Crew and SKIMS translate alpine codes into ski-inspired lifestyle collections. Together, these moves frame ski culture as an all-day, all-season way of living rather than a moment on the slopes. Read on to inform your curiosity about the hype!

Marketing goes chalet to slopes

As ski culture moves into everyday winter life, brands invite consumers to participate through styling and experience. J.Crew’s ski and snowboard collection reflects this shift. Campaign imagery shows professional athletes throwing snowballs or relaxing on chaise lounges. A three-year partnership signals long-term commitment. Ski forward edits created with Vogue Shopping place alpine style firmly in everyday winter wardrobes. Snowed in, styled out captures the mood and frames ski season as intentional.

The Alpine narrative continues in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The Frankie Shop photographed its Après-Ski Collection amid the rituals of mountain life. The setting functions as both backdrop and retail stage. To mark the launch, the brand hosted an après-ski chalet moment at Bar Dolomiti, featuring buffet-style dining and a live DJ. Late seventies and eighties alpine culture informed the collection, with elongated silhouettes, plush textures, and indulgent fur accents setting the tone.

Ski style also faces a reality check. Technical apparel often comes at a high price and has a short wear window. Consumers respond with smarter choices. The RealReal’s  Escape Mode: Mountain Shop reframes ski wear through resale and longevity. H&M x Perfect Moment brings après ski style into the city. Stylists and creators reinforce the shift. Fashion consultant  Jacqueline Townsley of jac à la mode recently curated a ski trip fashion guide mood board. Global tastemaker Grece Ghanem shared ski-ready looks with the caption, “Some will say we missed the snow.” Together, these signals show ski culture evolving into a flexible, style-led winter mindset.

Accessories & beauty provide cold comfort

Not to be left out in the cold, accessory and beauty brands are in on the après-skiaction. Handbag brand Freja recently presented “The Alpine Edit,” the first in the series of their “The Departure Edit.” Perfect for “reset moments,” times like arrivals, departures, and after the slopes, call for ease and flexibility. The brand’s spacious, understated pieces move easily with layers, carry essentials, and keep up with the pace of a winter escape!

Beauty also moves in parallel. Editorial attention to après-ski skincare routines positions cold exposure and altitude as distinct beauty concerns. Cosmetics Business flagged après-ski beauty as a growing winter shift, reinforcing that winter skin behaves differently. Ole Henriksen’s Après Skin Overnight Moisturizer + Mask with Ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid offers a multi-tasking and thoughtful extension of everyday care.

Symrise believes in the intentional slowdown, appreciation of cold-weather rituals, and the Winter Olympics. Ski season has left the niche. And the sport has been providing a multi-category lifestyle moment!

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“Wabi-sabi.” A phrase that sparks curiosity. A ‘90s aesthetic returns with fresh relevance. The approach celebrates flaws. Honors imperfection. Favors raw texture and quiet simplicity. Leonard Koren, an American artist and author, introduced the concept to Western audiences with the 1994 release of Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets and Philosophers. Koren describes wabi-sabi as “the most conspicuous and characteristic feature of traditional Japanese beauty” and notes that it plays a role in Japan similar to the Greek ideals of perfection in Western culture. Today, the philosophy shapes lifestyle, interiors, fashion, fragrance, and wellness. Influence grows quickly. Want a deeper look at this revived design mindset? Read on and explore how wabi-sabi redefines modern beauty through elegant imperfection.

The TikTok trend hitting your For You Page

The revival turns design theory into practice: it’s unfolding in real time across youth culture and social platforms. “Wabi” once carried a somber meaning in Japanese culture. Over time, the word brightened and came to reflect acceptance, simplicity, and quiet joy. Today, “wabi” celebrates natural imperfections and the richness found in less. It highlights texture, honesty, and ease. In modern culture, it embraces small surprises and everyday beauty. Soul over symmetry. Character over perfection.

The trends has clearly gained momentum on TikTok. Creators showcase charm in anything slightly offbeat. A goofy toy. A crooked smile. A body that moves differently. Youth communities love the honesty. The trend feels soft, human, and relatable. The message lands fast: delight lives in quirks. Nothing captures this shift better than the viral audio at the heart of the movement.

