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Rhode’s Peptide Lip Shape has caused quite a stir online, people aren’t really sure what to make of it. Here’s the thing, despite how it looks, this isn’t a lip liner – it’s a lip shaper.
I watched Robert Welsh’s review of this product and he made a really great point. In the Asian beauty world, this type of lip contour has been around for a while. Brands like Judydoll, Rom&nd and Unleashia are well-loved for their chunky lip pencils, which are supposed to offer a soft, blurred outline, not sharpness or definition.
This type of product is still quite new to a western audience, which is why lots of people were expecting a classic lip liner… and this isn’t quite that!
Continuing the ‘no-makeup makeup’ feel of Rhode’s other makeup products, the Peptide Lip Shape is very understated and natural. It’s all about shading and sculpting the lips, creating volume in a really clever, subtle way.
But is it worth adding to your makeup collection?
That’s what I’m here to find out!
In this review, I put the Rhode Peptide Lip Shape to the test, breaking down the shade selection, pigmentation, texture and wear time to help you decide whether it’s worth buying.
Let’s jump in!
Rhode Lip Shape Shades
The Rhode Peptide Lip Shape comes in 11 neutral-leaning shades. We have a couple of pinks at the lighter end of the spectrum, but as the shades get deeper they tend to run more brown.
As a lip contour, this makes total sense. You should be able to overline your lips with the Peptide Lip Shape and it still look natural. It’s meant to blend in with, or at least complement, your natural skin tone.
That’s why there aren’t any really vibrant shades in here, like you might expect with a traditional lip liner!
Packaging
The Rhode Peptide Lip Shape comes in the same brown packaging as the Pocket Blush. It’s sleek and light – very minimal like the rest of the Rhode makeup collection!
I like the twist-up mechanism, it means that you’re not having to sharpen it all the time like you would a traditional lip liner. And a flatter tip actually works well in this instance. Because the idea behind this lip contour is that you’ve not got thin, harsh lines, there isn’t really much need to sharpen it anyway!
I’m not sold on the silicone smudger, but I’ll speak more about this in the ‘Application’ section below.
Formula and finish
I mentioned before that this isn’t meant to function like a lip liner… and it doesn’t feel exactly like one either.
If lip liners are pencils, this lip shaper is a crayon. It’s got a creamy, almost waxy, texture which helps it stick to the lips and surrounding skin.
This might make it sound like the product’s hard to blend but that’s definitely not the case! This glides over the lips with minimal tugging, and it’s really easy to get a nice, even finish because the product is so soft.
This feels really comfortable on the lips and you could definitely apply it all over if you wanted. It does kind of feel like a cross between a lip liner and a lipstick, which makes it suitable for both purposes!
Prep & application
Creating the appearance of full, plump lips is all in the prep. Here’s how you’re going to do it for the Rhode Peptide Lip Shape…
Gently exfoliate to remove any dry skin. Dry your lips and make sure all product has been removed – this won’t stick if you’re already wearing the Peptide Lip Tint underneath!
Once your lips are smooth and flake-free, take your Lip Shape and trace round them, slightly overlining them to give that sculpted, contoured effect.
Then finally blur the edges to really make the product melt into the skin.
The Rhode Peptide Lip Shape comes with a little silicone smudger attached but, in all honesty, I don’t love it. The shape is tricky to work with, and I actually don’t feel like it blends the product particularly well.
Something rounded like Fwee’s Silicone Lip Brush would be much more effective. Or, better still, an actual bristle brush like Rom&nd’s Lip Mate Pencil.
More often than not, I just use my finger to blend the edges as it’s much quicker and easier!
Pigmentation
Rhode’s Peptide Lip Shape strikes a really nice balance between pigment and subtlety.
It’s deceptive how much colour payoff you get. The fact that this product come in skin tone-like shades makes it appear less pigmented than it actually is, because you’re going for something that’s not much different from your natural lip / skin colour. But the pigment is definitely there! This isn’t a sheer formula like Merit’s Signature Lip Liner.
Again, it’s worth pointing out that this isn’t a lip liner, so it’s not going to be super bold and saturated. But you can still build up a nice amount of colour, especially if you’ve gone for a shade that’s a little bit darker than your skin tone.
I’ve got the shade Lift and it’s VERY subtle on me. If I wanted something a little bit more noticeable, I would probably go for Press or Lunge which would show up more against my skin.
Wear Test: How long does the Rhode Peptide Lip Shape last?
Longevity: A couple of hours
Transfer: Minimal, expect some transfer when applying a gloss or oil on top
I tested the Rhode Peptide Lip Shape in a number of ways and I felt like the wear time varied depending on what I was doing and what I applied on top.
With no eating (or minimal eating) this product lasted a good few hours without needing to be topped up. After eating, I’d generally go in with another layer even though the product hadn’t worn off completely.
Oddly, if I applied a gloss, oil or lip treatment on top, this seemed to reduce the wear time as the Lip Shape would come off with the topper.
When worn by itself though, it didn’t actually transfer that much, and I didn’t need to touch it up as much.
Where to buy the Rhode Peptide Lip Shape
The Rhode Peptide Lip Shape retails for £24. You can save a couple of £s by buying this in a set with the Peptide Lip Tint.
At the moment you can only order this through the Rhode website. Rhode ships to the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain.
Final Verdict: Is the Rhode Peptide Lip Shape Worth It?
If you’re into that ‘clean girl’, minimal makeup aesthetic, the Rhode Peptide Lip Shape is a great pick. It gives a ‘your lips but better’ finish which is perfect for an effortless, everyday look. Like you’ve spent time on your makeup, but not too much.
Despite the mixed opinions online, I am really glad I bought this product. While I own quite a few lip liners, I don’t really have anything else like this in my makeup collection.
This type of ‘barely there’ lip contour is such a game-changer and I wish I’d invested in one sooner. It’s such a natural-looking way to add volume and dimension to your lips.
Obviously this isn’t the most budge-proof, long-lasting lip liner/shaper on the market, but I think it makes up for this with the creaminess of the product and just how comfortable it is to wear.
The only thing I would change about the Rhode Peptide Lip Shape is the silicone smudger at the bottom. It seems like a good idea in theory but it’s just not at all practical to use. A small brush would have been so much better!
Have you tried Rhode’s Peptide Lip Shape? If so, what are your thoughts? Let me know below!
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