South Africa, March 26 -- The pop-up

On or around the weekend of 16 March 2025, Beutessa, an alleged beauty reseller, hosted a pop-up store which exclusively sold Rhode-branded products.

Excited shoppers flocked to grab the coveted peptide lip treatments and pocket blushes, but the initial buzz quickly turned into a cosmetic catastrophe when social media sleuths began raising concerns.

Since Rhode does not officially ship to South Africa, local beauty enthusiasts have relied on international shipping services or overseas purchases to get their hands on authentic products. TikTok users wasted no time posting side-by-side comparison videos between genuine Rhode products and those purchased at the pop-up, highlighting packaging inconsiste...