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Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Blemished Bananas To Cult Brand: How Peel Is Redefining Soft Serve
Valeria Alvarez, cofounder of Peel, Photo Credit: Courtesy of Peel It's a banana girl summer, but for popular ice cream brand Peel, bananas are a core part of its product. Between Jacquemus' summer campaign and Sabrina Carpenter's Prada Beauty lip balm, as well as Glossier's collab with Magnolia, bananas are having a moment. Bananas are a magical fruit that serve as the base for Peel's soft serve ice cream. And that's a huge part of its appeal. Peel soft serve is based in Miami, currently boasts three locations (including a truck in the buzzy Design Destrict and the newly opened Brightline location) and has already enjoyed a slew of cool brand collaborations (with brands like Crown Affair and Gucci). Made of only two ingredients, bananas and coconut milk, the soft serve is a sustainable treat fit for the future. Peel is proof that with a strong vision, a clever twist, and a sense of humor, a simple banana can serve as the base for a full-blown brand. Founder Valeria Alvarez experienced the initial spark for the idea while traveling to Indonesia in 2016. At the time, becoming a food & beverage founder wasn't on her bingo card. It was during that Southeast Asia trip with girlfriends that Alvarez noticed the beauty — and lack of waste — in the way local vendors created smoothie bowls. 'They were using what they had: bananas, mangoes, pineapple, dragonfruit,' she recalls. 'And they made these stunning, vibrant bowls, topped with edible flowers. I couldn't stop thinking about it.' The experience planted a seed. When she returned home to Miami, the idea started to ripen. At the time, Alvarez was working in tech and marketing, but the pull toward something more purpose-driven was undeniable. 'I loved the creative side of what I was doing, but I wanted to build something real. Something I could feel.' Partners in business and in life, her husband Marshall became her cofounder. She started experimenting with fruit, ingredients and local suppliers. That's when she stumbled on a striking inefficiency in the produce industry: bananas with slight blemishes or bruises were being discarded, even though they were still perfectly edible on the inside. Rather than seeing waste, she saw opportunity. 'Bananas have the best consistency — and people throw them out because they're not aesthetically perfect? That made no sense.' And just like that, Peel was born — built on a base of repurposed bananas, coconut milk, and zero added sugar. At the heart of Peel's story is the idea that imperfection can not only be beautiful, it can be delicious. That's a philosophy Alvarez keeps coming back to, especially as a first-time founder and a new mom. What started as a weekend activation at the Legion Park Farmers Market in 2019 quickly became something more. With simple, clean ingredients and an impactful mission, Peel was met with strong demand. But when COVID struck, the business paused for seven months. As a result, Alvarez and her husband spent those months refining the recipe, sourcing a soft serve machine, and getting deeper into the food world — despite having no culinary background. 'I'm not a chef,' she admits, smiling. 'But I'm a builder. I wanted to build something joyful, and something I'd feel good feeding my own daughter one day.' By 2020, Peel relaunched out of a truck. In 2023, they opened their first brick-and-mortar in Miami Shores — a tight-knit, family-centric neighborhood that served as the perfect fit. Today, Peel operates three Miami locations, including a Design District truck (which is a permanent fixture), and a freshly opened location downtown near the Brightline. If it sounds like Peel is simply a soft serve brand, think again. It's also a space to connect. A ritual. A vibe. The banana-shaped smile in the logo is no accident — it's how Alvarez wants people to feel when they walk in and out. 'We've become that 'third place' for a lot of people. Not home, not work, but somewhere in between where they can hang out, meet friends, and feel good,' she says. 'It's not about sugar highs. It's about joy.' Smoothie bowls with a really good consistency. Fashion, beauty and lifestyle companies took note of Peel's aesthetic — minimalist yet bright, cheeky but clean. Since launching, Peel has collaborated with high-profile brands like Gucci, Crown Affair, Glow Recipe, and even the Miami Dolphins (on a corporate level, not with the NFL athletes). But Alvarez is quick to clarify: she doesn't say 'yes' to everything. 