Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment vs Summer Fridays: Which Is Worth It?

If you've been going back and forth between the Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment and the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, you're not alone. Both are cult-favorite lip products, both sell out constantly, and both cost around $16–$20. But they are not the same thing – and picking the wrong one for your routine will leave you frustrated.

Before I get into the breakdown, a few posts worth reading alongside this one: my full Rhode Caffeine Reset and Peptide Lip Boost review covers the newest Rhode lip additions in detail, while my Summer Fridays lip products review breaks down their entire lip line beyond just the Lip Butter Balm. If you're building a complete lip routine, my guide on the best affordable lip liners pairs well with both of these products. And if you're curious how these fit into a full no-makeup makeup look, my no-makeup makeup guide walks through exactly how I layer both.

What Is the Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment?

The Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment is Hailey Bieber's brand's signature lip product – a clear, peptide-infused balm that comes in a small glass pot with a spatula applicator. It launched in 2022 and became immediately sold out everywhere.

The formula centers around peptides, shea butter, and baobab oil. The peptide complex is meant to support lip elasticity and improve texture over time with daily use. It's not a treatment you use once and see results – it's a commitment to a routine.

Rhode has since expanded the lip line with the Peptide Lip Boost and Caffeine Reset lip masks, but the original Peptide Lip Treatment remains the brand's core product. Price: $16 for 10ml.

What Is the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm?

The Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm launched in 2021 and became one of the most talked-about lip products of the past few years. It's a shea butter and murumuru butter-based balm that comes in a twist-up tube format with a wide shade range.

The Lip Butter Balm sits between a lip balm and a sheer lipstick. It has real color payoff – enough to wear alone – while still delivering the moisturizing benefits of a balm. The formula is fragrance-forward, with a warm vanilla scent most people either love or find distracting.

Summer Fridays recently expanded the line with the Vanilla Beige and several new seasonal shades. Current price: $24 for 4.2g.

How Do the Ingredients Compare?

The biggest difference between these two products sits in their ingredient philosophy. Rhode is skincare-first; Summer Fridays is comfort and color-first.

Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment key ingredients: Tripeptide-1 (the peptide complex), shea butter, baobab seed oil, castor oil, and hydrogenated vegetable oil. No fragrance. No added color. The formula is deliberately minimal.

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm key ingredients: Shea butter, murumuru seed butter, mango seed butter, squalane, and vitamin E. It also contains synthetic fragrance (the vanilla scent), which is worth noting if you have sensitive or reactive lips.

If you're avoiding fragrance in your lip products – especially if you have chronic dry or chapped lips – Rhode's unfragranced formula is the safer choice. If fragrance doesn't bother you and you want more emollient comfort, Summer Fridays wins on texture richness.

How Do They Feel and Look on the Lips?

Rhode has a glossy, almost balm-like finish that is lighter than Summer Fridays. It sinks in quickly and doesn't feel sticky. The glass pot makes application slightly less convenient than a tube – you need the spatula or your finger.

Summer Fridays has a butter-soft, melting texture that feels noticeably richer on application. The finish is glossier and the color shades add warmth or definition depending on which you pick. The Vanilla Beige shade is the most universally flattering, in my testing.

On dry, chapped lips, Summer Fridays provides more immediate relief because of the higher butter content. Rhode works better as a preventative product – apply it consistently and your lips stop getting as chapped in the first place.

How Did I Test Both Products?

I tested both products simultaneously over six weeks in early 2026 – alternating them morning and night to compare results under the same conditions. I wore Rhode in the morning under makeup and Summer Fridays in the evening and on weekends when I wanted a tinted option.

I also tested both during a period of dry winter weather in LA (January–February 2026), which is when lip products are most challenged. Both performed well in terms of comfort. The difference came down to what I needed them to do.

I currently use both in rotation: Rhode for my morning skincare routine as a treatment step, Summer Fridays when I want a wearable lip look without reaching for a full lipstick. That's the honest answer.

Rhode vs Summer Fridays – Side by Side

Who Should Buy Which One?

Buy Rhode if: you want a fragrance-free formula, you're using a lip product as part of a skincare routine, you primarily wear it under lip liner or lipstick, or you want to improve lip texture over time rather than just moisturize in the moment.

Buy Summer Fridays if: you want color with your moisture, you prefer a tube format over a pot, you love a rich buttery texture, or you want one product that works as your full lip look without anything else. Pair it with a good lip liner and it becomes a genuinely complete lip combination.