The viral TikTok audio comes from King of the Hill, which aired in the United States from 1997 to 2010. In one episode, Bobby Hill picks up a rose and says, “I like how mine’s a little off center. It’s got wabi-sabi.” Hank Hill fires back, “You can’t win an argument by making up words.” Bobby stands firm: “Wabi-sabi is an Eastern tradition. It’s celebrating the beauty in flaws. Like the crack in the Liberty Bell or the mole on Cindy Crawford’s face.” That line nails the concept. Wabi-sabi invites love for the naturally worn, the slightly crooked, the wonderfully imperfect, never the overly polished or mass-produced. Beyond the humor, the trend taps into something more profound: a growing cultural fatigue around perfection.

Culture echoes that vibe. Perfection fatigue runs deep. As people reach for humor, warmth, and realness, wabi-sabi offers a fresh lens: embrace the wonky, the wobbly, the distinctly you. In effect, wabi-sabi invites appreciation of things that are naturally, slightly worn, or flawed, rather than polished, overly symmetrical, or mass-produced. The Times of India writes, “The audio is trending because people are tired of the perfection culture.” With social media previously promoting flawlessness, memes depicting the opposite have become a considerable part of this positive trend. That desire for truth over polish is going beyond reshaping memes; it’s influencing how people think about beauty itself.

The beauty of authenticity

As the trend expands, its influence extends beyond memes and into beauty culture, driving a new focus on authenticity. Instead of flawless hair and skin, wabi-sabi creators highlight playful parts, wild curls, and soft blemishes. Quirky smiles and aquiline noses get their moment, too. The shift feels joyful. It points toward more self-love and genuine confidence.

Amid filters and curated feeds, wabi-sabi champions what feels true. Heavy edits fade out. Real texture, real features, real personality take center stage. Authenticity steps forward, and people are embracing it. The same values influencing personal expression also transforming the spaces people live in.

Applying wabi-sabi to interior design

A truly global trend, Vogue Australia recently highlighted wabi-sabi in its “Interior Design 101” guide. Heju Studio founders Hélène Pinaud and Julien Schwartzmann, known for their refined take on Japanese minimalism, favor raw, natural materials such as marble, wood, stone, and concrete. These materials hold quirks. No two pieces match. Each one shifts and ages over time. Patina becomes part of the charm.

Trend-agency WGSN echoes this direction. Minimalism and simplicity take the lead, from partial seams and raw edges to natural dyeing techniques. A neutral palette supports the look. So does choosing local artisans, handmade ceramics, textured textiles, and vintage finds with real history.

Trend forecasters have tracked this movement for years, noting its rise across categories, from design to scent. Symrise has tracked this cultural shift as well, noting the rise of wabi-sabi and Japandi across lifestyle, design, and scent. This fresh embrace of imperfection and realness will gain momentum in 2026.

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Pumpkin spice makes an early return

Have you noticed pumpkin spice products appearing earlier each year? Despite seemingly recent popularity, After the British East India Company’s emergence in 1600, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves quickly entered everyday cuisine.McCormick, the world’s largest spice seller, then introduced “pumpkin pie spice” blend to America in 1934. Once Starbucks® debuted their Pumpkin Spice Latte in 2003, sales of pumpkin spice and nearly anything pumpkin began to grow alarmingly. Starbucks® Pumpkin Spice Latte, celebrating its 20th anniversary, has propelled the #PSL TikTok hashtag to over 7 billion views. Read on to learn more!

#PSL in extreme

The pumpkin spice craze is on fire with endless creative expressions. For the extreme pumpkin (or autumn) lover, Angelic Diamonds offers a £10,000 “Pumpkin Spice Latte Ring,” perfect for coffee enthusiasts. The company markets the ring as “the perfect pairing to level up your coffee cup selfies,…designed to add a little spice to proposals and jewelry collections this season.” It boasts a center diamond shaped like whipped cream, surrounded by white diamonds and orange sapphires. Buyers can customize the inside band with a hidden message for a personal touch. On a more accessible note, “pumpkin spice hair color” gains popularity. Global color company Wella considers this one of the top 17 Fall 2023 Hair Color Trends to Know Right Now. Wella defines the trending color as a red-brown blend, offering a multi-tonal twist on copper hair with rich highlights and lowlights. Blog Haircut of the Day provides 32 Pumpkin Spice Hair Color Ideas for 2023, with inspirational drink images to match.

