Cherry Is Beauty's Favorite Flavor This Fall

From makeup and nails to fragrance, it's everywhere.

Juicy and tart, cherry is the flavor coating everyone’s lips (and cheeks and wrists) this fall. Beauty’s fruit of the moment is everywhere you look, from TikTok’s viral cherry mocha nails to a wealth of maraschino cherry-spiked perfumes. “Cherry is a main character color,” says Patrick Ta, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Patrick Ta Beauty. “It’s confident and empowered; it just makes you feel bold and chic.”

Cherry possesses undeniable main character energy, but it’s also a fruit with multiple facets: the syrupy red of a maraschino cherry jar, the fizzy burgundy of Cherry Coke. “It can be playful, sexy, sophisticated, flirty—it’s a bit of a chameleon,” says Franco Wright, cofounder of Luckyscent. “It's a mouthwatering note that doesn’t take itself too seriously.” Wright says cherry fits in perfectly with our collective longing for Y2K nostalgia, an instant throwback to the era of Juicy Couture tracksuits and glitter gloss, reinvented for 2023.

As our taste for all things cherry grows, brands have taken note. “Select "cherry mocha" [nail polish] shades more than doubled in sales in the past month,” says Cindy Lai, senior brand manager for OPI North America. Cherry lip stains, perfumes, and hair transformations are seeing similar success. Ta says the trend offers the perfect way to “step into our power this season,” however you choose to wear it.

“It’s evocative of sexy, perhaps simpler times—when viewed through cherry-colored glasses, anyway,” says Wright.

The Trend

Cherries aren’t just filling our makeup bags; they’re parading on the runway, too. From statement coats at Ferragamo to splashes of red at Tory Burch, Balmain, Stella McCartney, and Sandy Liang, cherry has arrived to herald fall fashion, stealing the spotlight from summer’s obsession with Barbiecore pink. If you want to get more literal, fruit-inspired fashion is taking over, with brands like Djerf Avenue and Free People offering berry-accented robes and matching cherry sleep sets.

In fact, it’s hard to miss them. “Cherries were taunting me, following me everywhere: on clothing, in food, on billboards,” says Barb Stegemann, founder of fragrance brand The 7 Virtues. Celebrities have gotten in on the trend, too, from Suki Waterhouse’s matching cherry makeup, to Dove Cameron and Megan Thee Stallion’s cherry cola hair eras.

The fruit is bigger than ever on TikTok, where you can easily scroll through millions of videos on how to smell like a juicy cherry and Refy's new cherry lip kit vent instantly viral—this summer there was even a trend where creators were using actual cherries as lipstick and blush. At Paris Fashion Week, TikTok It Girl Alix Earle debuted a slick of L'Oréal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance Liquid Lipstick ($11) in Wine Not, a rich, vampy cherry shade. Shortly after, her followers reported it sold out on Amazon.

Ahead, how to get in on the trend, from hair to fragrance.

How to Wear Cherry Makeup

Think of cherry makeup as strawberry makeup’s cold-weather cousin, meant to evoke the same healthy flush with an icier chill. “Cherry looks flattering on all skin tones so don’t be afraid to wear it,” says Ta, who created Suki Waterhouse’s “just-bitten” cherry makeup look. His essential product for getting the look: Patrick Ta Beauty Major Headlines Double-Take Creme & Powder Blush Duo ($36) in She’s Wanted, which he describes as “the ultimate blackened cherry shade.”

True to his signature technique, Ta starts with a base of She’s Wanted powder blush dusted over the cheeks before topping it off with the coordinating cream blush for “lit-from-within” glow. “It always adds the perfect flush of color to the skin to create a gorgeous bitten cherry look,” he says. For a matching moment, he sheered out more of the cream color on the center of Waterhouse’s lips.

Cherry lips can be as simple as a dot of cream blush, but you can adjust the finish with a swipe of gloss or matte lipstick. “I’m obsessed with my Major Volume Plumping Lip Gloss ($26) in Full Syringe for adding a sheer wash of cherry-red gloss on the lips,” says Ta. Or, go for an old-Hollywood matte cherry with his Major Headlines Matte Suede Lipstick ($32) in That’s Why She’s Late.

If you want the Alix Earle cherry lip special, her sold-out shade, Wine Not, is back in stock. “It’s the perfect black cherry shade that will complement any skin tone,” says Allan Avendaño, L'Oréal Paris League of Expert and the celebrity makeup artist behind the original look. “We chose it for a vampy look that wasn’t super dark or gothic.”

Avendaño recommends pairing your black-cherry lip with a light dusting of L'Oréal Paris Infallible Blush ($12) in Legendary Berry, a cherry-hued blush with intense pigmentation. “Blend out the edges and diffuse it with a little foundation for the most beautiful healthy glow,” he says. And if you want to carry the cherry theme all the way through your eye makeup? “Use [Legendary Berry] on the eyes as well!”

How to Smell Like a Cherry

It’s not a cherrycore look unless you smell like one, too. Cherry perfumes conjure up visions of neon-bright, syrupy maraschino jars—owing in part to the iconic 2018 launch of Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry ($395), which Wright calls “one of the original maraschino cherry fragrances that captures playful, delicious, slightly artificial cherry.” Since then, fragrance brands have offered more iterations of the note, ranging from tart to smoky. Stegemann, after a season of seeing cherries everywhere, created Sephora’s first “Clean at Sephora” cherry fragrance: The 7 Virtues Cherry Ambition ($88), blending the fruit with marshmallow, florals, saffron, vanilla, amber, frankincense, and guaiac wood. Rich, sweet, and slightly spiced, it’s meant to help wearers manifest their desires.

