They reformulated the viral lip oil. I was skeptical — then I put it on and forgot I was wearing it. That never happens.
The old version felt like a shield. This one feels like nothing — but my lips aren’t burning after 20 minutes in the sun. That’s the upgrade nobody asked for but everyone needed.
It’s a tinted lip oil with SPF 30 from Summer Fridays. $26. They swapped the old chemical filter (octinoxate) for a mineral one (zinc oxide) and added squalane. The claim: same glassy shine, zero white cast.
SPF swap
New mineral filter sits on top instead of sinking in — but somehow doesn’t look chalky.
Squalane addition
Actually moisturizes now. Old version dried my lips out after an hour.
Weightless claim
It’s real. Feels thinner than water. Weird at first, then addictive.
Photo: Fleur Kaan / Unsplash
Three things doing the heavy lifting: zinc oxide for sun protection, squalane for moisture that actually lasts, and castor oil for that high-shine finish. No fragrance, no drying alcohols. The unexpected star? Tocopherol — vitamin E that keeps the oil from going rancid in your bag.
- Zinc Oxide: mineral SPF that sits on top — no absorption drama
- Squalane: plant-derived moisture that doesn’t pill under makeup
- Castor Oil: gives that wet-look shine without stickiness
- Tocopherol: preservative that doubles as antioxidant
First swipe: it’s watery. Not oily. Slides on like a thin gloss and disappears into nothing within 30 seconds. No tacky layer. No gritty mineral feel. I actually checked if I applied it twice.
Week two: the staying power is worse than the old formula. I reapply every 90 minutes. But my lips stopped peeling, so I’ll take the trade-off. Unexpected win: zero white cast on my olive skin. That mineral filter fear? Unfounded.
No sunburn on my lips after a beach day. No dryness by hour four. The shine? Still there, but fades to a satin after two hours. Color payoff is sheer — think “your lips but glossier,” not a tint.
The reformulation made it better for daily use, worse for longevity. I’d rather reapply than deal with burnt, peeling lips. Simple math.