Beauty products that offer both short- and long-term benefits are becoming increasingly popular. Think foundation with built-in SPF, mascara that doubles as a lash serum, or tinted lip products that nourish. In the latter category, Summer Fridays has become the brand on everybody's lips, serving as a prime example of the makeup-skincare hybrid approach. Endorsed by celebrities like Sofia Richie Grainge and Alix Earle, its lip butter balm is its most popular product, a gloss that leaves a sheer tint while hydrating lips.
Given its cult status, budget beauty brands have begun launching cost-effective alternatives. Rimmel has formulated a £9 balm that is half the price of Summer Fridays' offering, and it might just be the perfect everyday gloss. I put both balms to the test to determine whether the higher price tag truly means better results.
How I Tested
I used both lip glosses for several weeks, trying a range of shades to find my favourites and least favourites. I wore them during busy workdays to see how they held up against coffee breaks and lunchtime sandwiches. I also took them on nights out, noting how often I needed to reapply. For a lip gloss to impress me, it must be hydrating but not sticky, shiny but not greasy, and it should not require constant reapplying. Scent and flavour also play a role.
Rimmel Oh My Gloss! Butter Me Up
Size: 15ml | Shades: Vanilla frost, bubblegum, coral breeze, latte delight, red velvet, mellow mocha | Vegan: Yes | My favourite shade: Latte delight
Rimmel describes this buttery gloss as its most advanced lip product yet. The formula includes skincare actives such as peptides, hyaluronic acid, and squalane for instant and long-lasting hydration. The unique angled applicator hugs the lips, making application foolproof and precise. I appreciated the lack of heavy fragrance or added flavour, and there was no stickiness. Colour performance varied: 'latte delight', a subtle brown neutral, was excellent, but more pigmented shades like 'mellow mocha' split and separated on my lips, requiring extra blending. While my lips felt nourished, I had to reapply frequently to maintain shine. At £10, the price is hard to beat, making it easy to buy multiple shades.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
Size: 15ml | Shades: Brown sugar, cherry, iced coffee, pink sugar, poppy, sweet mint, vanilla, vanilla beige | Vegan: Yes | My favourite shade: Brown sugar
I have been a fan of the Summer Fridays lip butter balm since my best lip glosses review. The neutral shades create a 'your lips but better' look with a nice sheen, and the buildable colour blends beautifully with lip liners. The formula contains shea butter and murumuru seed butter for conditioning, and a blend of vegan wax creates a shiny finish without greasiness. It lasts well without frequent reapplying. However, the glosses are heavily fragranced and flavoured; 'iced coffee' has an overpowering scent and taste that may put some off. The main drawback is the price: £23 for 15ml is steep, even with the minimalist cool-girl branding.
Is the Rimmel vs Summer Fridays Lip Balm Worth It?
This was a close call. Both brands share similar core ingredients, but the Summer Fridays formula leans towards a butterier, more hydrating finish with fewer fragrance-related components, meaning it looks and feels great and stays put longer. However, the Rimmel balm contains more skincare ingredients at higher concentrations, offering long-term benefits similar to a lip treatment. But the colours and shine are not as strong or flattering across the shade range. Ultimately, Summer Fridays balances style and substance better, but if you are not willing to spend over £20 on a lip product, Rimmel makes an excellent high street alternative.
