Beauty influencers are taking over all social media platforms. There are YouTube videos, TikToks, Instagram Reels, and more, about what beauty products you “need” in your collection. One of the most popular products for these influencers to advertise is lipgloss. Lip products have taken over the internet. At times it can be difficult to know if they are worth buying. I tried two of the most popular lip products at Sephora to see if they were worth the money.
The Summer Fridays lip balm has been one of the most popular lip products of the year. The lip butter balm is $24 at Sephora, has 0.5 ounces of product, and is currently available in 8 shades. Each shade has a flavor to match.
“I like it [Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in pink sugar] because it makes my lips feel really good and it smells like sugar cookies,” Junior Lily Korpas said. “I bring it with me everywhere because it helps to hydrate and color my lips.”
I personally love the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm for when my lips are feeling dry, and I want to add a slight tint to my lips. The colors show up, but don’t expect an extremely bold shade on the lip. I would describe it more as a “your lips but better” look, with whatever color is chosen. The shades –in order from the image above– are vanilla (cream), vanilla beige (brown), brown sugar (dark brown), poppy (orange), pink sugar (light pink), cherry (red), sweet mint (clear), birthday cake (light pink shimmer).
The Tower 28 Lip Jelly is one of the more affordable lip products at Sephora, retailing at $16 for 0.13 ounces. There are 12 shades available in two different opacities, sheer and semi-sheer. The semi-sheer shades are more muted and milky, whereas the sheer shades are more vibrant. I like this product because it is quite moisturizing, even being a gloss formula instead of a balm. Unlike the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, the Tower 28 Lip Jelly is not flavored, so it may be less appetizing to lick the lips with this product on.
That said, I do love this product. I think the semi-sheer milky shades are a unique hybrid of lipgloss, unlike the classic sheer shades that most other brands have available. At $16 I think this product is great for everyday wear. The shades available –in order from the image above– are: chill (clear), xoxo (sheer pink), wild (sheer raspberry), fire (sheer orange), magic (clear with gold shimmer), spicy (sheer red), almond (semi-sheer milky chocolate), cashew (semi-sheer milky rosy brown), sesame (semi-sheer milky mauve), pistachio (semi-sheer milky nude pink), coconut (semi-sheer milky rosy pink), oat (semi-sheer milky peachy pink).
Overall I would say both of these products are a worthy investment. I think the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm is a better option if looking for a more hydrating product. It also has more product for a lower cost. I have had my Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm for about six months now, I use it daily, and still have multiple months worth of product left. I think the Tower 28 Lip Jelly has its place in the beauty world, but there can be only one winner, and that would be the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm. If you want to purchase this product, make sure to stop by the nearest Sephora before it sells out!
