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Makeup trends have never shifted faster thanks to social media, but it’s hard to beat a true classic. For example, Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick debuted decades ago, but was just ranked one of the greatest beauty products of all time by Women’s Wear Daily.
Specifically, the popular Revlon lipstick shade “Cherries in the Snow” has been pinpointed as one of the best lip colors of all time. It came out in 1953, but there’s a reason the red shade is still so highly rated 73 years later. Parade spoke with celebrity makeup artist Mezhgan Hussainy to learn exactly why.
Hussainy has led makeup teams for shows like American Idol, America’s Got Talent and more, and she’s the co-founder and partner of the beauty branding and manufacturing partner Product Society. She says that she loves the conversation around the Revlon lipstick shade seven decades after its release.
“Beauty moves so quickly now that we’re constantly being told about the next new thing, but products like ‘Cherries in the Snow’ remind us that something doesn’t have to be new to be relevant,” she tells Parade, adding, “Sometimes a beautiful color is simply a beautiful color, and that never goes out of style.”
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Revlon ‘Cherries in the Snow’ Is Ranked Among the Best Lip Colors of All Time: Why Has It Lasted 73 Years?
Hussainy explains the nostalgia factor of red lipstick, saying, “When I was a little girl, I remember sitting at my mother’s vanity and finding what I thought was the most beautiful red lipstick… I still remember being completely mesmerized by that color.”
She adds that “truly great colors transcend trends, and ‘Cherries in the Snow’ is one of those shades.” According to Hussainy, the popular lipstick hue has endured for 73 years in large part because it appeals to a range of beauty lovers.
“It’s not quite red, not quite pink; it’s that beautiful raspberry color that immediately brightens the face,” she explains.
Revlon’s Cherries in the Snow, $9
CVS
Today, even 73 years after its debut, the shade is named as a “best-seller” at places like Walmart, where the lipstick has a 4.5 star rating and over 11,000 reviews.
Hussainy thinks that the 1953 hue stands the test of time because “a beautiful, feminine
lipstick never really goes away.” She says that a simple reddish shade is enduring even when “we’ve gone through every possible lip trend [like] nudes, mattes, glosses [and] lip oils.”
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The 1953 ‘Fire and Ice’ Era Ad Campaign That Revolutionized How Beauty Brands Talked to Women
Genevieve Naylor/Corbis via Getty Images)
Around the same time, Revlon released another iconic advertising campaign. As Fashionista reported, it was dubbed the “Fire and Ice” campaign and featured model Dorian Leigh.
It advertised the brand’s matching lipstick and nail polish combinations for women “who love to flirt with fire…who dare to skate on ice.” The cheeky ad was an instant hit, and Hussainy thinks it resonated because beyond selling a lipstick shade, “it was selling an attitude and a personality.”
Hussainy says, “Beauty advertising at that time could be very prescriptive about what a woman was supposed to look like or how she was supposed to behave. This campaign made beauty feel more playful, confident and connected to self-expression.”
She adds that modern beauty marketing still pulls from these concepts, often by advertising a complete package rather than just a product. “[Today], we’re often buying into how that lipstick makes us feel,” she explains.
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Why Makeup Artists Say ‘Cherries in the Snow’ Is Still a Top Cult-Favorite Drugstore Lipstick
Hussainy credits drugstore accessibility as part of why “Cherries in the Snow” remains a lipstick favorite. “There’s something wonderful about an iconic beauty product that doesn’t have to be exclusive or expensive,” she tells Parade. “That accessibility has allowed generation after generation of women to discover it.”
She adds, “As a makeup artist, I have always believed that a great product is a great product. It doesn’t matter whether it costs $12 or $60. If the color and formula work, they work.”
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What Makes This Cool-Toned Raspberry Shade Universally Flattering on All Skin Tones?
“The beauty of a raspberry shade is that you’re getting elements of red, pink and berry all at once,” Hussainy says. “Depending on someone’s complexion, a different part of that color can come forward.”
She says that on fair skin, “Cherries in the Snow” looks “beautifully vibrant.” On medium or olive skin, she says it can “brighten the complexion.” And on deeper skin tones, Hussainy says it becomes “gorgeous” and “rich.”
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How To Wear Revlon ‘Cherries in the Snow’ for a Modern Look in 2026
Hussainy says you should aim for an effortless makeup look with the lipstick as the centerpiece when updating “Cherries in the Snow” for 2026.
“Beautiful fresh skin, brushed-up brows, mascara, a little blush and then let the lip be the statement,” Hussainy suggests. “I also love pressing a lipstick like this into the lips with a finger and softening the edges. It gives you that beautiful lived-in stain rather than a perfectly drawn retro lip.”
But for evening, she says you can “absolutely bring out the lip liner and wear it full strength” because “a beautiful red-raspberry lip will never stop being glamorous.”
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Source:
- Mezhgan Hussainy, celebrity makeup artist who has led makeup departments for shows like American Idol, America’s Got Talent and more. She’s the co-founder and partner of the beauty branding and manufacturing partner Product Society.