If you’ve spent any time on beauty TikTok or Instagram, you’ve definitely seen both of these everywhere. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm and the Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment have become two of the most talked-about lip products online. They both promise glossy hydration and come from female-founded brands. But more importantly, which one is worth your money?
As a beauty editor who’s tested a lot of lip balms over the years, I wanted to go beyond the hype and break this down properly—from ingredients and texture to wear, value, and how they actually feel on the lips. That’s why I created my series called The Lip Balm Chronicles. I’ve worn both, rotated through multiple shades, and paid attention to what makes me reach for one over the other.
Here’s everything you need to know before you add one (or both) to your cart.
Here are the Common Ingredients:
Both lip balms have a classic emollient-wax structure designed to seal in moisture and add shine.
- Hydrogenated Polyisobutene & Polybutene – lightweight synthetic emollients that mimic oils, giving that smooth, glassy finish without stickiness
- Diisostearyl Malate – a conditioning agent that improves slip and softness
- Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii) – nourishing, occlusive, and great for dry lips
- Microcrystalline Wax + Synthetic Wax – structure and longevity, so the balm doesn’t melt instantly
- Octyldodecanol – a fatty alcohol that softens and improves spreadability
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol) – antioxidant support
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm Treatment: Comfort first
Summer Fridays leans into a soothing, nourishing lip balm approach with fewer “actives” and more focus on texture and wear.
Notable ingredients:
- Murumuru Seed Butter – deeply conditioning and rich, ideal for dry or compromised lips
- Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid) – helps attract moisture for surface-level hydration
- Shea Butter – reinforces barrier protection
- Fragrance & colour pigments – contribute to the sensory experience and tinted finish
READ: The Lip Balm Chronicles: Testing the Dior Addict Lip Glow Balm
My experience wearing Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm:
The Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm is noticeably thicker. It has a richer, more cushiony feel that immediately coats the lips and stays put. I own Iced Coffee, Birthday Cake, and Cherry, and I keep reaching for Iced Coffee the most. The scent of coffee genuinely brings me immense joy. It has more of a sheer wash of colour compared to the Rhode Peptide Lip Tint. Overall, this formula feels more nourishing and comforting.
Rhode Peptide Lip Tint: Treatment-Driven Hydration
Rhode’s formula takes a more skincare-inspired approach, layering in actives designed to support long-term lip health. The biggest difference is that Rhode’s formula contains peptides.
Standout ingredients:
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 – a peptide often used to support skin barrier repair and smoothness
- Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C derivative) – antioxidant support
- Cupuaçu Butter & Babassu Oil – rich, nourishing plant butters that improve elasticity
- Tocopheryl Acetate – a stabilized form of vitamin E
- Lactic Acid – helps maintain pH and mild surface smoothing
My experience wearing the Rhode Peptide Lip Tint & Treatment
Rhode’s Peptide Lip Treatment, before they reformulated it, feels thinner. It wears more like a lip gloss with benefits. That’s not to say it didn’t hydrate; my lips still felt moisturized, but the effect wasn’t as nourishing as Summer Fridays or even some of my other lip balms. I own Ribbon and Espresso, and I experienced the issue many others had where the formula became grainy and small balls formed when applying the product. The brand did acknowledge this and reformulated the product. The tint is slightly more pigmented than the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, making it feel almost more like a gloss.
However, their reformulated version does feel more moisturizing. I have the limited-edition Lemontini shade from the reformulated batch, and the difference is noticeable. The texture is smoother, and it has a citrus-y lemon scent that immediately reminds me of a strawberry lemon cake I used to make. Also, it has gold shimmer in it, which is a fun added element.
Check Out What the Lip Balms Look Like On:
How Branding Influences Which Lip Balm We Reach For
You can’t really compare Summer Fridays and Rhode without talking about their branding. Both brands are incredibly smart with marketing—not loud or gimmicky, just intentional. A big part of that comes down to how they use food and dessert imagery to sell a feeling, not just a lip balm.
Rhode, in particular, has mastered this. Glossy lips styled next to espresso cups, pastries, or citrus desserts aren’t random—they’re carefully curated to evoke comfort and indulgence. The product starts to feel like a treat rather than a purchase, tapping into that familiar “feel-good” moment we associate with food.
There’s also a subtle shift in how we perceive price. Pairing a lip treatment with something as everyday as a coffee or croissant makes it feel more approachable—less like a splurge and more like a small indulgence we deserve. Rhode built upon the already existing fascination with Hailey Bieber’s beauty routine and minimalist aesthetic, turning it into a carefully curated brand identity.
Summer Fridays takes a similar approach. Many of their lip balms are named after foods like Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Iced Coffee, Birthday Cake, and Cherry, and the scents actually match the names, which helps evoke a feeling. On Instagram, the brand reinforces this with visuals of the balms styled on vanities, on bathroom sinks, or casually tossed into everyday bags. It all feels familiar, comforting, and easy to imagine as part of your daily routine.
Final Verdict: Which One Should You Get?
If you’re choosing purely based on value, Summer Fridays comes out ahead. It’s $32.50 for 15 g, while Rhode is $30 for 10 ml, so even though Summer Fridays costs slightly more, you’re actually getting more product for the price.
Formula-wise, both lip balms do what they promise: they moisturize, feel comfortable, and add shine. That said, I personally notice more of a difference with Summer Fridays. It feels richer, more nourishing, and more comforting on my lips, especially when they’re dry. Over time, it’s the one I keep reaching for without thinking.
There’s also a personal preference factor here. I genuinely love the Summer Fridays brand, and the thicker texture, food-inspired scents, and overall experience just work better for me. While Rhode still hydrates and delivers that glossy finish, Summer Fridays feels like it does a little more.
The takeaway:
- Choose Summer Fridays if you want a thicker, more nourishing lip balm and better value per gram.
- Choose Rhode if you prefer a lighter, glossier feel with skincare-style ingredients.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm Treatment
Rhode Peptide Lip Tint Nourishing Glaze
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