Hailey Bieber has this uncanny ability to make everyone want exactly what she’s wearing. It’s a phenomenon. You’ve seen it with the glazed donut nails and the skin-prep videos that racked up millions of views. But honestly, nothing sparked quite the same level of digital frenzy as the launch of the Rhode Peptide Lip Tint Raspberry Jelly. It wasn’t just another lip gloss hitting an already saturated market. It was a specific aesthetic—that crushed-berry, "I just ate a popsicle" look—bottled up in a minimalist gray tube.
The color is a vibrant, sheer berry. It looks intimidatingly dark in the tube, like a deep jam, but once it hits your lips, it thins out into this delicious, translucent wash. It’s clever. It’s also incredibly hard to keep in stock.
People are obsessed. But is it actually a good product, or are we all just victims of really, really good branding? To understand why this specific shade became the "it" item of the Rhode lineup, you have to look at the formula itself. It’s a hybrid. It’s not quite a lipstick, definitely not a sticky gloss, and carries more punch than a standard balm.
The Science of the Shine
Let’s get into the weeds for a second. The Rhode Peptide Lip Tint Raspberry Jelly isn't just about the pigment. The "peptide" part of the name isn't just marketing fluff; it refers to palmitoyl tripeptide-1. If you aren't a cosmetic chemist, basically, peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as building blocks for proteins like collagen and elastin. When you apply them to your lips, the goal isn't an instant Kylie-level filler effect. Instead, it’s about long-term moisture barrier support. It helps the lips look "plump" because they are actually hydrated, not because they are being irritated by peppermint oil or cinnamon like old-school plumpers.
The ingredient list also boasts shea butter and cupuaçu butter. These are heavy hitters for fatty acids.
Most lip tints feel drying after an hour. You know that feeling where the color settles into the cracks of your lips and starts to peel? That’s the worst. Rhode’s formula uses babassu oil to prevent that. It creates a sort of film that locks the moisture in. It feels thick—some might say slightly heavy—but it lacks that 2000s-era stickiness that makes your hair get stuck to your face the moment a breeze hits.
Why Raspberry Jelly Stands Out
Rhode launched several shades, including Ribbon, Toast, and Espresso. So why does everyone keep talking about Raspberry Jelly?
It's the versatility.
If you apply one thin layer, you look like you have a natural flush. If you layer it over a lip liner—maybe something like MAC Whirl or a deeper plum—it transforms into a high-fashion, moody lip that works for dinner. It’s the "cool girl" shade. It mimics the natural color of lips after you’ve been out in the cold. That specific berry tone is also surprisingly universal. It has enough cool undertones to make your teeth look whiter, but enough warmth that it doesn't look "goth" on pale skin tones.
Honestly, the color payoff is where most people get surprised. You expect a tint to be barely there. This one has legs. It stays vibrant for a solid couple of hours before you need to re-apply.
The Viral Phone Case Strategy
We can't talk about the Rhode Peptide Lip Tint Raspberry Jelly without talking about the marketing genius of the silicone phone case. You've seen the selfies. Hailey Bieber posing in a mirror with a phone case that has a dedicated slot for her lip tint. It’s ridiculous. It’s also brilliant.
By turning a lip product into a fashion accessory, Rhode tapped into a new kind of consumerism. It made the product part of an "outfit." It also solved a genuine, albeit minor, problem: digging through a Mary Poppins-sized tote bag to find a tiny tube of gloss. Now, it’s just... there. On your phone.
But there’s a downside to this level of fame.
The "graininess" issue. If you’ve spent any time on beauty TikTok, you’ve seen the complaints. Some users reported that their Rhode tints arrived with a gritty, sandy texture. This happens when the vegetable waxes in the formula—specifically the shea butter—crystallize due to temperature fluctuations during shipping. It’s a common issue in "clean" beauty formulations that avoid certain synthetic stabilizers.
If your Raspberry Jelly feels like a lip scrub, don't panic. You don't necessarily have a "bad" batch. Most people find that if they warm the tube up in their hands or a pocket for a few minutes, the crystals melt back down and the formula returns to its silky self. It’s a bit of a high-maintenance quirk for a $16 product, but for many, the finish is worth the hassle.
How to Actually Wear It Without Looking Messy
Because Raspberry Jelly is a deeper pigment, you can’t just swipe it on blindly while walking down the street like you can with the Unscented or Vanilla versions. It requires a tiny bit of precision.
