Okay, the internet is lying to you. The Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm got a silent makeover, and I’ve been slathering the new batch on for two weeks straight to see if the panic is justified. Spoiler: it’s not the same, but it might be better.
The old formula was basically a thick, glossy slug. The new one is a slick, cushiony veil. That’s a massive difference when you’re reapplying at your desk for the 40th time.
It’s still $24, still smells like a vanilla birthday cake, and still sells out in the “Pink Sugar” shade. But the texture shift is the headline. The brand swapped the heavy castor oil base for a blend that feels like it melts at body temp instead of sitting on top.
Glide Factor
The applicator now glides like a slick lip oil, not a waxy crayon.
Shine Level
It’s a high-shine lacquer now, not a dewy balm. Think glossier, sticker.
Slip Time
It absorbs in about 30 seconds, which means you lose that “just applied” wet look faster.
Photo: Elsa Olofsson / Unsplash
They swapped the heavy petrolatum feel for a lighter ester blend. It’s less greasy on the chin, but I do miss the old “armor” feeling during winter winds. The scent is still there, but it fades quicker — which is good, because tasting vanilla all day gets old.
- Shea Butter: Softens the outer lip line without clogging
- Peptide Complex: Plumps the surface so it looks less crepey
- Jojoba Oil: Mimics your skin’s own sebum for fast absorption
- Vitamin E: Antioxidant shield that stops the balm from turning rancid
Photo: The Design Lady / Unsplash
First swipe: it feels like a liquid lipstick that isn’t drying. Thin, but cushiony. The color payoff in the tinted shades is actually stronger now — one layer looks like a proper sheer wash, not just clear gloss.
By day 10, I noticed my lips weren’t peeling as much in the corners. But the staying power is worse. If you eat anything greasy, it’s gone in one napkin swipe. The old one survived a burger.
Photo: Lidye / Unsplash
My lip lines look softer because the formula plumps with hydration rather than just coating them with oil. But the wear time dropped from 3 hours to 90 minutes. That’s the trade-off.
Photo: Ashley Piszek / Unsplash
It’s a better everyday gloss, but a worse treatment balm. I’m keeping it in my bag, but I’m also buying a tube of the old formula off eBay for nighttime.