Currently, this trend is manifested not only in scents and packaging, but also in the aesthetics of the products themselves. Blue nail polishes transform into “blueberry milk”, while red lipsticks evoke the sweetness of the cherry.
Why does every new beauty trend seem to be linked to food? According to CR Fashion Book, this obsession has deep historical roots, dating back millennia, when many makeup was literally edible. Today, brands like Too Faced capitalize on that association, offering packaged and flavored products, such as the Sweet Peach eyeshadow palette, which exudes a temptingly edible scent.
But why does that matter, if we should not literally consume these products? The answer lies in consumer psychology: our primitive brain naturally associates food with health and nutrition. Thus, the peach scent in an eyeshadow palette not only reminds us of sustenance, but also suggests freshness and vitality. That sensory connection isn't new; from ancient milk baths to coffee scrubs, beauty has flirted with culinary elements to promote glowing skin and an appetizing look.
Currently, this trend is manifested not only in scents and packaging, but also in the aesthetics of the products themselves. Blue nail polishes transform into “blueberry milk”, while red lipsticks evoke the sweetness of the cherry. This visual transformation is not just an aesthetic change, but an effective marketing strategy: in a competitive market, catchy names sell. This intersection between beauty and food continues to seduce consumers, offering a complete sensory experience that goes beyond the simple application of products. It is a testament to the ability of brands to adapt and reinvent old trends, while remaining relevant and irresistible in the modern market.
While critics point out that certain colors have always existed, they capture the essence of the current phenomenon: fashion and beauty are intrinsically linked to food culture, transforming each makeup application into a ritual that awakens the senses, both aesthetic and gustatory.
In the contemporary fashion world, sellers aren't just brands; they're also influencers and content creators, shaping and spreading trends that quickly become ephemeral. Through these tendencies, an identity is built that is often more of an illusion than an authentic expression. When someone shows off baby blue nails on the subway, it's not just a preference for softer tones; this color may signal a connection with viral TikTok manicures, influenced by figures like Sofia Richie, demonstrating an alignment with the latest online trends.
In an environment where the promise of belonging to hyper-niched Internet subcultures seduces consumers, capitalist society offers an exciting illusion of limited agency. As Caitlyn Clark noted in Dazed, choosing between glazes that refer to glazed donuts or blueberry milk, or between energies that range from dark femininity to Sandy Liang x Baggu ballet cocktails, can confer a fleeting sense of control over one's own image and public perception.
Under the pretext of romanticizing everyday life or elevating individuality, the food-inspired beauty trend, as well as other microtrends, persuades viewers to acquire superficial exclusivity. Whether loved, tolerated, or longed for, these delightfully inspired expressions of beauty have emerged as the aesthetic avant-garde of 2023. In a tribute to evocative, often controversial and undeniably appetizing beauty trends, here are some looks that reigned supreme this year, judged by their irresistible gastronomic appeal.
SWEET SWEETS FROM COMPLETE MAGAZINE
Guerlain Abeille Royale Double Clarify & Repair Face Lotion from Guerlain
Guerlain's Double Clarify & Repair Essence combines two unique technologies to reveal radiant, youthful skin: Dynamic Blackbee Repair is a concentrate of white honey, vitamin C and AHA. These ingredients stimulate skin repair and improve skin uniformity, refining pores and providing a smoother and younger appearance. Formulated with 93% natural ingredients, this lotion uses white honey, whose efficacy is comparable to that of niacinamide, along with vitamin C and AHA, to improve luminosity and reduce dark spots. Dynamic BlackBee Repair technology takes advantage of the most powerful beekeeping products to promote skin's natural self-repair, resulting in exceptional luminosity and plasticity.
Rapadura Exfoliator Feito Brasil Vigorous Exfoliation by Feito Brasil
Renew and soften your skin with Rapadura Exfoliante, a solid body scrub with an innovative shape that resembles a scrape. Using volcanic rocks to remove dead cells, the bar provides intense exfoliation, while soothing and hydrating actives ensure velvety and hydrated skin for up to four hours. The scrub contains sugarcane bagasse, which offers prolonged hydration, and Aloe Vera, which soothes the skin after exfoliation. Vegan and cruelty-free, this product allows you to control the intensity of the exfoliation, promoting renewed skin with natural radiance.
Korres Coconut & Macadamia Body Oil
Korres' bath formula combines five nourishing active ingredients for intense hydration, ensuring elasticity and a soft, gentle touch for a rejuvenated skin appearance. Enriched with shea butter, macadamia oil and sweet almond oil, this formula provides an irresistible coconut and macadamia fragrance, transforming daily care into a luxurious sensory experience.
Camomile Facial Cleansing and Make-up Remover Gel from The Body Shop
Chamomile Facial Cleansing Gel offers an effective solution for removing makeup without compromising skin care. In a single step, it dissolves makeup, dirt and excess oil, ideal for daily use or when there is no time for double cleansing. With a gentle formula, it is suitable for sensitive skin and contact lens wearers. This vegan product is inspired by nature, containing 95% of ingredients of natural origin. Enriched with soothing chamomile water from Norfolk, England, its light texture transforms from gel to silky milk upon contact with water, removing even the toughest mascara and persistent lip products, leaving skin clean, fresh and balanced.
Caudalie Caudalie Beauty Water Multifunctional Face Mist by Caudalie
Inspired by the Elixir of Youth of the 16th century queen of Hungary, Beauty Water has a unique formula composed of 100% natural ingredients and precious plant extracts. This ultra-fresh spray reveals radiant skin, smooths lines and compresses pores, working as a primer that extends the duration of makeup and also as a fixer used behind the scenes of fashion shows. Its main ingredients include green grapes, peppermint, rose, rosemary and lemon balm essential oils, as well as orange blossom water, providing an instant boost of luminosity and an aromatic fragrance that soothes the senses and mind.