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- The "Blotted" Look: Dab a small amount in the center of your lips and use your ring finger to tap it outward. This gives that soft-focus, blurred edge that looks very Parisian.
- The "High Shine" Look: Apply a generous layer directly from the applicator. Don't smack your lips together too much; let the formula "level out" on its own to get that glass-like finish.
- The Combo: Line your lips with a neutral brown liner, blend the edges, then pop the Rhode Peptide Lip Tint Raspberry Jelly right in the middle. It creates a 3D effect that makes lips look significantly fuller without any needles involved.
It’s worth noting that this isn't a stain. Don't get the terms confused. A lip stain sinks into the skin and lasts all day but can be drying. This is a tinted treatment. It sits on top. It will transfer to your coffee cup. It will disappear if you eat a salad with vinaigrette. That’s the trade-off for the comfort and the shine.
Comparison to the Competition
How does it stack up?
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Cherry is the closest rival. The Summer Fridays version is a bit thinner and comes in a larger tube. However, the Rhode Raspberry Jelly has a more sophisticated, "expensive" looking pigment. While Summer Fridays feels like a luxury version of Chapstick, Rhode feels like a makeup-skincare hybrid.
Then there’s the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm. Laneige is much shinier and much fruitier in scent. If you hate fragrance, you might prefer Rhode. While Raspberry Jelly is named after a food, the scent is very subtle—it doesn't have that cloying, synthetic candy smell that can be polarizing.
The Sustainability Factor
Rhode has made an effort to be "thoughtful" about their packaging. The tubes are made with upcycled materials and the brand is Leaping Bunny certified (cruelty-free). However, in the world of beauty, "clean" is a murky term. Rhode focuses on high-performance ingredients that are also "skin-safe," avoiding the typical list of parabens and sulfates.
For many, the draw isn't the sustainability—it's the aesthetic. The muted gray packaging is designed to look good on a nightstand or pulled out of a handbag. It’s aspirational minimalism.
Is it a Must-Buy?
If you already have ten berry-colored lip glosses, do you need this? Probably not. There are only so many ways to tint your lips purple-red.
But if you are looking for a singular product that replaces your nighttime lip mask and your daytime lip gloss, the Rhode Peptide Lip Tint Raspberry Jelly is a very strong contender. It treats the skin while you wear it. It makes you look polished with zero effort. And frankly, it’s one of the few viral products that actually lives up to the performance claims once you get past the influencer filters.
The main hurdle is simply finding it. Rhode restocks frequently, but the tints tend to sell out within hours. If you see it available, grab it. If you’re on the fence, wait for the inevitable "restock" emails.
Actionable Steps for the Best Experience
- Check the Texture: Upon arrival, squeeze a tiny bit onto the back of your hand. If it’s grainy, let the tube sit in a warm (not hot) environment for an hour to re-emulsify the waxes.
- Exfoliate First: Because Raspberry Jelly is a darker tint, it will highlight any dry flakes on your lips. Use a damp washcloth to gently buff your lips before applying for the smoothest finish.
- Store it Properly: Avoid leaving the tube in a hot car. The formula is sensitive to extreme heat, which can cause the oils and butters to separate, leading to that dreaded graininess or a leaky tube.
- Layer with Intention: Use it over a matte lipstick that feels too drying. It’ll revive the color and add a layer of comfort without changing the base shade too much.
The beauty of this product is that it’s not trying to be a heavy lipstick. It’s meant to be easy. It’s meant to be "undone." In a world of 12-step makeup routines, there’s something genuinely refreshing about a single tube that makes you look like you've got your life together, even if you just rolled out of bed.
Keep an eye on the official Rhode website for the next drop, and if you're planning to get the phone case, make sure you double-check your iPhone model size—they aren't universal. Once you have the combo, you'll understand why the "Raspberry Jelly" obsession isn't going away anytime soon. It’s just a really good, really pretty staple.
Stay hydrated, keep your barrier intact, and don't overthink the application—it's just jelly, after all.
Next Steps for Your Routine
To get the most out of your Rhode Peptide Lip Tint, ensure your lips are properly prepped. You can create a simple DIY lip scrub with sugar and honey to remove dead skin cells before applying the tint. This prevents the berry pigment from pooling in dry patches. If you find the color too intense for your liking, try the "gradient lip" technique: apply the Raspberry Jelly only to the inner part of your lips and use a clear balm to blend it outward for a softer, bitten look. Finally, if you're concerned about longevity, carry a small lip liner in a matching shade to define the edges, which prevents the emollient formula from migrating outside your natural lip line during long days.