Buy both if: you're a lip product person (you know who you are). Rhode works as your morning treatment step; Summer Fridays works as your everyday wear. They do not compete – they complement.

Mistakes to Avoid With Both

Using Rhode over lipstick. The formula is clear and light, which means it won't add color or significant gloss on top of a matte lipstick. Use it underneath as a base or on bare lips. Summer Fridays layers better over color.

Expecting immediate results from Rhode. The peptide claims are about long-term texture improvement. If you buy it expecting your lips to look different in three days, you'll be disappointed. The results come from consistent daily use over several weeks.

Forgetting Summer Fridays contains fragrance. If you have sensitive lips or tend to develop contact dermatitis around your mouth, patch test the Summer Fridays formula first. The vanilla fragrance is the most common reason people react to it.

Skipping the spatula on Rhode. Dipping your finger into the pot repeatedly introduces bacteria and breaks down the formula faster. Use the spatula every time or decant a small amount before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rhode better than Summer Fridays?

Neither is objectively better – they do different things. Rhode is a skincare treatment that improves lip texture over time. Summer Fridays is a comfort balm with real color payoff for everyday wear. If you want skincare results, choose Rhode. If you want a beautiful daily lip product you can wear alone, choose Summer Fridays.

Can you layer Rhode under Summer Fridays?

Yes, and it actually works well. Apply Rhode first as a base, let it absorb for a minute or two, then apply Summer Fridays on top. You get the peptide treatment benefits from Rhode and the color and gloss from Summer Fridays. It adds maybe 90 seconds to your routine and the results look noticeably better than either product alone.

Is the Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment worth the hype?

Yes – with realistic expectations. It will not transform your lips in a week. Used daily for four or more weeks, most people notice smoother texture, fewer dry patches, and lips that chap less easily. The peptide formula is genuinely different from a standard balm. It's worth it if you're committed to using it consistently.

Which has better color payoff – Rhode or Summer Fridays?

Summer Fridays, by a significant margin. Rhode's shades are nearly all clear or extremely sheer. Summer Fridays has over 15 shades ranging from clear to rich berry, with real pigment that reads as color on the lips. If color matters to you, Summer Fridays wins this category.

Does Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm feel sticky?

Not in the way most glosses feel sticky. It's buttery and slightly glossy but it does not feel tacky on the lips or transfer heavily when drinking. The finish dries down within a few minutes to a comfortable satin-gloss. It's one of the reasons people replace it repeatedly – it hits a texture sweet spot most lip products miss.

How long does one Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment last?

About three to four months with daily use, assuming you use the spatula and don't over-apply. The 10ml pot looks tiny but the formula is concentrated enough that a thin layer is all you need. Compared to the $24 Summer Fridays at 4.2g, Rhode is actually better value per application.

Is Rhode cruelty-free and vegan?

Rhode is cruelty-free. The Peptide Lip Treatment is also vegan – no animal-derived ingredients. Summer Fridays is also cruelty-free, but not all products in their line are vegan (some contain beeswax). The Lip Butter Balm specifically is vegan.

Can I use the Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment overnight?

Yes – and it works well as an overnight treatment. Apply a slightly thicker layer before bed and you will wake up with noticeably softer lips. If you want a heavier overnight lip mask, the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is more occlusive and better suited to very dry lips overnight. Rhode is lighter and better for nightly maintenance.

Where can I buy both products?

Both are available at Sephora in-store and online, as well as on their respective brand websites (rhodeskin.com and summerfridays.com). As of May 2026, Rhode is also available at select Target locations. Summer Fridays is more widely stocked across beauty retailers.

Which is better for under makeup?

Rhode. The lightweight, fast-absorbing formula creates a smooth base for lip liner and lipstick without causing them to feather or slip. Summer Fridays is slightly too emollient to wear under matte lipsticks – the high butter content can break down a matte formula within an hour. For under-makeup use, Rhode is the clear choice.

Final Thoughts

After six weeks testing both side by side, my honest answer is this: Rhode changed my lips long-term and Summer Fridays makes my lips look good right now. Those are two different jobs.

If you're choosing one and you're new to premium lip products, start with Summer Fridays. The immediate results are more satisfying and the color options make it more versatile day-to-day. If you already have a solid lip routine and you want to add a real skincare step, Rhode is the upgrade worth making.

At Layers of Beauty, the products I return to are always the ones that do their job without a lot of drama. Both Rhode and Summer Fridays earn a place in the routine – just at different moments in it. Understanding what each product is actually for is how you stop wasting money chasing the one perfect thing and start building a routine that actually works.