A delicious shift is happening in beauty and fashion. Food-inspired products are taking over, captivating Gen-Z with scents, colors, and textures that feel as tasty as they look. Rhode Skin, Hailey Bieber’s beauty brand, sparked this wave with its Krispy Kreme strawberry-flavored lip treatment, which went viral and sold out almost instantly. Certainly, the look and scent that drew fans in. More importantly — it offers the thrill of holding an iconic treat in a surprising form. Beauty and fashion brands are weaving food-inspired elements into products that make everyday routines feel as indulgent as fun.

Beauty and food have long shared a playful link, and now brands are drawing on nostalgic flavors and favorite snacks to create visually and emotionally resonant, sensory-driven products. And with TikTok fueling the trend, we can now find these food-inspired looks everywhere, turning routines into experiences that feel almost good enough to eat. Read on to learn more!

Satisfying style cravings: food meets beauty and fashion

The new wave of food-inspired beauty looks fresh, bold, and designed for a digital audience. In 2024, the “strawberry girl” look—flushed cheeks and glossy lips—dominated social media. Meanwhile, “glazed doughnut” nails, mimicking the smooth, shiny surface of a freshly glazed treat, became a staple. Even hair trends followed suit, with shades like “cinnamon cookie butter” adding warm caramel and copper tones to create a soft, dessert-inspired glow.

These trends echo millennial nostalgia, reminiscent of early 2000s favorites like fruit-flavored Lip Smackers and classic Bath & Body Works or Victoria’s Secret body sprays, yet feel refreshed in the Gen-Z era. Thanks to TikTok’s #FoodTok, which attracts billions of views, food-inspired beauty looks have become viral sensations, drawing audiences who crave the familiar comfort and fun that these styles bring to self-expression

Marketing Gold: Food-Infused Collaborations

Brands are jumping into this culinary craze, creating limited-edition releases that Gen-Z eagerly adopts. Milk Makeup’s grape-colored Cooling Water Jelly Tint went viral on TikTok and sold out twice, thanks to its jelly-like texture and refreshing feel. Rhode Skin’s Krispy Kreme lip treatment boosted engagement by over 700%, proving how much food-inspired products resonate with young consumers. Lanolips joined the trend with a “glazed doughnut” flavor for its popular balm, quickly becoming a best-seller.

Fashion brands are also embracing the foodie influence. E.l.f. Cosmetics partnered with Chipotle to launch a makeup palette inspired by burrito ingredients like guacamole and salsa. Last year, they collaborated with Liquid Death to create a rock-inspired beauty line, blending creativity, humor, and food culture in a fresh and authentic way. Recently, Kate Spade joined M&M’s for a whimsical collaboration, adding a sweet, colorful twist to accessories. 

Snackable Style: How Food Aesthetics Are Thriving on TikTok

TikTok’s rapid-fire platform has turned food-inspired beauty trends into cultural moments. From “strawberry girl” blush to “blueberry milk” nails, each trend taps into a universal love for comfort and indulgence, transforming beauty routines into a sensory treat. Products like Sweet Tooth by Sabrina Carpenter Eau de Parfum in “Cherry Baby” and Lanolips’ flavored balms have embraced this approach, with food-inspired scents and flavors becoming significant parts of their business.

Food-inspired trends have arrived to stay. Gen-Z’s love for food culture and viral creativity gives beauty and fashion brands fresh ways to connect. By infusing products with the comforting essence of favorite snacks, brands create experiences beyond function. From jelly-textured cheek tints to Krispy Kreme lip balms and flavor-inspired makeup palettes, today’s products delight in every sense. For Gen-Z, a touch of sweetness truly elevates everything.

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Aquaphile: summer’s calming must-have color trend

Move over Barbie Pink and #Barbiecore. A hip and calming color trend makes us feel blue. French forecasting firm NellyRodi cites “peace” as the season’s overall theme. Their Spring-Summer book “fresh respiration” features blues strongly inspired by the ocean and air. Using colors directly derived from nature form vital elements of the theme. The Extra-Muros and Lightlab stories offer aquas and turquoise, taking cues from lagoons, biophilia, and lab-developed variations. Care to learn more? Read on!

Mermaidcore aesthetic

Edited a global analytics leader, reported that pre-release of The Little Mermaid, TikTok witnessed over 357M views for high Pinterest searches and Mermaidcore. Along with watery-inspired blues and details, #mermaidhair, cosmetics, and application techniques have been uptrending. A viral TikTok video of a “mermaid” supposedly washing up on a beach in South Africa fueled the phenomenon. More recently, a haunting mummified “mermaid” got discovered in Japan!

Water inspires aqua fantasies

If you search Tagwalk “The Fashion Search Engine ” with the keyword “Mermaid,” 852 results appear. Many of them are featuring shades of aqua and turquoise. In the firm’s report, Womenswear Spring/Summer 2023 Key Facts & Data, called “water” a “micro-trend.” They noted a +37% of oceanic looks vs. Spring/Summer 2022. Botter’s collection made it all about water and underwater. Cécilie Banhsen’s called their collection “We Are Water,” with a set featuring glasses of water. Vaillant called its first runway show “Aqua Love, ” featuring looks with water prints. Bluemarine features a mermaid look on the Spring/Summer 2023 collection website, and their advertising campaign explores the “underwater universe.” Models posing in blue-hued fashions pose on furniture while a mermaid swims in a tank behind them.

