Brand Breakdown: Is Rhode Skin a Clean Beauty Brand?
Background on Rhode Skin
If you are unfamiliar with Rhode Skin, this is Hailey Bieber’s skincare company which was launched during the summer of 2022. Hailey has taken the internet by storm from her donut glazed skin to nails, which is no surprise she partnered with Krispy Kreme for her most recent campaign. Her “clean girl” aesthetic can be seen all over instagram and pinterest, much of which she prides in is from her beauty brand.
Is Rhode Skincare as clean as they claim to be? We reviewed the brand to find out.
How we Rank the Brand
Green Heart – We approve of this brand’s products and they contain zero known toxins.
Yellow Heart – We approve of most ingredients in this brand’s products, they might contain some toxins or known allergies.
Red Heart – We suggest you proceed with caution and limit your exposure and use to this brand’s products as there are toxins present.
Ingredients of Rhode
Rhode states their products are formulated with high global standards and are developed in partnership with our team of award-winning dermatologists and chemists to bring you “clean, wearable products that glaze your skin with goodness.” “Though we are direct-to-consumer, our ingredient lists are in line with the clean standards specified by third-party retailers such as Sephora and ULTA.”
They state their formulations are “for sensitive skin, our skincare uses high-performance ingredients at efficacious levels to hydrate the skin barrier and give you a glazed finish.”
Below you will see a snapshot of Rhode’s popular Peptide Lip Treatment.
Breaking Down the Ingredients
Rhode’s values are built on “Simplicity, Affordability, Authenticity, Quality, and Transparency. 100% honest, no BS.” To which we say, there is a little BS in these products.
Phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that’s used in skincare products to prevent bacteria growth. It’s considered safe for use in small concentrations, but some people may be sensitive to it as it can cause irritation to skin, eyes, and lungs.
Polyethylene glycols (PEGs)
PEGs are manufactured with carcinogenic ethylene oxide whose traces may remain in the final product.
Chlorphenesin
Chlorphenesin is toxic to human meibomian gland epithelial cells (in the eyelids), may cause skin and/or eye irritation, and might be bioaccumulative, and toxic.
Benzyl Alcohol
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol that occurs naturally in some essential oils. BA can dry out the skin and cause allergies.
Polysorbates
Polysorbates are a type of ethoxylated ingredient. They are widely used surfactants in formulations and also used as an emulsifier in cosmetic creams, lotions, hair sprays, & skin-aging creams, etc. In other words, it is used to help mix oil and water. Polysorbates are not problematic on their own, but when they used for cosmetic reasons, they are treated with ethylene oxide. Products treated with ethylene oxide frequently have traces of 1,4 dioxane which is a carcinogen.
Fragrance / Parfum
Fragrance is usually a combination of numerous ingredients, some of which can be allergenic and endocrine disruptive especially those like Citronellol, Geraniol, or Linalool, Limonene if they are not derived from pure essential oils. Also, phthalates are likely to be present. There are several different phthalates and some of them are possible carcinogens and hormone disruptors such as styrene.
Going Beyond Beauty
Sustainability
Rhode’s bottles, tubes, caps are made with post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials and their boxes are made in a “zero-waste” environment. They also offer a complimentary recycling program where you can ship back at least 3 empty products.
Giving Back
Rhode does have a give back program called Rhode Futures Foundation. The Rhode Futures Foundation is investing in and supporting 1000 women* and their families by 2023. They partner with three organizations that provide women, especially women of color, with the resources needed to direct their own futures: Accion Opportunity Fund, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, and the LIFT Family Goal Fund. Rhode has committed a minimum of 1% of sales to support their efforts and the women they serve.
Cruelty- Free/ Vegan
Rhode is certified cruelty free and vegan.
Certified Organic
Rhode is not certified organic.
Where is it Manufactured
We were unable to find out where Rhode is manufactured.
Parent Company
Rhode is not owned by a parent company.
Owned By/ CEO
Hailey Bieber. CEO is Melanie Bender.
Final Rating:
While Rhode is not the worst skincare brand we have reviewed, we don’t think it is worth it. We believe this brand is trying to capitalize on a cash grab of the “clean beauty” market that has been sweeping the headlines, which a lot of celebrities fall accustom to. A lot of their ingredients, while may be safe, are manufactured or synthetic, to which we dislike. We believe there are better and cleaner brands that offer better results.
Overall, due to limited toxicities, we would recommend this Brand, with some precautions.
Disclaimer: It is with every attempt to identify all the potentially harmful ingredients of this brand but we cannot guarantee that all were covered. This post is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, pain, injury, deformity, or physical or mental condition. Individual results of using the products may vary. Any issues with the product should be resolved with the products manufacturer or retailer. Some links may also be affiliate.
Approved Products:
Peptide Glazing Fluid
Peptide Lip Treatment (unflavored only)
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