'There's intention behind every partnership,' she explains. 'If we don't align on values, it's a 'no'. I'm not just doing this for exposure. It has to feel like a natural extension of Peel's mission.' With Crown Affair, Peel used lemongrass — a nod to the clean beauty brand's signature scent — to create a custom flavor. With Glow Recipe, they sourced rare cloudberry to match the brand's new launch. For Gucci's winter-themed Art Basel activation, Peel unveiled a black-wrapped truck and snickerdoodle flavor topped with coconut and cherry drizzle — all to match Gucci's holiday palette. Even the Miami Dolphins collaboration was a winner: they used spirulina to craft a soft serve flavor in the team's iconic turquoise and orange. Peel has also partnered with the likes of Shopbop (on several occasions), Miami-based Reserve padel club, and local coffee, matcha and taco brands — always with the same creative filter: Do the brand values align? Does it bring joy? Is it fun? Because at the heart of Peel is Alvarez's unofficial mantra: 'The moment it stops being fun, it's time to reconsider.' Peel currently rescues about 40 pounds of surplus bananas a week. The business also composts all organic waste through a local company, Compost for Life, and uses plastic-free, compostable packaging and wooden spoons. But Alvarez is careful not to overhype the mission. 'I'm not here to save the world. But I do think sustainability can be fun. And it starts with small, mindful choices.' She's also open about the challenge ahead: how to maintain those sustainability standards as Peel expands. 'As you scale, it actually becomes harder to be sustainable. But we're committed to figuring it out.' One of Peel's most community-centric moments came last year (and was repeated early this summer), when they offered a promo that invited customers to bring in four ripe mangoes in exchange for a free bowl: a kind of circular, crowdsourced fruit rescue effort. They brought this initiative back again this summer. 'I didn't plan to be the soft serve girl,' Alvarez says. 'But it's what lit me up. And that's enough.'
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Galeries Lafayette Dubai Makes Indulgence the Season's Best Accessory
Because sometimes, the most tasteful thing you can do is take your time. If you're looking for a reason to spend a little extra time at The Dubai Mall this summer, Galeries Lafayette just gave you one. The iconic department store has launched Tasteful, a multi-sensory in-store campaign that runs until the end of July – and it's as stylish as it is smartly curated. Designed to celebrate the art of indulgence, Tasteful is about taking a moment to enjoy the finer things – whether that's discovering a new signature scent, investing in a standout piece for the season, or slowing down for lunch somewhere that actually feels worth it. With surreal visual installations, experiential beauty stations, and personal styling zones dotted throughout the space, the campaign invites visitors to explore fashion, fragrance, and food in a way that feels fresh and effortless. The fashion edit is a highlight. Think Marni, Coperni, Cult Gaia, Ganni and more – designers who know how to strike the balance between directional and wearable. It's not about head-to-toe looks, it's about mixing and matching standout pieces that speak to your personal style. From oversized silhouettes to structured tailoring, the focus is on confidence and individuality. Beauty lovers won't be left behind either. The fragrance and skincare selection spans everything from cult favourites like Kilian, Fugazzi, and Maison Crivelli to the newly launched Prada Beauty. It's less about the hard sell, more about playful discovery – and the kind of in-store experience that reminds you why beauty shopping used to be fun. Of course, all of this is best enjoyed with a break in between. That's where Le Gourmet comes in, Galeries Lafayette's dedicated food hall on the second floor. It's the kind of space that makes it easy to turn a quick shop into a full-day affair before hitting the next edit. Even the practical details have been thought through. With digital gift cards and same-day delivery available across the UAE, Galeries Lafayette makes it easy to shop on your own terms whether you're browsing in-store or sending a last-minute gift to someone else. If you're after an excuse to treat yourself this season – this is it.