Pumpkins offer cosmetic advantages

Last year, pumpkin began to trend in the beauty world, showing promise as an ingredient with cosmetic value. Traditional and Japanese pumpkins exhibited potential for antioxidant, antibacterial, and hydrating benefits. They had been previously shown to have photoaging and UV damage prevention potential. In their July newsletter, trend agency Spate spotlighted increased interest in pumpkin enzyme masks on TikTok. They observed a 27.4% year-over-year growth in Google searches for pumpkin enzyme masks, particularly videos addressing acne and exfoliation.

Pumpkins + spice for beauty and home

Celebrity favorite Biba Los Angeles was early on the trend with the Thermal Peel Mask. Consider indulging in this “delicious pumpkin and nutmeg scented grainy mask,” which creates a warming sensation on the skin. When removed, the skin feels clean with a “blushy glow.” Another to try: Peter Thomas Roth’s Pumpkin Enzyme Mask, a triple-threat resurfacer that exfoliates, peels, and polishes while working on all skin types. Ideal for sink décor, Nest’s Pumpkin Chai Liquid Soap utilizes wild pumpkin’s antibacterial qualities and cleanses with a blend of spicy masala chai, cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon. Voluspa’s Spiced Pumpkin Latte Candle adds a perfect home touch, blending kabocha pumpkin, warm spices, coconut milk, and vanilla marshmallow. Upcycle the keepsake pumpkin-colored glass container after the last 50 burning hours. 

Cozy up to autumn with many ways to embrace pumpkin spice mania. Let us know your favorite ways to take advantage of this flavorful trend!

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Scented Journeys: Discovering Captivating East Asian Fragrances

Prepare to get captivated as you delve into the fascinating world of East Asian fragrances. Once people in the region considered them mere substitutes for deodorants. Meanwhile, perfumes have emerged as a powerful expression of individuality and a conduit to a heightened sense of well-being for the vibrant Gen Z in Asia. 

China represents the largest fragrance market, followed by South Korea and Hong Kong. The prestige fragrance market in Asia is projected to hit an astonishing US$3.177 billion in 2022 with an annual growth rate of 6.24% until 2025. The allure of scents has taken the region by storm, including perfumes, scented sticks, and fragrant skincare. 

Let’s embark on a voyage to explore trending East Asian fragrances. Ignite your senses and create an intimate expression of self.

Fu Sheng Liu Ji 

Embark on a journey inspired by guochao. This brand pays homage to “the romance of China.” It uses patented technology to overlap aromatherapeutic base notes with top notes. With this, users can experience the scent in multiple cycles. Fu Sheng Liu Ji (馥生六记) evokes scenes and moods reminiscent of ancient tales. Picture swirling tendrils of smoked incense, conjuring the mystical ambiance of ancient temples. 

The fragrance notes evoke smells and moods of blending ink, parchment, pu-er tea, fresh ginger, cape jasmine, and the caress of Buddha’s hand. The experience gets heightened with perfume caps replicating the look of cattail fans and hand-crafted porcelain bottles from Yongle kiln, celebrating local craftsmanship and long-loved techniques.  

Aromapre 

Indulge in the aromatic tapestry of Japan with AromaPre, Japan’s first* original aroma service dedicated to gifting aromas. Unleashing the power of natural essential oils, Aromapre beckons you to experience a personalized olfactory odyssey. Enter the realm of the “aroma card,” a divine gift for any recipient. AromaPre meticulously blends 26 types of aromatic oils to create a bespoke elixir. 

Expertly curated blends cater to every soul, from childhood whimsy to the cosmic aroma of the zodiac signs. The final experience, accompanied by an exquisite aroma of stone, arrives to help the recipient transcend ordinary moments. 

Born To Stand Out 

In the heart of Seoul, a fragrance revolution takes flight with BornToStandOut, a gender-inclusive fragrance brand. This spirited brand challenges the confines of conservative Korean society. It invites you to embrace your most authentic stand-out self. Founder Jun Lim left the world of finance to pursue his creative dreams and infuse each perfume with a bold artistic vision. Let out your inner rebel with their slinky, unisex collection of smooth fragrances that defy convention. 

The unique scents come in artful, ethical packages, and sustainable bottles. Each got crafted from white porcelain and with a re-use design. It interprets the elegant Joseon-era wine bottles in a modern way. They carry provocative scent titles, like “Drunk Lovers,” “Unholy Oud,” and “Sex & Cognac.” Often, they elicit the taste buds with musk blending with notes of basmati rice, almond, vetiver, and cetalox. 

