Summer Friday's Lip Butter Balm Really Is the GOAT (2025)

I'm the beauty expert of my friend group (I mean...I am Cosmo's resident beauty contributor after all), which means 99.99 percent of the time my girls are coming to me for makeup advice and product recs. Recently though, I found myself asking them the big beauty questions. Specifically: What's so special about the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm??

Lip products are my specialty—take a peek in any of my bags and you'll find no less than 12 lipsticks, tinted lip balms, and lip liners to choose from—but for some reason the Summer Fridays balms never made it into my lineup. I first heard about them from my besties, who are all day-one fans. They began using the OG Lip Butter Balm right when it launched in March 2020. For months, anytime we were together at brunch or drinks they'd all whip out their matching Vanilla Lip Butter Balms, and at some point I finally asked one of them if I could try it. "Damn, that is smooth and smells sooooo good," I remember saying. I don't know why I waited so long to get one for myself, but when I did it was a snowball effect...I got one...and then another...and then another...and now I have the full collection.

If you're curious why the Summer Fridays Butter Balm has everyone in a chokehold, let me enlighten you. Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about the glossy balm, including how it went mega-viral, and also peep my ~long-awaited~ review.

What's so special about Summer Fridays lip balm?

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm was one of the first ever lip balm/lip gloss hybrids that didn't leave behind a sticky or gloopy feel on lips. Up until this launched in 2020, almost every girl had accepted the fact that if they wanted their lips to gleam like glass, tackiness was simply going to be a part of the equation.

The Lip Butter Balm completely changed the game with its vegan formula that uses ingredients found in many skincare products—hi, shea butter and murumuru seed butter—as well as vegan waxes to soothe, soften, and nourish lips. And, beyond just making lips look shiny, this multitasker also repairs and heals to ward off cracks and dryness.

Why is everyone obsessed with Summer Fridays lip balm?

Soooo, I don't know anyone who isn't obsessed with the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm. Friends, colleagues, and family members rave about it. It's even the top product when you search bestsellers at Sephora. I mean, it really is that good, but I think Summer Fridays adaptability also speaks volumes to the success of the product.

The packaging was totally different when this first came out in 2020. If you're not an OG Lip Butter Balm stan, you might not remember how the silky gloss used to be housed in an aluminum tube. Now the tube is made from bio-resin, which has a similar feel to plastic but is much more sustainable. The applicator tip also got an upgrade. The new design curves ever so slightly to hug your lips for an even smoother application.

The shade expansion doesn't hurt either. While the balm was originally released in only a clear Vanilla option, there are now nine sheer hues and scents. There's a little something for everyone.

My Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm Review:

At the beginning of 2024 the majority of my lipstick stash consisted of highly pigmented products—you wouldn't catch me dead without rich color on my pout. But as more natural beauty looks gained popularity during the year, I found myself ditching my high impact lippies in favor for neutral glosses.

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm felt like a no-brainer swap. Plus, at the time the limited edition Birthday Cake scent—which just so happened to be the prettiest pale pink hue—had just come out. (One thing about me: I will buy anything Birthday Cake.)

Finally owning a Lip Butter Balm for myself made me understand the hype. Sure, I swiped it on every once in a while with my friends, but I was able to experience the long term effects with my very own.

I already knew that I loved the thick yet weightless texture that immediately coated my lips in plush comfort. However, what surprised me was how my lips maintained a soft suppleness with continued wear. My lips tend to dry out pretty quickly, and it's not uncommon for me to experience a few cracks here and there. I had zero hint of dehydration or cracking once I began applying this daily.

The application also feels super luxe, thanks to the curved tip that hugs the contours of my lips. It doesn't require much product at all to get a glassy sheen, either, which made me realize a tube would last me a very long time. To put into perspective, I've been using my Birthday Cake flavor almost daily since April, and there's still a decent amount left.

So, yeah...I quickly realized that I needed all of the colors. After trying them all out, I can say that each serves its own purpose and imparts the perfect touch of color. Oh, and they all smell absolutely ~divine~ but I do have my faves.

My most used Lip Butter Balm is by far Cherry, which leaves behind the most gorgeous just-bitten hint of red. I love that it can be built up for more impact, although one coat is usually enough for me. The hue completely livens up my complexion, and I consider it the non-negotiable finishing touch before I leave the house, regardless of the occasion. First Date? I'm grabbing Cherry. Heading to brunch? I triple check to make sure Cherry's in my bag. When I'm going to the gym? Although extra, yes—I swipe Cherry before I get my sweat on.

When I'm feelin' nude I grab Iced Coffee. And I'm still completely obsessed with Birthday Cake even though that's not available anymore (Summer Fridays: If you're reading this, please bring it back!). Pink Sugar is a solid backup because it has a similar peachy pink hue, just without the sparkle.

The Final Verdict

I now understand why the Lip Butter Balm is considered the GOAT of lippies. To sum it up, the formula effectively nourishes and repairs lips to keep them kissably soft; the glassy finish is *chef's kiss*; every iteration smells heavenly; and the slim tube holds a solid amount of product so it lasts for months. I may have been late to the Summer Fridays party, but now that I'm here I'm never—ever—leaving.