Australia's Beauty Authority · April 2026 Sign in Premium Newsletter
Vol. 01 · Issue 04 Glow. Australia · Est. 2014
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Drunk Elephant vs Summer Fridays.

Two of the most-Instagrammed premium skincare brands in the AU market. Drunk Elephant leads on actives and the 'biocompatible' positioning; Summer Fridays leads on hydration and the editorial-aesthetic brand voice.

Two of the most-Instagrammed premium skincare brands in the AU market. Drunk Elephant leads on actives and the 'biocompatible' positioning; Summer Fridays leads on hydration and the editorial-aesthetic brand voice. Both brands are reviewed independently in The Glow's archive — see the Drunk Elephant review and the Summer Fridays review for the full editorial breakdown of each. The comparison below is the head-to-head across the dimensions that matter most when cross-shopping.

Head-to-head.

CriterionDrunk ElephantSummer FridaysWinner
The Glow score8.4/108.0/10Drunk Elephant
Category positionCult premiumCult premiumTie (different positions)
Price tierPremium ($45–$110)Premium ($45–$110)Tie
Australian retail availabilityMecca, Sephora AUMecca, Sephora AUTie
Brand voiceDrunk Elephant's established brand registerSummer Fridays's established brand registerTie (preference)
Best single productSee full reviewSee full reviewTie
Editorial verdictBuy with confidenceBuy with confidenceDrunk Elephant

Pick by.

First-time buyer in this category
Drunk Elephant — higher overall Glow score in this comparison.
Sensitive skin
Read the individual reviews for sensitivity notes on each brand.
Budget priority
The lower-priced brand in your local retailer wins on raw budget — but check value-for-formulation in our individual reviews.
Premium / result-led shopper
Drunk Elephant — the higher Glow score reflects formulation depth and brand credibility at the premium tier.
Easiest to find in Australia
Both have established AU distribution.

Frequently asked questions.

Drunk Elephant or Summer Fridays — which is better?
Drunk Elephant scored 8.4/10 and Summer Fridays scored 8.0/10 in The Glow's testing. They are very close. Both are credible buys. Choose by category position, price tier, and brand voice — see the head-to-head table above for the full breakdown.
Where can I buy Drunk Elephant and Summer Fridays in Australia?
Drunk Elephant: see our Drunk Elephant review for current AU stockists. Summer Fridays: see our Summer Fridays review for current AU stockists. Both are widely available in Australia through their respective retail channels.
Is Drunk Elephant or Summer Fridays better value?
Value depends on what you're optimising for. Per-ml pricing, formulation depth at the price point, and longevity of use all factor in. The 'value' answer is rarely the cheapest — it's the product that earns its price tier. See our individual reviews for the editorial value-for-money score on each brand.
Can I use both Drunk Elephant and Summer Fridays?
Yes — they're typically not in direct conflict at the routine level. Most users have at least 2–3 different brands across their routine for category-specific reasons. Mixing brands is the norm in evidence-based skincare.