Maison de Lasie

Now to Maison de Laise, a fragrance house hailing from the vibrant city of Singapore. Maison de L’Aise seamlessly marries the exquisite techniques of fine French perfumery with the rich traditions of Asia. This combination presents an array of unique and familiar fragrances that capture the spirit of cultural fusion. 

One fragrance, Lost Lovers, invites you to experience a symbolic journey through life that offers delicate notes of rose, sandalwood, and vetiver. This scent finds its place within Maison de Lasie’s “Nanyang” perfume chapter, a trio of fragrances. Each possesses its own identity and mood, drawing inspiration from countries in Asia.

What will you try first? 

Above, you have read about five indulgent fragrances hailing from Asia, and of course, perfumers worldwide got inspired by Asian scents for generations. For example, consider China’s love affair with the peony, once considered a symbol of the country during the Tang dynasty. The peony symbolizes love, prosperity, and beauty. This monarch of the flowers stands as a natural ambassador to the scents of Asia and appears in fragrances worldwide. 

The allure of these fragrances lies in their captivating scents, the stories they tell, and the emotions they evoke. So, let’s embrace the power of scents and their remarkable impact on our memories, moods, and experiences in life’s journey. 

Do you plan to try any of these evocative fragrances with their deep connections to Asia? Tell us in the comments and share your recommendations! 

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Tearing Down the Mountain: The Path to Net Zero Packaging and a Sustainable Future

The clock is ticking and warning us of a clear challenge. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions has become the defining challenge of our time. The latest data from NASA and NOAA highlights the urgency of the situation. With CO2 levels consistently rising since 1850, we must take action to ensure a sustainable future for generations. Where do we start? In the packaging industry, for instance. The industry plays a significant role in our fight against climate change and highlights the urgency for a focus shift. Join us as we dive into the part of paper & cartons, glass, and plastics, in the journey towards a greener tomorrow.

Paper & carton

Paper is quickly emerging as a critical player in the fight against CO2 emissions. A recent study on the environmental impacts of packaging found that single-use paper packaging produces a lower carbon footprint and requires less water than reusable plastic packaging.

Leading the charge in sustainable packaging, Swedish fast-food chain Max Burgers has adopted PulPac’s fiber-forming technology to produce the Liplid, a dry-molded coffee lid with an 80% smaller carbon footprint than traditional lids. Tech giant Samsung is also making strides in reducing its carbon footprint through sustainable packaging. For example, its Eco-Package, made from recycled materials, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10,000 tons if each is reused in homes. Samsung is also committed to eliminating plastic from all mobile phone packaging by 2025 and is already reducing waste by improving the design of its TV LED Bar trays.

Glass

Glass comes with the potential of a sustainable packaging solution due to its infinite recyclability and the potential to make its manufacture and transportation carbon-free. The glass industry is taking bold steps toward a more sustainable future. Examples include FEVE and the European Container Glass Federation. It has set the world’s first large-scale hybrid electric furnace to run on 80% renewable electricity. In addition, the UK glass manufacturing company Encirc has partnered with Glass Futures to produce 100% PCR glass using energy from ultra-low-carbon biofuels made from organic waste. This has resulted in the world’s most sustainable bottle, with a carbon footprint 90% lower than standard glass packaging. These developments begin a bright and sustainable future for glass packaging.

Plastics

The push towards a more sustainable packaging future has seen recycled plastic rise to prominence as a lower CO2 output solution that saves on transportation emissions. Brands like Moët Hennessy’s Galoupet Nomade rosé are taking things further by launching “eco-flat” PET bottles made from 100% recycled materials. These bottles weigh less than glass and come with a flattened shape, reducing unused space and optimizing efficiency. However, putting the promising results aside, we must also note the limitations of relying too heavily on plastic packaging. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation reported that 95% of plastic packaging is single-use, and only 2% can be recycled for one or two cycles without losing material quality. Research by the Ocean University of China even showed that increased microplastics could decrease the ability of microalgae plankton to remove carbon dioxide from our atmosphere. Therefore, the industry must find ways to balance sustainability with practicality in packaging.