Elle
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Prada's Banana Balm Review: Here's Why The Yellow Lip Tint Has Gone Viral
After years trialling and testing make-up products for a living - from the best foundation for acne skin to the liquid bronzers that cheats 2 weeks in the Riviera - I must admit that there is a special allure that comes with beauty formulas promising to give you a 'bespoke' effect due to colour-changing properties reacting to your unique pH. The idea of having make-up that not only enhances your natural colouring, but also reacting differently to you feels enigmatic and magical (be honest: how many of us fell for mood rings back in the '90s?). Beauty brands have embraced this need for a tailored approach for years (in Southeast Asia, you'll find green lip balms that turn pink upon contact since the late '90s), with Prada being one of the latest luxury brands to harness colour-changing technology through its Optimising Care Lip Balm, which first launched in a soft pistachio bullet that promises to bring out your natural lip colour. 2 years on, Sabrina Carpenter teased the latest balm in her Manchild video back in June. In it, Carpenter was seen snacking on Prada-branded Banana Jellies (ELLE's beauty team collectively confirms, it is delicious), before taking to TikTok to showcase the primary yellow lip balm. Applied on top of her lipstick, it lends a gentle rose gold iridescence for a whisper of luminosity. While the original Prada Optimising Lip Care balm focuses mainly on hydration and the Lip Blushing Balm imparts a soft, rosy tint, this Lip Balm Frosting Care in Banana Yellow delivers the softest tinge of shimmer and shine without the sticky or glossy feel of a traditional lip gloss. Prada Beauty's global make-up artist Lynsey Alexander created this lip colour as a way to tap into childhood memories of Banana Foam candies while still delivering the luxurious, grown-up, lip colour experience we've come to expect from Prada Beauty. It's an approach that complements the designer brand: serious craftsmanship and science, but with a clever sense of whimsy. On the lips, Frosting Care feels velvety smooth and balmy without any grittiness nor an uncomfortable, sticky feel. Given its translucent finish, it's easy to apply on-the-go, making it the ideal lip product for a low-maintenance, your lips-but-better effect. It does smell gloriously of jelly sweets (rather than actual bananas), which I'm into, but it is something to bear in mind if you're sensitive to scent. That said, the fragrance doesn't linger on the lips. As someone who prefers a bit more colour on their lips, I like to wear mine on top of lip liner ala Carpenter, but if you're simply after luminosity but hate the idea of a liquid gloss, the solid nature of Banana Yellow is well worth considering. The light-reflecting quality creates the illusion of a fuller lip, while the jojoba butter delivers enough hydration to get me through the day. My final verdict? This is an easy breezy, something-but-nothing lip balm that's perfect for the summer months. No fussing with glosses that get caught in your hair, it lends a really pretty shine that'll take you through sun, sea, sand and beyond. And no, it doesn't go on yellow. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE. Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.
Vogue Singapore
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Singapore
Butter yellow beauty is this summer's biggest make-up trend
Since this spring, the delectable hue of butter yellow has been seen everywhere. The undisputed shade of this season, we've seen it splashed across runways and adorning the red carpet gowns of celebrities alike. Months into its luminous reign, there's no sign of this trend slowing down. If anything, it's been amped up—as a number of recent high-profile beauty launches attest. It started with our nails. Hermès unveiled a limited edition, soft yellow nail varnish as part of their spring/summer 2025 make-up collection. Meanwhile, the likes of Hailey Bieber and Kourtney Kardashian have channelled California sunshine through their radiant manicures. Retrospectively, Dries Van Noten was also ahead of the curve, with graphic eye make-up looks including buttermilk-hued eyelids appearing on their spring/summer 2025 catwalks. Now, two brand new lip launches fulfilling the 'butter yellow' craze have our attention at peak levels. Rhode, Bieber's explosively popular skincare brand, heralds the arrival of a limited edition Lemontini Peptide Lip Tint this week. A shimmering gold gloss, it's an iridescent counterpart to Prada Beauty's recently announced Prada Balm in Banana Yellow. Unveiled by Sabrina Carpenter, this balm brings the radiance of tropical fruit to lips and cheeks alike. So to be sure, butter yellow is here to stay for the foreseeable. Below, note four ways to capture its irresistible lustre through your beauty look: @nailsbyzola 1 / 4 Butter-dipped digits There's no time like the warmer months to usher in a pastel-hued manicure. And what better way to showcase butter yellow than with some brilliant tips? Celebrity nail artist Zola Ganzorigt was behind Hailey Bieber's 'lemon drop' nails, seen here, blending OPI's Stay Out All Bright and Daffodil Duck Walk for a custom sherbet shade. And while this lemon hue is a touch deeper than the traditionally creamy butter yellow, the sentiment remains the same: go forth and play. From a glazed finish to butter yellow tips and intricate nail