Pool and beach perfect

Miami Swim Week kicked off the summer in early June. It showcased some of the biggest emerging swim trends ahead of the beach season. Brands like Luli Fama and Sigal played into shades reminiscent of the ocean with cerulean blue, teal, and aqua. The perfect pool or beachside palette? Colors pulled from the sea themselves. According to Harper’s Bazaar started to cover the trend in 2022. They noted resort collections drenched in shades like “sea glass” and “ocean.” They predicted the decline of hot pink and quoted Bloomingdale’s fashion director, Arielle Siboni, saying, “Sunset colors have been really popular, but people have had enough of that – now they’re migrating toward blues again.” Siboni said she’s anticipating a wave of aquas, ceruleans, and cobalts for upcoming resort season.

Trending ahead

How prolific, as the recent Louis Vuitton Resort 2024 Isola Bella Collection continues fashion’s current obsession with mermaid-core. They showed it on Isola Bella, a tiny private island in Lake Maggiore. This marks the first time the French house has exhibited in Italy. Designer Nicolas Ghesquière took inspiration from mythical underwater fantasies, lending an ethereal feel. To the press, he explained, “We started with the idea that the girls were coming from the water, like mermaids of the lake, and they’re transforming to something else.” Scuba fin collars, water droplet details, and mermaid scale-like sequins underscored a fantastical collection. Frilled gowns (one particularly memorable version in aqua) closed the show, conjuring mermaids finding their legs. “By the end, the mermaid becomes a flower.” WGSN x Coloro recently named Aquatic Awe for 2025 “a transformative turquoise that celebrates the strange and wondrous aspects of nature. It also comes with a synthetic quality that connects with digital themes.” The color aligns with wellness and a growing focus on bio-synthetic and lab-grown materials. The Coloro partnership highlights “bioluminescent sea life, fragile ocean ecosystems, and immersive virtual spaces.”

Watch for aqua and watery-inspired colors to continue to trend for this summer and beyond. Let us know how you intend to make it like a mermaid and add some relaxing blues to your wardrobe in the warmer months ahead!

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From field to fashion: Make strawberries your pick of this summer.

Can you imagine a world blanked of the allure of the mouthwatering strawberry that has captivated our senses for centuries? Here comes the good news: While the warmth of summer surrounds us, strawberries enter their prime season. They are tempting us with their sweet, tart, and juicy essence.

The history of strawberries traces back to the 1300s. At that time, farmers in France first cultivated the tiny red delicacies. Ever since, people have been immersing themselves in the appealing charm of this delicious berry. 

Fragara ananassa, the Latin name for the modern strawberry, came about through a fortuitous accident. A Chilean strawberry cross-pollinated with a Virginia strawberry. This chance encounter birthed the strawberries we know and love today. 

Let’s dive into the wealth of experiences strawberries offer – savoring their exquisite flavor, cultivating them in your garden, and even incorporating them into your fashion and home decor. 

Deliciousness Defined

Eating strawberries equates to a unique sensory feast. As the warmer months approach, food brands celebrate the strawberry summer. They are offering delicious options, from refreshing beverages to decadent candy.

To truly relish the best strawberries, look for them during late spring and early summer. Then, locally grown berries are reaching their peak and offer the most exquisite taste. When selecting fresh strawberries, bright-colored, aromatic, firm, and plump berries with fresh-looking green caps taste the best.

Food and beverage purveyors, too, have recognized the key to a customer’s heart. It lies in a strawberry treat, with nearly 37% of restaurants offering strawberries on their menu. For instance, Monster launched the Strawberry Dreams. The zero-sugar beverage perfectly balances tartness and sweetness. Dr. Pepper added Strawberries & Cream to its permanent lineup. While Wendy’s brought back the Strawberry Frosty, an iconic way to beat the summer heat. McDonald’s too stands on the trend, introducing the Strawberry Shortcake McFlurry. 

Interest in strawberries hits peak season too

Strawberries have experienced a resurgence in popularity recently. Social conversations about berries have risen by more than 17% in the past year. How come the sudden fascination with these ruby-red gems? One reason could relate to recent innovations in strawberry cultivation. 

We got introduced to the world of the Omakase Berry. The rare and exquisite strawberry variety grows in the picturesque Japanese Alps. Traditionally exclusive to Japan, these berries have made their way to New York City thanks to state-of-the-art indoor farming techniques. Oishii, a renowned name in the strawberry world, also introduced a berry called the Koyo Berry. It closely resembles the Omakase Berry, and brought a delightful twist of increased firmness and tartness. 

What sets these berries apart? Their unique cultivation method. Compared to conventional berries, Omakase and Koy Berries grow on vertical farms. This allows for year-round production and the freedom to enjoy these fruits at any time. 

A Recipe for Fun: Strawberries in Fashion and Home Decor

Strawberries bring the sunshine indoors in their own unique way. Trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson from Etsy suggests that fun motifs like strawberries bring playfulness and joy into our spaces. The strawberry-themed home has gone viral on platforms like TikTok. It is captivating millions with videos showcasing strawberry-themed vases, mugs, pots, puzzles, and more. 

And we have to include the fashion and beauty world, where strawberries have found their place of influence. Strawberry accessories and clutches make a fruity statement, adding flair to any summer ensemble. 

The latest beauty trend features strawberry milk nails. According to celebrity nail artist Brittney Boyce, chic strawberry milk nails exude the same creamy elegance as milk bath nails with a sheer pink strawberry twist. 

The strawberry season has come upon us! Why resist? Let strawberries captivate your senses and infuse your life with sweetness and joy! Share your favorite strawberry inspirations in the comments!

The strawberry season is upon us! Why resist? Let strawberries captivate your senses and infuse your life with sweetness and joy! Share your favorite strawberry inspirations in the comments! 

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