Symrise 

By 2030, Symrise aims to operate climate positive and is reviewing its operations worldwide for compatibility and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Our zero-waste strategy includes sustainable packaging measures such as waste reduction, reusability, and recycling. We’re already working with customers and suppliers to find innovative solutions, including paper bags instead of plastic, large barrels instead of small canisters, and reusable metal cups.

Ultimately, the most impactful way to reduce the harm caused by packaging leads through individual action. By making conscious choices to reduce our use of packaging, we can decrease the demand for it and help create a more sustainable future. So let’s take the first step toward a greener future by doing our part to reduce packaging waste.

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Nourishing your little ones

This goes to all new parents, who want to feed their little darlings well: Are you seeking nutritious, trustworthy, and transparent infant food options? You have come to the right place. We dig a little deeper into the latest generation of baby food. It prioritizes supporting your baby’s growth and development while establishing healthy eating habits. It also responds to the current climate and recognizes the need for quick and convenient options that align with your priorities. Let’s explore the future of baby food.

Instant formula 2.0

While breast milk continues as the preferred source of infant nutrition, many new parents are opting for alternatives to fulfill their child’s nutritional needs. In recent years, the CDC reported that nearly three in four US infants rely on formula by six months. To meet the demand, ingredient developers must create options that closely resemble breast milk nutrition while also taking care of allergy concerns and catering to busy mothers.

Exactly the area where biotech start-ups are making strides in lab-grown infant formula: TurtleTree Labs, a Singapore-based food tech company, has developed lab-grown lactoferrin, a protein abundant in human milk and known for fighting childhood infections and aiding brain development. The company is also working on lab-grown human milk oligosaccharides, which support immune system function, gut health, and cognitive development. Meanwhile, Biomilq, a woman-owned, science-led start-up, has created the world’s first cell-cultured human breast milk. This lab-grown formula contains most of the complex nutritional components of breast milk, including those supporting immune development, microbiome population, intestinal maturation, and brain development.

Alternative & plant-based milks & food

Parents of allergy-suffering children can choose from a range of alternative milk-based formula options. Kendamil, a UK brand, offers goat’s milk formula for easier digestion. Blue River, a New Zealand dairy brand, provides the world’s first sheep’s milk formula, known for its high lactoferrin content, increased calcium, and smaller fat globules for improved digestion.

With plant-based diets notably impacting the world of baby nutrition too, an increasing number of families opt for vegan or vegetarian variants for the whole family. 

Vegan parents can go for various plant-based options. For example, Australian Sprout Organic’s infant formula, approved by pediatricians and free from allergens, is made from rice and pea protein and enriched with algae-based DHA and essential vitamins and minerals. Else Nutrition, an Israeli brand, offers a formula made from almonds, buckwheat, and tapioca (for children over 12 months). 

Plant-based baby food companies enjoy the benefits of this trend, with companies like UK-based Mamamade seeing a 300% oversubscribed crowdfunding raise on the Seedrs platform, bringing in £1.5 million ($2 million). With these alternative and plant-based options, parents can now relax knowing their baby is getting the best possible nutrition, also when they are prone to allergies.

Exploring flavors & textures

Good Feeding, a New Zealand childhood nutrition expert, is revolutionizing the baby food industry with its launch of chilled, minimally-processed, vegetable-based baby food in the US. The subscription-based offering guides parents to introduce their children to diverse flavors and textures safely. Good Feeding strives to broaden children’s palates with flavors such as asparagus, lamb and coconut curry, and Spanish-style turkey and sweetcorn. 

US puree company Lil’gourmets is also trying to add nutritional value to baby foods by incorporating herbs, spices, and seasonings. Further, UK puree company Oliver’s Cupboard offers an organic, halal-certified line of six pouches inspired by international cuisine.

Delivering convenience

Baby food brands make mealtime easier for busy parents with convenient online and subscription delivery options. Uber Eats offers a children’s vertical, allowing parents to order baby and toddler food from brands like Yumi and Little Spoon and essentials like diapers and toys, all in one app. Timios is taking things a step further with its ready-to-cook porridge products, which are made, packaged, and delivered on the same day they get ordered.

As the frozen food market grows, baby food brands follow suit by offering options for busy parents. FoodieKid’s Simple Starters range of frozen, chopped veggies offers a great starting point, with pureed or finger food options. The flexibility and convenience of these frozen meals will surely land hits with busy parents.

