3 Editors Test the Rhode Peptide Lip Shape—and Here’s Our Honest Review

L-R: Marissa Wu wears "Lean" with Versed Tinted Lip Serum in "Baked," only with liner, hours wearing lip combo

The lip shade fits Rhode’s aesthetic: minimal, compact and neutral. It just screams clean girl aesthetic. I was surprised by the tube’s thickness in comparison to my sleeker, thinner lip liners. However, it packed a ton of product that can last quite a while. We all agreed that the twist function was seamless for getting more of the product. As Wu shares, “I like the twist function—I recently destroyed a lip pencil with the wrong sized sharpener, so taking that out of the equation was 10/10.”

While Wu wished the lip tool was sharper, we all appreciate how it glides smoothly along our lips. The pointer is much more circular, so those with thinner lips might have a hard time getting a finer, more defined look. It comes in 11 shades that we found were creamy and buildable. Mason adds, “The liner glided on smoothly and it was easy to roll up for more product, and then blend out with the silicone smudger at the bottom. Rhode’s formula feels smooth, has a thick pencil tip (more like a lip crayon), and is more for everyday use and wear. I like wearing it if I want a subtle or softer look on the lips.”

L-R: Chelsea Candelario wears "Balance" with Rhode Peptide Lip Tint in "espresso," only with liner, hours wearing lip combo

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the smudger. TikTok was in an uproar about this additional tool plunked onto the bottom of the lip shaper. The silicone tool is meant to diffuse the color and tidy up the edges—and honestly, it was meh. I use it to clean up my lips, but since it’s so easy to wipe away product, my fingers were just as fine. Mason wasn’t a big fan of it either, writing, “I’ve had to recap it a few times after it uncapped in my bag, and honestly, I could do without it. I’m fine with simply using a brush or my finger.” As one creator noted, the smudger could’ve easily been replaced for another shade and Rhode, I hope you’re listening!  

L-R: Courtney Mason wears "flex" with Clarins Lip Oil in "Iconic Red," only with liner, hours wearing lip combo

Formula wise, all three of us agreed how comfortable it felt on our lips. I would describe it more as a soft matte finish, so I personally can’t see myself filling in my lips entirely with just the lip shaper. I think it works better at lining (or over-lining) your lips before pairing it with a lip oil or tinted lip balm for more hydration. But when it comes to longevity, it’s not transfer- or smudge-proof. The staying power is non-existent. If you drink or eat, you’ll have to be prepared to reapply throughout the day. 

“I've worn it all day a few times! I like more neutral lip liners because they fade over the day/eating etc, and then you're left with a very natural, intentional looking and thinner outline of the lips at the EOD if you didn't reapply, instead of looking like you really need to reapply,” she says. Similar to Wu’s sentiment, the shades all complemented our skin tones, so whether we reapplied or not, our color didn’t look too outlandish to sport on its own. 

After weeks of testing, we concluded that the Rhode peptide lip shaper gets a 88 out of 100. It has potential with how pigmented the shades are on our lips and how it glides smoothly to outline our pout. “It's a winner in terms of wearability as someone whose lips are very dry (like, I generally avoid matte products). As someone who doesn't wear a ton of makeup, this is user friendly and approachable,” adds Wu.

However, the staying power doesn’t hold up to the $24 price tag. It can easily smudge and be wiped away in an instant. I wish it settled better and it didn’t budge (possibly a waterproof, long-lasting one in the future?). For Wu, she wished it had a finer point—though Mason felt the complete opposite. “It’s a good lip product for everyday use, and I would definitely reach for it again. Sometimes, I don’t want to use a lip liner that I need to be precise with, and this one does the job of adding some definition to the lips in a pinch,” says Mason. 

This lip shaper is not turning the wheel, but we don’t completely rule it out. If you’re looking for a subtle finish, a range of shades for all skin tones and hydrating formula for dry lips, go for it. But if you want more staying power and a tool sans a smudger, I suggest keeping this one on the shelf. 

Fast Facts

• Shades: 11
• Key Ingredients: peptides, fenugreek extract