art, look to these varnishes for inspiration. BUY NOW @pradabeauty 2 / 4 Keep it balmy The beauty forecast reads: balmy. All manner of conditioning, smoothing and softening lip products remain in high demand. Now, the fruit-inspired formulas of Rhode's Lemontini Peptide Lip Tint and the Prada Balm in Banana Yellow are adding to the appeal of lip care—in yellow. While we're still awaiting Rhode's launch on our shores, and news of the Prada Balm's arrival in Singapore is forthcoming, there's options aplenty to tap into their calming sensibilities for your pout. For those envisioning a coat of bright canary across their lips, worry not: rather, it's about a subtle, golden tint or glossy layer of shimmer. IMAXtree 3 / 4 Graphic eyes Trust Dries Van Noten to have foreseen the butter yellow obsession. On their spring/summer 2025 runway, models sported all manner of brightly hued eyelids and lashes—including subtly vibrant buttermilk eyelids. An instant way to uplift your peepers, there's a multitude of ways to harness the pastel shade vis-à-vis your gaze. Sheer, buildable eyeshadows are a great option for dipping your toe in the trend, allowing you to customise your level of impact. We love the pale iridescence of a palette like Dior's Diorshow Mono Couleur in Gold Star. Alternatively, an eyeliner of slightly deeper pigment such as Stila's Stay All Day ArtiStix Graphic Liner in Charleston commands attention with even a simple slick. @ 4 / 4 Golden child Channel a sun-kissed impression by heeding butter yellow inspiration for your complexion. Rather than appearing pallid or avant-garde, it's all about embracing a healthy coat of golden shimmer. Your best bet for a natural-looking glow is to brush your chosen product across the high points of your face—think the cheekbones and bridge of your nose. And of course, radiance can be heaped up with a more liberal application. This ensures a light-reflecting effect even by evening. On the go, reach for a convenient beauty stick like Pixi's On-The-Glow Superglow in Gilded Gold, while the Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette in Pure Gold offers a selection of yellow gold tones to get playful with.
Daily Mirror
28-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
Boots shoppers get free Prada mirror when buying 'non-drying' lipstick
Shoppers can get a designer compact mirror when they purchase selected Prada Beauty products at Boots online, and the Soft Matte Lipsticks are the bestseller icons from the collection Boots shoppers can get their hands on a luxury gift with purchase from Prada Beauty when buying selected makeup from the brand's iconic matte lipstick to setting powder, eyeliner and more. The Prada Beauty mirror is inspired by the brand's iconic Triangle. It features a silver metal base and gold-coloured trims, and shoppers can get a free Prada Beauty pouch to keep it scratch-free and safe from stains. But you'll have to be quick - the free gift will only be given out while stocks last. Shoppers can pick it up when buying a Prada Monochrome Soft Matte Lipstick, £40, which comes in 18 universally flattering shades. The lipstick delivers soft, diffused colours that recall the luminosity and versatility of Prada's iconic Re-Nylon fabric. There are more affordable brands that shoppers can get matte lipsticks including Lisa Eldridge's True Velvet Lip Colour, £27, and it leaves a velvety matte finish with a subtle sheen on lips. The MAC Macximal Silky Matte Lipstick in shade Velvet Teddy is now reduced to £20 on LookFantastic and provides up to 12 hours of full-coverage colour, paired with up to eight hours of lip-loving moisture to encourage a comfortable, high-impact finish. While the Prada Beauty nude pink shades like Tiepolo, Nudo and Blush are popular, cherry-red tones are equally loved by beauty fans. The lipsticks are formulated with Micro-Fit technology so that they glide seamlessly onto lips and feel weightless. Despite labelled as a matte lipstick, shoppers found it "hydrating" and "non-drying". It is infused in bifidus extract and jojoba oil to protect and reinforce the lip barrier function. One five-star shopper commented: "The packaging is gorgeous with a magnetic top. It is very chic in my bag. I love this lipstick especially because it is a matte, but not a drying matte. It's extremely soft and hydrating, which I think can be hard to find sometimes with matte lipstick. The application is extremely smooth, and the wear is great." Another shared: "The packaging is very luxurious and heavy, it does not have a specific smell and it is the perfect tone for all skin tones, its texture is very soft and thanks to its ingredients it makes it very moisturising. I love that it's in matte finish." The Prada Monochrome Soft Matte Lipstick is refillable, so shoppers can keep the metal case and get a refill of lipstick. But some customers said they "won't be repurchasing". One said: "Good colour and stayed in pretty well, but don't think I would purchase again because of the cost. Nothing about it really wowed me to entice me to purchase this exact lipstick." A second added: "The formula is a true matte with a light, buildable texture. It feels comfortable for the first 30 minutes after applying, but then I feel like I need to apply a lip balm. I don't feel like this lipstick lives up to the price point." But some said they bought it to treat themselves, with one sharing: "It is a solid investment for anyone looking to elevate their makeup collection."