Are you considering options for a newborn or toddler as a parent? What are you looking for in terms of feeding your family? Let us know in the comments below.

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Beach Bum Beauty

Beach time means show time – particularly in the southern hemisphere now and for one specific part of your body. Have you ever thought of giving your precious rear side a special treatment to make it look glorious? Look out for derrière beauty as the next category to be ‘skinified.’ Studies have shown that spending prolonged periods sitting can cause the bottom to appear more flat. Beauty brands invest in research and create products to counteract the appearance of folliculitis (buttne) and keratosis pilaris (chicken skin).

Are we feeling surprised now that Australian and African brands lead the way? Hardly so. These regions come with hot sun and a deeply rooted beach culture. Aceolog, a playful Australian brand, marries active skincare ingredients with trending sheet mask formats. Aceology’s pared-back approach forgoes patented technology in favor of tried-and-tested skincare ingredients. The Juicy Peach Mask uses hyaluronic acid and allantoin to hydrate the skin. I’m Bouncy Butt Mask smoothes out lumps using soybean ferment. Smooth Operator’s Butt Mask employs the power of green tea and licorice to attempt to fight buttne, eczema, and inflammation.

Cheeky Skincare promotes a body-positive approach to butt-care with joyous products that celebrate every booty. The brand attracts a cult following from Gen Z consumers with its informal tone and “love every part of your body” mantra. Bold, colorful packaging elevates bum-care to a shelfie-worthy product, while the brand’s tox-free vegan and cruelty-free ingredient list ensure a thumbs up from Gen Z. These key ingredients include natural-based aloe vera, green extract, and coconut oil.

Habitat Culture offers South Africa’s first skincare range specifically for the bottom area. The products aim at reducing the appearance of acne, stretch marks, discoloration, fine lines, cellulite, and rough skin. With a body-positive message, the assortment includes everything from scrub to an oil and mask. Habitat Culture champions African ingredients. For example, the Sleeping Booty Cold Brew Oil uses crambe abyssinica (Ethiopian seed oil) to help prevent dry skin. 

Various functional and playful products combine skincare-based, derma-backed focus with self-care principles. They send a clear message: booty beauty seeks to celebrate-the bum, instead of perfecting it!

What derrière products have you tried? Do any of the brands excite you? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think!

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Climate Awareness in Consumer Products — The New Face of Sustainability

Sustainability. We hear this term all the time, but what does it even mean? The word itself holds various meanings on the environment or even relationships. One critical space is climate awareness. Changing our routines to impact our environment positively is a growing priority in many households today. With that, we gain a better understanding of products we use daily such as perfumes, detergents, and soaps. 

Climate Awareness Today

What is climate awareness? Climate awareness aims to make consumers more knowledgeable and encourage them to reverse human-caused climate destruction. Today, over 321 brands are recognized as climate-neutral certified. Collectively, these brands reduced their carbon emissions by 750,817 tons last year. Moreover, these brands are working to lessen emissions even more significantly in the years to come. 

Luckily, multiple hair care and body care products make the attitudes towards climate awareness so much easier to adopt. So, while the amount of climate-neutral and neutralized product solutions keeps growing and multiplying, sustainability becomes an even more integral aspect of our lives. 

Simply The Best

Take cult-favorite brand, OSEA. With most products formulated from clean seaweed skincare, this vegan and the cruelty-free brand has quickly risen to the upper echelon of the clean beauty ladder (even though it started up in 1996!). With potent products and sustainable efforts, popular products such as the Undaria Algae Oil continue to be a favorite among the celebrity crowd. With fans in the company of Victoria Beckham, Kourtney Kardashian, and even little sister (and beauty guru herself) Kylie Jenner, OSEA makes climate awareness a stylish and impactful choice. 

Seeking perfect products for babies and mothers that protect the planet too? Look no further than Wash With Water. Providing soaps (the 3-in-1 Baby Cleanser Sweetpea & Me, a number one seller since 2012) to lotions for babies, all your baby necessities can come at no price to the environment. With additional CBD-infused care for mom, the holistic rituals of Wash With Water make it a standout for anyone looking to incorporate more climate awareness into their routine. This one-stop shop has it all for any family. 

