The Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm Softened and Smoothed My Lips

We put the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Keep reading for our full product review.

Once in a blue moon a product comes along that truly wows the beauty community—one that prompts everybody to get behind its greatness. I’ve heard murmurs of how the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm could be one of those products from friends (and TikTok, of course) and couldn’t wait to get it on my lips. More importantly, though, I wanted to make sure I kept the product’s clout out of my mind, so I could have an unbiased experience.

The lip balm comes in two shades: Vanilla and Vanilla Beige. [Ed Note: Since the writing of this article a third shade, Poppy, has been added to the collection.] Vanilla is completely untinted while Vanilla Beige has a slight—you guessed it—warm beige tint to it. I gave both shades a try, even though the only difference between the two balms is in their hues. After a few weeks of trying out the product, I was able to come to my own conclusions about it and let's just say that I have a lot of thoughts.  

Curious to hear if this lip balm lives up to expectations? Read on for my in-depth review. 

About My Lips: Constantly dry

Whether it’s the dead of winter or the peak of summer, one thing is guaranteed: my lips will be chapped. The only explanation I have is dehydration, despite my emotional-support water bottle traveling with me everywhere I go. Since I’ve yet to find a way to rid my lips of this dry curse, I have learned to live with it, and that means trying out tons of different lip balms. The perfect lip balm for my lips isn’t sticky and locks in moisture for more than an hour. Both of which I think are reasonable requests, yet I still struggle with finding a lip balm I truly love. This means carrying approximately three lip balms with me everywhere I go: one for tint, one for shine, and one for plumping. Yes, I know how absurd it sounds. 

The Feel: Emollient, but not sticky

The Lip Butter Balm is aptly named, The formula is thick and feels more like a gloss than a balm when it comes to its weight. (It wears heavier than your average balm.) It, however, is not sticky and glides across lips with ease.

The Ingredients: Nourishing

The three star ingredients in this balm's formula is as follows:

• Shea & Murumuru Seed Butters: These two seed butters work to naturally moisturize and repair cracked, chapped lips. Keep in mind that murumuru and shea butter is derived from nuts, so those with a nut allergy should do a patch test before applying to lips or avoid using. 
• Vegan Wax: This reduces greasiness that could be caused by the balm while also boosting shine and softening lips.
• Natural Vanilla Flavoring: This ingredient is what gives the lip balm a relaxing, vanilla-ey scent.
  

The Results: Glossy, hyper-moisturized lips

From the moment you smear this balm onto your lips they become unbelievably soft and smooth. As I mentioned before, I cannot stand when a lip balm is sticky, and this one left my lips without any uncomfortable feel. Overall, the way my lips feel after using this balm is an A+ in my book.

The main selling point for me is how incredible this lip balm smells. People have recommended it to me in the past, mentioning how delicious its fragrance is. I really couldn’t comprehend its greatness until I tried it myself. Yes, it's vanilla—but it's not cloying or sugary. I actually consider it quite tropical—like that of your sweetest sunscreen. If you can't gauge what that smells like by reading this, I guess you'll have to try it out yourself.

Similar Products: You have options

Lanolips The Original 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm: The Lanolips lip balm ($17) is perhaps one of the most well-known and well-loved lip balms of all time. The all-natural balm heals lips instantly and can also be used on elbows, cuticles, and any other place in need of moisture. 

Glossier Balm Dotcom: There’s been much discourse about Glossier’s Balm Dotcom ($12) in the beauty community, but I personally love it. Not only are the different scents incredible, but it comes in several different tints to fit whatever lip shade you may be after. Plus, the price tag is unbeatable.