I slathered this on my crusty January lips for 30 days straight. My boyfriend called it “cherry chapstick with a trust fund.”
But here’s the thing — my usual $4 tube wasn’t cutting it after skiing. And Hailey’s face is everywhere. So I caved.
It’s a $16 peptide lip treatment from Rhode. The brand claims it’s “clinically shown to hydrate for 24 hours” — which is a big flex for something that smells like a melted Jolly Rancher.
The Glide
Feels like butter that’s been left out too long — slick, not sticky.
The Scent
Salty vanilla. Like a candle at Sephora that costs $60.
The Applicator
Standard squeeze tube. No fancy doe foot. You’ll get it under your nails.
Photo: Kaeme / Unsplash
It’s basically a hydration sandwich. Shea butter on top, peptides in the middle, and a bunch of oils holding it together. The peptides are the headline act — they’re supposed to plump by signaling collagen production. But in a balm? It’s more of a nice-to-have than a game-changer.
- Peptides (Tripeptide-1): Signals skin to hold more water — mildly plumping
- Shea Butter: Thick occlusive that seals moisture in
- Bakuchiol: Plant retinol alternative — gentle smoothing over time
- Jojoba Oil: Mimics skin’s natural sebum — absorbs fast
Photo: Viktoriia Muzyka / Unsplash
First application: immediately glossy. Like I’d dipped my lips in honey but without the stick. It sits on top for about 20 minutes before sinking in. My cat licked it off my chin once and didn’t die.
Week two hit and I got bored. It’s fine. Good, even. But not magical. What surprised me: it actually fixed my peeling corners by day 18. That’s the shea butter doing real work, not the peptides.
Photo: Jocelyn Morales / Unsplash
My lips were softer. Less flaky. But not visibly plumper. The hydration lasted about 4 hours, not 24. Honest.
Photo: Sonia Roselli / Unsplash
It’s a good lip balm that celebrity hype made great. Buy it for the texture, not the peptides. Your wallet and your chapped lips will have a civil conversation.