Q: I’ve been seeing a lot of ads for Summer Fridays lip balm. Is Summer Fridays Worth the Hype?
One woman on TikTok raved about how pretty the nude combos looked on her dark lips. Another wrote that Summer Fridays lip balm smells amazing while “hydrates my lips, adds gloss and best of all, my hair stays away from my lips”.
Glossy lip balms surged in the 1960s with “Lip Smackers” to create an extravagant yet nourishing product aimed towards young girls. Since then, lip balms have stocked the shelves of all pharmacies and beauty salons to help young girls feel confidence in their skin.
In late 2022, Summer Fridays headlined in multiple cosmetic stores across the country like Sephora and Ulta. Grabbing the attention of many young girls through TikTok and celebrities, this new lip balm quickly made its way into essentials for Gen Z.
What is Summer Fridays Lip Balm?
The lip balm that has dominated teenage girls’ makeup bags, Summer Fridays. A brand started by Lauren Ireland and Marianna Hewitt to create a lip balm that was “nourishing, not sticky, but still felt balmy and smooth” launched in March of 2020, in the heat of the COVID pandemic. Tik Tok shop launched two years later and helped fuel the demand for the product.
The “clean girl aesthetic”, as TikTok puts it or as Hailey Bieber fans call it, is the minimalist approach to beauty. This natural look consists of little to no makeup with more emphasis on the glow and the simplicity of products. Summer Fridays fit well into this trendy look because
The Science Behind the Beauty
Hydrogenated polyisobutene is the hidden secret of the popular Summer Fridays lip balm. Scientifically, this non-polar lipophilic helps hold and secure moisture to the lips which elongates the durability of the product.
Another chemical is the 3-0- Ethyl ascorbic acid which is a Vitamin C derivative that helps lighten and protect lips from UV radiation. Summer Fridays also advertises that they use safe ingredients that are paraben-free, sulfate-free, cruelty-free, vegan, and utilize recyclable packaging. Makeup safety is just as important because within the past few years, makeup reviewers have criticized certain beauty products for not being safe enough to use, however Summer Fridays customers seem to love the idea of using a sun-protected, clean lip balm.
The Safety of Products
Using harmful products can cause acne breakouts and inflation. However, Summer Fridays advocates the “safety” and “quality” of their products being used right on their website. Within their ingredients list, they promote one of their top ingredients, vegan waxes & butters such as Shea and Murumuru Seed. The company claims this is responsible for “soften and boost shine all day with a smooth, never-greasy texture that feels heaven sent”. Reassuring this safety aspect, SkinSafe found Summer Fridays lip balms to be 91% top allergen free.
Summer Fridays Reviews
Teenage girls within Shenendehowa High School East were able to be seen using the infamous Summer Fridays. We decided to ask them a few questions about it.
A popular topic of conversation was the feel of the balm. Gianna Winter explains her love for Summer Fridays is due to its “light pigment” and being “not as sticky as other glosses”. Gianna’s enthusiasm for the company continues on par for many of the other interviewed ladies as well.
“My favorite part is that it smells and tastes so good. I genuinely believe it is one of the best popular products on the market right now,” Maria Kokkinides adds.
Since becoming popular, Summer Fridays balm has been held at a high standard of $24. However, many of the ladies explained that they would not be willing to spend that much over a lip balm.
“I got my first Summer Fridays from a friend,” Megan Rogers commented. “I love the look of it but realistically, I don’t want to spend over $10”. Keeping up with the trends can be difficult and expensive as stated through the chatter of Shen’s Summer Fridays users.
“The Summer Fridays lip balm blew up and people don’t even know if it’s good. It’s too expensive,” ex Summer Fridays user Gabby Munafo said.
While some disagree whether the Summer Fridays lip balm is worth the hype, several teenage girls are still dwelling over the product, and keeping it in their bags at all times.
Where is Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm Available?
This balm can be found for $24 at Sephora, Amazon, Kohls, and the Summer Fridays website in a multitude of flavors!