Everything you need to know about the banana beauty trend
Here’s why the tropical fruit is all over the beauty scene right now
All products are chosen independently by our editors. Luxury London may earn commission on items purchased.
We’ve had ‘butter skin’, ‘guava girl’ and ‘tomato girl makeup’, but the latest foodie beauty trend taking over social media is bananas, literally. That’s right, the bright yellow fruit you’ll find in most fruit bowls is this summer’s hottest buzzword when it comes to skincare, haircare and fragrance. Why? Well it turns out banana beauty promises powerful ingredients with multiple skincare benefits, along with a tropical scent and joyful colour, that makes it perfect for proving the playful and nostalgic fruit trend goes beyond just fashion.
As good as they are to eat, bananas do wonders for our physical appearance too, so it’s no surprise beauty houses have started to make them the star of the show. Containing potassium, antioxidants and vitamins C and B6, banana extract exfoliates, hydrates and brightens the skin for a softer, clearer, more radiant complexion. Being rich and creamy, they’re also great for nourishing and conditioning our locks, and the exotic, holiday-evoking scent provides a deliciously irresistible fragrance to boot.
From ripe yellow lip balms to golden moisturisers and warm, sweet-scented perfumes, we’ve selected a bunch of beauty products that we’re going bananas for (sorry, I couldn’t resist).
Banana skincare and makeup
Let’s start with the lips, because it seems we have Prada, and its golden banana lip balm, to thank for kick starting this trend. The latest addition to its cult lip balm range, the vibrant yellow hue is inspired by the Milanese brand’s banana-infused SS11 collection. A bright bullet with a delicious fruity scent and formula that will leave lips plump, it blends playfulness with sophistication. Oh, and Sabrina Carpenter teased its launch in her Manchild video – some subtle (and successful) celebrity marketing right there.
Not one to mess around when it comes to a trend, Glossier teamed up with Magnolia Bakery to bring a limited edition flavour to its renowned Balm Dotcom collection. Banana Pudding is your dessert fantasy, with an almost edible scent that is sweet and creamy. A nourishing formula enriched with vitamin E, castor seed oil and lanolin, the softening balm promises to hydrate lips and leave them with a super glossy, subtle yellow tint.
Scandi brand Ole Henriksen has also gone bananas for the fruit-inspired beauty trend, introducing a broad range of products aimed at moisturising, brightening and protecting the skin. Take its Banana Bright+ Instant Glow moisturiser: powered by vitamin C and banana pigments, it will treat your skin to hydration that lasts all day, leaving a warm, golden glow for good measure. A multi-tasking cream, it will also firm skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and dark spots.
For something more targeted to dark circles, Ole Henriksen’s Banana Bright eye cream, featuring banana powder, works to brighten the under-eye area and banish the look of tired eyes. And if you’re off on holiday to a sun-drenched destination, pack the Banana Bright SPF lotion for a mineral sunscreen that is lightweight, non-sticky and will protect skin from powerful UVA and UVB rays. Packed with vitamin C, zinc, and banana powder pigments, it’s a must-have for balmy city breaks and coastal getaways.
Rodial’s Banana Lowlighter also deserves a mention, as it’s not just a seasonal trending product but a global bestseller. An all-in-one colour corrector, complexion enhancer and sheer concealer, the creamy formula has soft banana yellow undertones to provide natural-looking coverage that lasts (and won’t feel cakey or heavy). We want in.
Banana Haircare
The banana trend has infiltrated haircare products too, spoiling your tresses with sweet-smelling, nourishing treatments. Dry and frizzy hair? The Body Shop’s banana shampoo, made with organic banana puree, not only takes you on a sensory trip to the tropics but will deeply cleanse and nourish your hair from root to tip, leaving it smoother, shinier and softer. Briogeo’s Be Gentle, Be Kind superfood shampoo will achieve similar results. Made with potassium, antioxidant and vitamin-rich banana, coconut and mango extract, finish with the matching conditioner for extra hydration and gloss.
Sun Bum’s shampoo is another great fruity option, blending banana pulp and peel with banana leaf, coconut oil, quinoa protein and sunflower seed oils to restore moisture and keep hair refreshed and dazzling. Perfect for post-beach R&R. Complete your routine with a hair mask for the ultimate indulgence. Fable & Mane’s banana-fueled offering will rejuvenate hair that’s a little lacklustre and in need of some TLC. Formulated with banana and coconut, it also smells divine.
Banana fragrances
According to TikTok, banana scents are trending too, with the hashtag #bananaperfume garnering more than five million views. Offering something a little more daring and tropical than your usual floral, woody and citrusy tones, banana scents are playful but also sophisticated. Jun Lim, founder of South Korean fragrance brand Borntostandout, says: “After years of predictable florals and safe fruity notes, people are ready for something a little wild. Banana’s creamy, quirky sweetness hits that sweet spot. What used to feel like a joke now feels fresh. We’re all craving a playful olfactory twist, and banana delivers.”
Lim was one of the first to branch out into bananas with Borntostandout’s Nanatopia eau de parfum. He says: “We wanted to take an overripe banana and drown it in rum, one of our favourite notes in perfumery, and push it to the edge. What came out was Nanatopia. Boozy, witty and yes, absolutely bananas. It captures everything we stand for.” Spritz on for some fun-loving spirit with a flirty edge.
Barcelona-based artisanal fragrance house 27 87 launched its banana-inspired perfume back in April. Hakuna Matata (what a wonderful phrase) blends green banana peel accord with honey, bergamot and jasmine for a warming, sensual and unapologetically cheerful scent. Kayali’s Maui in a Bottle perfume, meanwhile, will instantly transport you to a far-flung tropical island, with its punchy sweet banana notes paired with a delicious touch of coconut, wild lemon and jasmine. Embrace holiday mode with just one spray.
Ellis Brooklyn’s Banana Milkshake mist is sure to be a hit too, thanks to a creamy, rich scent that is wonderfully sweet, warm and wildly alluring, blending banana with tonka beans and rum for a dessert-inspired combo.
Read more: The grown-up way to nail the fruit trend this summer
