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 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.
| Criterion | Drunk Elephant | Summer Fridays | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLOW score | 8.4/10 | 8.0/10 | Drunk Elephant |
| Category position | Cult premium | Cult premium | Tie (different positions) |
| Price tier | Premium ($45–$110) | Premium ($45–$110) | Tie |
| Australian retail availability | Mecca, Sephora AU | Mecca, Sephora AU | Tie |
| Brand voice | Drunk Elephant's established brand register | Summer Fridays's established brand register | Tie (preference) |
| Best single product | See full review | See full review | Tie |
| Editorial verdict | Buy with confidence | Buy with confidence | Drunk 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 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.