**SUBJECT:** They changed it. I have feelings.
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Everyone’s favorite slick lip balm just got a glow-up — or a glow-down, depending on who you ask. Summer Fridays quietly reformulated their Lip Butter Balm and the internet is in shambles.
The old one felt like a thick, glossy hug. The new one? It’s lighter, less sticky, and dries down in about 45 seconds flat. That’s either a miracle or a tragedy — depends on your lip philosophy.
It’s still $24 — same price, new vibe. The claim: “more hydration, less slip.” I called BS and bought two shades to test.
Texture Shift
Gone is the pudding-thick feel. It’s now more of a balmy oil — thin, silky, almost watery on first swipe.
Stickiness Level
Drops from a 7/10 to a 2/10. Hair won’t stick to your mouth. That’s a win for windy days.
Scent & Shine
Same vanilla birthday cake scent. Shine is less glass-like, more “healthy gloss.” Less mirror, more everyday.
Photo: Mockup Free / Unsplash
They swapped out heavier waxes for lighter emollients. It’s not a lip mask anymore — it’s a daily driver. Here’s what’s doing the work:
- Shea Butter: softens without sitting on top
- Jojoba Oil: sinks in fast, mimics skin’s natural sebum
- Peptides: plump the lip line slightly over time
- Vitamin E: antioxidant shield against chapping
Photo: Rosa Rafael / Unsplash
First swipe: whoa, that’s thin. Almost disappointing. Then it sinks in — like putting on a moisturizer instead of a slug mask. Lips feel *flexible*, not coated.
Two weeks in: I actually prefer it. The old one sat on my lips like a layer of Saran wrap. This one disappears into the skin. Weirdest part — my lips look less chapped in the morning. Didn’t expect that.
Photo: freestocks / Unsplash
My lips feel smoother by noon. No peeling. But the shine? Gone in an hour. If you want that wet-look gloss that lasts through coffee, this ain’t it.
The reformulation is better for *actual lip health*, worse for that Instagram glass-lip moment. I’d call it an upgrade — just don’t expect the same product.