Swap Summer Fridays’ £23 lip balm for this affordable Rimmel formula

Rimmel describes this buttery gloss as its most advanced lip product yet. The formula includes skincare actives such as peptides, hyaluronic acid and squalane, which work to add instant and long-lasting hydration.

For me, the unique applicator shape was one of the main selling points of this buttery gloss. Its severe hooked angle hugged my lips as I applied it, making for foolproof and precise application. I also enjoyed the lack of any heavy fragrance or added flavour. There was also no stickiness, which is always appreciated, especially on windy days.

Colour-wise, I found performance differed between the shades. My favourite was ‘latte delight’, a subtle brown neutral that could go from looking practically clear to the perfect moody autumnal shade once combined with a lip liner or given an extra coat. However, the more heavily pigmented shades struggled. For instance, the purple-hued ‘mellow mocha’ split and separated on my lips, requiring some blending and fiddling to get an even colour. I also found that while my lips felt super nourished, I did have to reapply quite frequently to maintain that shiny sheen and hydrated feeling.

Something I can’t argue with, though, is the price. It is at a much more reasonable price point than Summer Fridays’s formula, meaning I found myself to be much more likely to buy multiple shades to find my perfect fit.

I have been a big fan of the Summer Fridays lip butter balm since trialling it in my best lip glosses review. I struggle to fault it - the neutral shades, while not as pigmented as traditional lip glosses, create a nice sheen for a ‘your lips but better’ look. It’s also easy to find a colour that complements different skin tones. The gloss also blends beautifully with lip liners, thanks to its buildable colour. It’s a great pick for a lip product that can take you from day to night with ease.

The formula contains shea butter and murumuru seed butter, which soothe and condition lips for a healthier and more hydrated pout. A unique blend of vegan wax is used to create the shiny sheen, and I experienced no greasy residue. Even better, I didn’t find that I needed to reapply frequently.

It is important to note that these glosses come heavily fragranced and flavoured with strong hints of vanilla, brown sugar, cherry and coffee. The ‘iced coffee’ shade, for example, has an overpowering scent and taste – even though the colour is quite gorgeous, I couldn't get past the sickly effect. My other gripe with the lip butter balms is the price point. For a 15ml lip balm, it is pretty pricey, even if it does come with minimalist cool girl branding.