I tested Trader Joe's $7 alternative to Summer Fridays' $24 lip butter balm. The results were unexpected.

Summer Fridays has made quite a name for itself with its viral lip butter balm. This non-sticky balm has received high praise in beauty circles and on TikTok since 2020, thanks to its glossy finish that resembles a shiny glaze.

However, the $24 price tag for a single tube is a bit beyond my usual budget for lip care.

Fortunately, as a makeup artist, I've discovered numerous budget-friendly alternatives that mimic the ingredients and effects of pricier options. Trader Joe's $7 dual-flavor pack of lip butter balm recently piqued my interest.

To truly determine their similarities, I decided to purchase both products for a direct comparison.

The allure of owning a Summer Fridays balm

Purchasing my Summer Fridays balm took me to Sephora.

There's a certain prestige associated with shopping for skincare and cosmetics from upscale stores. Browsing the various balm options was part of the experience.

Summer Fridays offers their lip butter balm in eight distinct shades and scents, including vanilla, sweet mint, pink sugar, iced coffee, vanilla beige, brown sugar, cherry, and poppy.

Sweet mint was my choice as it seemed closest to a flavor available at Trader Joe's and appeared as the most neutral shade, ideal for an unbiased comparison.

The purchase set me back $24 for a 0.5-ounce tube.

Instant savings with Trader Joe's offering

In contrast, Trader Joe's represented a busy, everyday shopping environment.

The convenience of grabbing the lip balms while grocery shopping was undeniable.

The cost? Just $7 for a total of 1.04 ounces across two flavors (0.5 ounces each): vanilla mint and brown sugar.

Significantly, Trader Joe's balm is a better bargain. Per ounce, Summer Fridays costs about $48 compared to Trader Joe's approximate rate of $6.73.

Observations on packaging

Each balm comes in a matte, mint-green tube that is visually appealing.

While Summer Fridays uses a thinner design with a contrasting white cap, both styles fit effortlessly into small pockets, crucial for portable lip care.

Scent comparison revealed no differences

To my nose, the minty fragrance from both Trader Joe's and Summer Fridays was indistinguishable.

A sweet undertone softened the minty zest in both, a feature I appreciated.

A close look at the ingredients

Examining the label on each product, I found barely any disparity in the makeup of their formulas. Particularly, the main ingredients were virtually the same.

Dermatologist input confirmed that ingredients like shea butter, tocopherol (vitamin E), and sodium hyaluronate were shared, contributing to similar hydration effects.

Shea butter is noted for its rich fatty acids that nourish the lips, tocopherol serves as an antioxidant aiding moisture retention, and sodium hyaluronate acts as a humectant providing lip hydration.

Application experience and texture

Both brands allowed for a seamless application on bare lips or over existing lip products for added shine.

The applicator’s shape conformed well to my lips, enhancing the experience.

A minor observation was that Summer Fridays' balm had a slightly thicker texture.

Conclusion: Economical choice acknowledged

I experimented with each balm for three days, giving ample time between uses to ensure an unbiased test.

Both indeed kept my lips suitably moisturized, aiding in the healing of dryness.

I noticed I applied Summer Fridays less frequently, possibly due to variations in my daily routine and environmental exposure.

While Summer Fridays offers unique shades that some might be attached to, for the basic clear version, I struggled to find a tasting difference.

Ultimately, I’m more inclined to stretch my dollars by opting for the Trader Joe's two-pack alternative in the future.