Cherry cola lips is a makeup trend that sounds like a drink order and looks like a 90s revival. You line your lips with a dark brown pencil, fill them in with red or berry gloss, and end up with a color that supposedly resembles cherry cola. It’s dark, it’s juicy, and it took over TikTok in the summer of 2023.
I first saw this trend around April 2023. Makeup artist Mary Phillips did the look on model Amelia Gray Hamlin in Paris, and TikTokers immediately identified it as something new. By August, the hashtag #CherryColaLip had 4.9 million views on TikTok according to Revolution Beauty. Vogue covered it. Refinery29 tried it. Kylie Jenner posted herself wearing it. The whole beauty industrial complex mobilized.
Why it hit different
Brown lip liner with red gloss isn’t revolutionary. Women of color have been doing this for decades. What TikTok did was give it a catchy name and a specific formula. The “cherry cola” framing made it feel like a recipe, not just a makeup look. You need three ingredients: brown liner, red gloss, and confidence.
The Lana Del Rey connection helped too. Her song “Cola” and the general coquette aesthetic were already trending. Cherry cola lips fit that vibe perfectly. Dark, nostalgic, slightly dangerous. TikTokers started using her songs as the audio for their tutorials.
Cherry cola lips vs latte makeup: what’s the actual difference?
| Cherry Cola Lips | Latte Makeup | |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Dark, sultry, 90s revival | Warm, neutral, natural |
| Key products | Brown liner + red/berry gloss | Bronzer + nude gloss |
| Skin tone | Works on everyone, especially deep tones | Best on warm undertones |
| Occasion | Night out, statement look | Everyday, office friendly |
| TikTok era | Summer 2023 | Summer 2024 |
Latte makeup was the trend that replaced cherry cola lips in 2024. Honestly? I think cherry cola had more personality. Both use brown tones, but cherry cola is bold and defined. Latte is soft and blended. If cherry cola is a night out, latte is a Sunday morning.
What it looks like in the wild
TikTok audio: “Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey Video: close-up of lips, brown liner applied, red gloss dabbed in the center, blended with a finger Caption: “cherry cola lips for my hot girl walk”
Comment: “this is literally just the 90s brown liner trend with a new name” Reply: “and? it looks good”
Text overlay: “POV: you finally found a red gloss that doesn’t make you look like a clown”
Related slang
- Mob Wife Aesthetic — the fashion equivalent of bold lips and big energy
- That Girl — the morning routine that happens before you put on your cherry cola lips
