The Rhode Skin Scam: How a Pop-Up Turned Into a Beauty Heist

BY NOLWAZI VEZI
Mar 23
3 min read

Photo: @rhode

It's frighteningly easy to get scammed these days, even when you're just out shopping for a skincare glow-up. Beauty lovers thought they had hit the jackpot with Hailey Bieber's much-hyped Rhode Skin line finally landing at Mall of Africa in South Africa. A sleek pop-up store promising glazed-doughnut skin? Say less! The store drew beauty lovers in like moths to a flame, But there was just one problem: It was all a scam.

Yep, the so-called "Rhode Skin" pop-up was nothing more than a carefully crafted con, leaving eager shoppers with counterfeit products and a bad taste in their mouths. Social media buzzed with beauty enthusiasts flexing their new skincare hauls until whispers of a scam spread like wildfire. The red flags? Questionable packaging, products that didn’t quite match Rhode’s minimalist aesthetic, and a glaring lack of official brand announcements. Somebody clearly took Kendrick Lamar’s advice and popped up to show ladies how a clean heist is done.

Content creator Mi'chal Naidoo was among the first to raise eyebrows. After sliding into the official Rhode Skin DMs she received the confirmation everyone feared: the brand had no clue about the pop-up. By the time the truth came out, the store had pulled a beauty-world heist you would swear was orchestrated by Assane Diop himself, vanishing overnight and leaving scammed shoppers demanding refunds that might never come.

"I Fell for the Fake Rhode Pop-Up—Here’s What Happened"

Imagine walking into what seems like a perfectly curated Rhode pop-up—branded shopping bags, campaign videos playing on sleek screens, and mirrors stamped with the iconic logo—only to later realize it was all an illusion. That’s exactly what happened to Dané Prinsloo, who shared her experience after unknowingly shopping at the now-infamous fake Rhode store in South Africa.

Like many others, Dané first heard about the pop-up through social media. “I was at a hair appointment when an employee mentioned it. My hairdresser told me to check it out, and at first, I thought it sounded sketchy. But when my boyfriend and best friend also saw it trending on TikTok, it started to feel legit,” she says.

Once inside, the attention to detail convinced her. “There was Rhode branding everywhere—TV screens looping campaign videos, branded mirrors, even the shopping bags looked real. I’ve bought from resellers before and never had an issue with authenticity, so I trusted it.”

Still, a few red flags made her pause. “Some products were only in box packaging, while others had an extra plastic film. And they had so many limited-edition lip products, which felt off,” she recalls.

It wasn’t until she posted a TikTok about her visit that things really unraveled. “People started commenting that it was fake, which made me second-guess everything. I compared the product I bought with a real Rhode item I had from the UK, and sure enough, the packaging color and label size were slightly different.”

And when she tried to return her purchase? The store had vanished. “The pop-up was supposed to run until March 19, but by the 15th, it was completely gone. I emailed Beutessa—the company behind the pop-up—for a refund. They responded, but I still haven’t gotten my money back.”

For Dané, the situation raises bigger concerns about accountability. “Mall of Africa should have done more research before allowing this pop-up. And Beutessa should have been way clearer in their communication instead of making it seem like an official Rhode store. People feel deceived.”

With beauty scams becoming increasingly elaborate, Dané’s experience is a reminder to always double-check before you shop—even when everything looks legit.

Lessons Learned: How to Avoid Getting Duped

So, how do you avoid getting scammed? First, always cross-check brand announcements on official websites or verified social media accounts. If a new launch appears out of nowhere with zero fanfare, raise that brow. Second, scrutinize the packaging, big brands are obsessive about details, and if something feels off, trust your gut. And finally, remember that exclusivity is often a slow burn—if a major beauty brand is coming to your city, they will definitely make a splash.

This whole ordeal is a glaring reminder that if it looks too good (or too glossy) to be true, it probably is. In an age where beauty brands are a click away, fake luxury products have also leveled up their game. The Rhode Skin pop-up scam is a harsh wake-up call and a lesson in trusting your instincts, doing the research, and questioning the flashy promises. Don’t let the glossy allure of a brand new pop-up cloud your judgment. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t fall victim to the hype, check your sources and stand firm in your skepticism. After all, the road to true skincare enlightenment isn’t paved with counterfeit products. Stay sharp, stay informed, and never let a pop-up be the last thing to shine in your beauty routine.