While shampoo is vital in many hair-care routines—new iterations, including soap-like bars, positively affect the planet by using plastic-free, natural, and vegan ingredients and packaging. We all wash our hair, and switching to a company like Superzero can reap huge benefits, like 80-90% lower carbon footprint huge benefits. The company founded in 2020 continues to innovate with its rendition of the purple conditioner bar, a typically tricky product to get right with the fickle nature of color-processed hair. With a variety of bars for frizzy, oily, even thinning strands, and so much more, Superzero proves that small is indeed mighty. 

The Future is Ours

Now, more than ever, the importance of protecting the resources we have left on Earth is the top priority for many. Whether living waste-free, becoming a vegan, or just participating in #MeatlessMonday, the small acts we offer can genuinely make a difference. Especially in our self-care and beauty routine, multitudes of products can now make carbon-neutral care easy and most impactful— actual positive climate-change actions we can take. 

With so many new and stylish options for climate awareness, which ones are you most excited to try? Let us know in the comments!

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If You Like Piña Colada…

Picture this—a frosty Piña Colada, dancing palm trees, freshly lathered coconut lotion, and the sun shining down on you, creating the ultimate tropical experience. Sounds like a vacation—long overdue? But who says this scene exists only seasonally or just for leisure? Every day can have a touch of the tropics! Thankfully, through flavors, fragrances, and décor, your home can be the ultimate tropical experience and staycation. 

Tropical Garden

Outdoor oases and tropical gardens are trending. The Royal Horticultural Society reported a 50% increase in houseplant sales just in 2018. Flash forward to 2020 with the globe in lockdown; plans and vacations existed merely as a dream. But no need to fret; bring a tropical ambiance home instead. Better Homes and Gardens recommends the best way to achieve a tropical garden—planting in layers. Plants to accomplish this include: Anthurium, Calathea Croton, Pleomele, Cordyline, and Palms. Different decorations such as lanterns and lighting can also help set the ambiance just right.

Tropical Drink

Tropical fruits make delicious and refreshing cocktails, mocktails, and snacks. Mai Tais, Pina Coladas, and Pineapple Margaritas are some of the best-known tropical drinks. Bloggers like Camille Styles have created lists with the best tropical cocktails to get you in a vacation state of mind. These cocktails are refreshing and great for any happy hour. Or try a snack. Frozen grapes are the perfect refreshing treat to transport yourself to the beach mentally. Or take it to go; try fruits like pineapple, kiwi, or coconut flakes. Dried fruit makes the snack experience accessible anywhere and anytime. 

Tropical Perfume & Beauty Products

Bring the tropics in the shower! After spending the day in the heat, the best feeling is a restorative shower, followed by a delicious smelling after-sun lotion. Scents of warm coconut, sea salt, aloe, watermelon, and mango make splendid body washes and lotions. 

Tropical Body Wash

If you’re looking for a shower gel that’s aloe-based, try Yumi, a brand known for its watermelon and pineapple shower gels. These products focus on moisturization and refreshing the skin. In addition, the brand centers on natural edible products—highlighting aloe, watermelon, and pineapple in the product collection.  

Tropical Body Lotion

Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, a lotion known for its tropical warm coconut scent, remains a best-seller and 2020 Allure Beauty Expert winner. The lotions’ key ingredients are coconut oil, acai oil, Brazil nut, cupuaçu butter, and guaraná. The brand’s mission supports the skin’s ability to protect itself while giving a healthy, natural-looking glow. Brazilian Bum Bum Cream stands available on the company’s website or at Sephora. 

Tropical Scents

Bath & Body Works launched a Tropical Collection in 2021. The collection includes candles, lotions, and body sprays. The featured scents include Waikiki Beach Coconut, Fiji Sunshine, and Guava-Tini. The goal of this tropical collection? To bring the sea to you. 

Tropical Sweets

And don’t forget about our dessert friends. Krispy Kreme Donuts jumped on the tropical bandwagon and released an Island Time Collection. The assortment includes three tropic-inspired donut flavors: Pina Colada, Island Time Doughnut, and Key Lime Pie. But, of course, Häagen-Dazs, always an innovator, also dabbles in the sweet tropics for flavors. They now offer Pineapple Coconut Ice Cream, Mango Ice Cream, and Pineapple Coconut Ice Cream Meringue Sandwiches. YUM!

So, if a holiday trip isn’t in the cards, try the mentioned experiences to bring the tropics to your everyday life! Which tropical experience are you indulging in first? Comment below and let us know. 

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