Rhode Glazing Milk Review: Skincare Staple or Overhyped?
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In the era of full glam, I’m talking 2016 when velvet foundations and cool-toned contour reigned supreme, glowy skin was a no-go. The more matte the finish, the better. And any trace of shine was to be blotted immediately!
But now, as the ‘glass skin’ and ‘glazed donut skin’ trends gain momentum, we’ve seen a huge shift towards this dewy, minimalistic, skincare-first look.
It’s hard to say exactly when the tides turned – Glossier was certainly a frontrunner – but one thing’s for sure: Hailey Bieber’s beauty brand Rhode fully captures this no-makeup makeup aesthetic.
Rhode launched with three core skincare products: the Peptide Glazing Fluid, Barrier Restore Cream, and Peptide Lip Treatment. But it’s the drop that came after this, the Rhode Glazing Milk, that I’m going to be reviewing today.
Does it actually help you achieve glossy, hydrated skin? Or is it all just hype and good marketing? Let’s find out!
What is the Rhode Glazing Milk?
Rhode’s Glazing Milk is a lightweight essence that helps repair and protect the skin’s moisture barrier, and reduce redness. It’s got a creamy, milky texture, hence the name ‘Glazing Milk’, and a dewy, radiant finish.
Rhode describes this as an ‘essential prep step’ in your skincare routine. It’s meant to be applied straight after cleansing, but before all your other skincare products. This is basically the base layer which helps the other products you apply on top absorb into the skin.
Key ingredients
Looking at the ingredients list, before I even tried this product, I could tell that I was in for some serious nourishment. Here are just a few of the hydrating, skin-loving ingredients Rhode’s Glazing Milk contains:
- Ceramides – Lipids that help the skin retain water
- Beta-Glucan – A polysaccharide which soothes the skin and reduces redness
- Hyaluronic Acid – A humectant which draws moisture into the skin
- Magnesium, Zinc + Copper – Mineral salts which condition and soften the skin
Packaging
Like the rest of the Rhode skincare line, the Glazing Milk comes in a stone grey bottle, I’m not in love with the grey packaging – it’s not very exciting! But it still looks clean and uniform. And it is sort of nice that you have that distinction between the simple, functional skincare line in grey, and then the more colourful makeup offering.
This has a screw-off lid and you dispense the essence by shaking the bottle. Helpfully, there’s also a flow restrictor at the top so you get just the right amount of product.
How to use Rhode’s Glazing Milk
Rhode says to use this as the first step in your post-cleanse skincare routine, but I’ve seen people use this in a number of other ways too. Here are a few tips and tricks to get the most out of your Glazing Milk:
- Mix it in with your foundation ? – Add a little dewiness to your base by mixing in a few drops of this essence.
- Use it to sheer out your cream blush ? – Dab a bit of blush on the back of your hand and add in a drop or two of this Glazing Milk to make it even balmier.
- Mix it with liquid highlighter for an all-over glow ✨ – Combine this product with your favourite highlighter, then rub it into your décolletage and collarbones for an extra glazed look.
- Tap it in as a midday skin refresher ? – Pat a small amount into dry patches during the day to keep the skin looking plump and hydrated.
Texture and finish
It’s hard to explain the texture of Rhode’s Glazing Milk in words alone. Yes, it’s fluid and lightweight, but it also has a viscosity to it which gives it that moisturising quality.
Because it’s a richer essence, it does take slightly longer to absorb into the skin than a watery toner would. But it still layers nicely with other skincare and it doesn’t feel heavy on the face.
When it comes to finish, the glow from this product is pretty immediate. I get that coveted ‘glass skin’ look as soon as I pat it in – I honestly wasn’t expecting to see notice such a big difference straight away!
I love how quickly it hydrates my skin, and I notice that my makeup creases way less when I use this. It really does make my complexion look super dewy and healthy in a matter of minutes.
Price & where you can buy it
You can shop this exclusively from the Rhode website. It’s £32 for 4.2oz (120ml). Or you can grab a travel size (2.2oz/63ml) for £20.
Shipping is $6.95 in the US and £7 in the UK, but free if you spend over $45/£70.
Rhode Glazing Milk Review: Is it worth it?
I have to admit, I was a little sceptical before trying this Glazing Milk. It had been so hyped up online, and I just wasn’t sure that a toner/essence could make such significant changes to your skin!
But, having tested it for the past few months, I’m totally on board. Celebrity skincare lines often get slated but Rhode always has the ingredients to back it up. And I feel that this is such a strong formula, I’d 100% buy it even if it didn’t have Hailey Bieber’s name attached.
This does such a good job at hydrating the skin by itself, that I think combination and oily skin types could use this in place of a moisturiser. And for those with dry skin, this is such a great foundation for your hydrating skincare routine. You may still need a moisturiser on top but this Glazing Milk actually does quite a lot of the heavy lifting.
All that being said, I do think it’s very expensive for a toner/essence (though we’re not quite talking ILIA Base Face levels!), and I have actually noticed that the size has gone down since I bought my bottle. It was 4.7oz and now it’s 4.2oz.
I do really love this, so I would still buy it again – I just wish it wasn’t so pricey!
Affordable alternatives to Rhode’s Glazing Milk
If you love the idea of this hydrating essence, but would rather save your pennies, here are a few budget-friendly options that work just as well:
- Byoma Milky Toner (£11.99) – One of my favourite hydrating milky toners ever! This is so soothing and refreshing, and gives a similar ‘glass skin’ effect to Rhode’s Glazing Milk – just without the £32 price tag!
- The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner (£12.40) – A milky toner that hydrates and gently exfoliates at the same time. This one is slightly thinner and runnier than the Rhode one but provides just as much moisture.
- Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk (£15.50) – A great choice for oil skin. This milky toner also has a powder layer to absorb excess sebum and reduce shine.
Are you interested in trying the Rhode Glazing Milk? Are there any other Rhode skincare products that have caught your eye? Let me know in the comments!
