Summer Fridays Just Dropped a Body Care Collection—and Everything Is Under $40
Our take
Summer Fridays’ expansion into body care, particularly with a collection mirroring their beloved lip balm scents, feels less like a random product launch and more like a carefully considered evolution of a brand already deeply attuned to the desires of the modern woman. The move, introducing body butters and mists in familiar fragrances, taps into a growing consumer appetite for cohesive, sensorial experiences—a desire we’ve previously explored in pieces like Before Luxury, There Is a Thread, which highlights the importance of intentionality and quality in crafting a luxurious feeling, and aligns perfectly with the current trend of extending beloved fragrances beyond their initial format. This isn't simply about layering scents; it's about cultivating an atmosphere, a feeling of enveloping comfort and understated elegance that resonates with the quiet luxury aesthetic we champion. The fact that the entire collection remains under $40 is a savvy decision, broadening accessibility without compromising the brand's aspirational appeal. It acknowledges that luxury isn’t solely about price point, but about the feeling it evokes and the quality of the experience.
The success of Summer Fridays, and brands like it, speaks to a broader shift in the beauty landscape. We’ve moved beyond the era of overtly flashy marketing and aggressive product pushes. Consumers, especially those who identify with the "modern muse" archetype, are seeking authenticity and a sense of belonging. This aligns with our previous coverage of iconic fragrances, like the one detailed in This Nostalgic French Perfume Just Became Even More Iconic, and It's About to Be on Everyone's Necks, where heritage and enduring appeal are paramount. Summer Fridays understands this; they've built a community around a core product—the lip balm—and are now expanding that community with complementary offerings that feel organic and true to the brand's ethos. The body care collection feels like a natural extension, not a desperate attempt to capture market share. It's about deepening the relationship with the customer, offering them a more complete ritual for self-care and sensory indulgence.
The pricing strategy is particularly noteworthy. While the luxury beauty space often leans into exclusivity and high price tags, Summer Fridays’ commitment to affordability allows a wider range of consumers to participate in the brand’s world. This doesn’t diminish the perceived luxury; instead, it democratizes it. It reinforces the idea that self-care and indulging in beautiful scents shouldn’t be reserved for a select few. This resonates deeply with the current cultural conversation around accessible luxury and the rejection of ostentatious displays of wealth. It’s a subtle but powerful message that speaks to a generation prioritizing experiences and mindful consumption over conspicuous branding. It echoes the sentiment explored in Almost 80 Years Later, Editors and Experts Still Consider This French Pharmacy Face Cream the Best, demonstrating that timeless efficacy and understated quality can hold enduring appeal.
Ultimately, Summer Fridays’ foray into body care isn't just about selling more products; it's about solidifying their position as a curator of modern, understated luxury. It's a testament to the power of building a brand on a foundation of quality, consistency, and a genuine understanding of the consumer's desires. The question now is: will other brands in the luxury space follow suit, embracing accessibility and prioritizing emotional connection over purely transactional relationships? Or will the market continue to be divided between the ultra-exclusive and the mass-market, leaving a void for brands that can authentically bridge the gap?
Summer Fridays is expanding its product offerings, and I have to say: the brand is about to have another hit on its hands. Launching today, August 7, the brand’s body collection takes its beloved lip balm scents and turns them into lush body butters and mists that anyone can wear.
“Body care offered a natural opportunity to expand our thoughtful approach to skincare into a more complete, head-to-toe experience,” Summer Fridays co-founder Marianna Hewitt tells me. “We saw an opportunity to bring thoughtful ingredients, effective hydration and an elevated sensorial element to a category that is such an important part of people’s daily routines.”
I got the opportunity to test the new body care line ahead of the launch, and in short? I genuinely love them. As for the product lineup, there are three body butters and three matching fragrance mists to choose from. The scents include vanilla, pink guava, and pistachio milk, perfect crowd-pleaser scents that will delight both a fragrance novice and expert nose equally, while also appeasing the body care snob that wants a luxurious sensorial experience.
I’ve found myself already playing favorites with the vanilla scent, but I do understand that not everyone is a die-hard vanilla lover like I am. So, I’ve done my due diligence and reviewed the full line so you can choose your own favorite formula and scent, perfect for fitting right into your existing scenting routine. The new collection is available to shop today, August 7, on Sephora.com and Summerfridays.com. If you can’t make it into stores immediately, keep reading to see my full review of the line ahead.
What Do the Summer Fridays Body Care Formulas Feel Like?
Starting with the body butters, I have to say that name is very apt. When I see squeeze tube packaging like the one this formula is housed in, I immediately expect a lighter, more lotion-like consistency, regardless of marketing claims. Imagine my surprise when I put this formula onto my hand, and it was rich, thick, and creamy—an actual body butter that provides deep, noticeable hydration for hours. (Seriously, my hands felt so supple even after washing them. The difference is stark.)
The perfume mists, on the other hand, are light on the skin but packed with incredibly realistic scents (the vanilla scent actually smells like a vanilla bean pod!). They’re so strong that it’s to the point where I’ve worn one by itself and, if I didn’t know any better, could have been convinced that it was an actual eau de parfum. I’ve come to realize that I also have fairly sensitive skin, so when I sprayed it directly onto my chest and had no reactions or even slight redness, it immediately became a winner in my book. Speaking of scents, the notes for each duo are as follows:
- Vanilla: Vanilla Cake, Tonka Bean, Fluffy Musk
- Pink Guava: Guava Nectar, Pink Strawberry, Pear Blossom
- Pistachio Milk: Pistachio Milk, Creamy Woods, Raspberry Sugar
What Ingredients Are In the Summer Fridays Body Care Formulas?
The deliciously emollient body butter formula was created with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and a trio of butters (shea, murumuru, and Illipe, to be exact). Don’t forget other moisturizers like jojoba oil and hydrators like glycerin, which round out the formulation and help it glide onto the skin with ease. These body butters are like a comforting hug for your skin wrapped up in some of the most decadent scents.
The ingredients for the mists vary by scent, but you can expect each composition to include classic fragrance chemicals like vanillin, rose ketones (a compound that creates a rose scent), and limonene (a citrus scent). Essentially, all the building blocks that make a fragrance actually have a scent instead of just being, well, water.
Is the Summer Fridays Body Care Line Worth It?
I am completely obsessed with this line and fully believe that it is worth adding to your body care and fragrance routines. The body butters truly provide long-lasting moisture, and the hours-long wear time appears to extend to the fragrance that they're scented with, too. When you top each moisturizer with its matching body mist, the scent it leaves behind will be potent enough to make you want to skip any other perfumes—it’s that strong. Still, if you want an entire room to smell you well after you’re gone, use it as a part of your fragrance layering routine, and I promise the compliments will be endless.
This is yet another A-plus launch from Summer Fridays. If you’re newer to the brand, while you're picking up the new body collection, tack on a few of my other favorites from the brand below.
Shop My Favorite Products From Summer Fridays
The product that started it all: the Lip Butter Balm is a must-have from Summer Fridays.
This Jet Lag Mask is fantastic for offering your skin deep hydration.
Every cream bronzer aficionado should try this formula.
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