“There’s been a rising trend of fragrance launches with cherry,” says Leila Zagwolsky, fragrance expert and CEO and cofounder of LUXSB - Luxury Scent Box. “It provides a decadent, juicy, and sophisticated olfactory experience like no other fruit.” Zagwolsky’s luxury scent subscription site has seen an increase in the note’s popularity, which ties in with customer requests for “warm fall scents that include amber, fruits, and gourmands.”

For an especially fun cherry perfume, Zagwolsky recommends Mancera’s Tonka Cola ($180), a “fizzy scent like cherry cola with a touch of cinnamon” and a warm, vanilla-infused drydown. She also loves Montale’s Infinity ($170) which blends plum and black cherry to create “an irresistible sweetness with a beautiful blend of white florals, rose, leather, and oud.” And for a boozy kick, try Contradictions in ILK’s Devious ($175) which blends amaretto, bitter almonds, nutmeg, liquor, vanilla, and cardamom with “a heart of syrupy sour cherry.”

“Cherry is a seemingly simple note that contains hidden complexities and can be molded to fit a multitude of tastes,” says Wright. Close-wearing skin scents, sugary gourmands, and smoky ouds all pair well with the fruit. “Cherry pairs well with minimal, musky fragrances to enhance a sexy, skin scent vibe,” he says. At the same time, “chocolate, vanilla, and boozy notes make a fruity cherry into more of a cherry dessert fragrance. Or, you can layer it with oud to give it some earthy complexity.”

On Luckyscent, customers gravitate toward BornToStandout’s Indecent Cherry, a sleeper hit from the niche, Seoul-based brand. “Its characteristics are reminiscent of a tobacco-leaning, sweet, masculine perfume,” says Wright. Other popular picks include Gritti’s Duchessa ($305), which Wright likens to Lost Cherry with “more glam, more sexy oomph.” For the gourmand diehards, there’s Simone Andreoli’s Vicebomb ($189) a decadent blend of “dark, boozy Luxardo cherries over vanilla ice cream.” If you really want to smell like the syrup at the bottom of a maraschino cherry jar, there’s Hilde Soliani’s Una Tira l’Altra ($175) a niche classic that perfectly recreates a bottle of Luxardo.

How to Wear the Cherry Hair Trend

TikTok is drinking up cherry cola hair, a sultry red shade worn by celebrities like Dove Cameron and Megan Thee Stallion. “It’s a deep, dark brown with a neutral-to-cooler red reflection,” says Sal Misseri, colorist and owner of Reverie Salon in Chicago. “The red pops in the light and has a richness to it that gives a velvety effect.” For an extra cherry-flavored cherry cola hair transformation, you can also dial up the amount of red. “I love the way Megan The Stallion wears it not only as a softer, rich brown but also showcases cherry red in a punchier, bright, and dramatic way,” says Misseri. While the original shade flatters cooler undertones, the level of red can be adjusted (from cool to neutral) to flatter warm undertones as well.

“I love seeing variations of cherry cola hair on so many different skin tones,” says celebrity hairstylist Lacy Redway. “It translates well on a lot of different textures, which makes for a great trend.” Redway’s client, Tessa Thompson, has worn several different versions of the shade, created by celebrity colorist Aura Friedman. “We knew versions of cherry cola would pick up well on Tessa’s skin tone,” says Redway. The result: rich and reflective, just like an icy glass of Cherry Coke.

To keep the shade fresh, both Redway and Misseri say at-home maintenance is essential. Color-protective shampoos and conditioners are a must-have; Redway swears by the Dove Love Your Shine Shampoo and Conditioner duo, which “help maintain brilliant color.” She also recommends a strengthening, shine-restoring product like the Dove 7-in-1 Miracle Mist ($8). Misseri’s cherry cola dream team includes Davines’ Minu Hair Serum ($30), Oi Milk ($40) and Melu Hair Shield ($40). Used weekly, Davines’ Alchemic Red Shampoo ($34) and Alchemic Red Conditioner ($37) help boost the burgundy reflects in your hair. Between color appointments, you can ask for a hair gloss.

How to Wear Cherry Nails

Cherry mocha nails “scream fall,” according to celebrity nail artist Sonya Meesh. The trend kicked off with DND's $8 Cherry Mocha nail polish, a deep, purple-tinted maroon reminiscent of another cherry icon: Chanel’s Vamp.

“It looks amazing on short or long nails, and the mocha aspect adds a little warmth and depth to the cherry red,” says Meesh of the shade. “It looks fab on all skin tones.” For polishes that evoke that “perfect mixture of a cool red with added warmth,” they love Orly's Ruby ($11), Gelcare’s Plum Royale ($20), and Manucurist’s Dark Pansy ($14). “Dior’s 047 Nuit 1947 ($30) is the quiet luxury option,” they say.

While the original DND Cherry Mocha really does flatter everyone, you can also shop cherry mocha shades based on your undertones. If you lean cooler, try a blue-based cherry like OPI’s Got the Blues for Red or Complimentary Wine ($12 each). Galdina Jimenez, education manager for OPI North America, loves Como Se Llama for warm undertones, Big Sagittarius Energy on darker skin tones, and We the Female on lighter skin tones.

“I love this shade because it’s an intro into fall that can be worn all winter,” says Jimenez. Looks like cherry girl fall is here to stay.

Up Next: "Fire Chrome" Is the New Way to Wear Red Nails

Read the original article on Byrdie.