Rhode Peptide Eye Patches vs UV Sun Patches: They're Not the Same Thing (Here's What to Use When)
Rhode's Peptide Eye Patches are everywhere right now. If you've been on TikTok or Instagram, you've seen them — the branded under-eye patches worn by all the cool girls (everything Hailey touches turns to gold - remember glazed donut nails??).
But we keep getting asked: are they the same as UV sun patches? Can you use them for sun protection?
The short answer is: NO! They are both undeniably very cute but they're doing very different things. And understanding the difference will save your skin this summer
What Rhode Peptide Eye Patches Are Actually For
Rhode's eye patches are a treatment product, designed for hydration, plumping, and delivering actives (peptides, in this case) to the under-eye area. You use them at home, usually as part of a skincare routine. They're great at what they do.
While you may see some influencers or celebrities wearing them when they’re grabbing a matcha, they are not UV-rated. They don't block sun. They're not designed to stay on during a tennis session or a round of golf. They're not made to tolerate any sweat.
What UV Sun Patches Are For
UV sun patches (like Cheeky's) are physical sun protection, designed to be worn OUTSIDE, during activity, in direct sun. The goal is to block UV rays from reaching your skin in the spots that are most frequently hit by the harsh rays, your cheeks 🥰
UPF50+ rated and made to stay on for hours with sweat. Used in tandem with a high quality sun screen, you can safely spend time under the sun without worrying about your sun spots or melasma getting worse. Cheeky’s also contain brightening and hydrating actives so act as a skincare treatment, similar to Rhode patches!
A Comparison (because we love a chart)
|
Rhode Peptide Eye Patches |
Cheeky UV Sun Patches |
|
|---|---|---|
|
UV protection |
None |
UPF50+ (blocks 98% of UV) |
|
Use case |
At-home skincare treatment |
Outdoor sports & activities. Anything under the sun |
|
Sweat Resistant |
No |
Yes |
|
Duration of wear |
10-15 mins |
4-5 hours |
|
Where to wear |
Under-eyes at home |
Cheeks, under-eyes, outdoors |
|
Skin benefits |
Hydration, peptides |
Hydration + UV blocking |
|
Replaces sunscreen? |
No |
No, use in combo with sun screen! |
So Which Do You Actually Need?
Both, just for different moments.
Rhode patches for your Sunday morning skincare-in-bed situation. Cheeky patches for the Saturday hike or just walking from the car to the brunch spot. Honestly anytime you’ll have exposure to UV.
The biggest mistake is thinking any face patch = sun protection. "It's on my skin, so it must be protecting me" is how you end up with sun damage.
If you're going outside - especially in Singapore, where the UV index is aggressively high year-round - you need UV-rated coverage. That means SPF50 sunscreen regularly (with reapplication), and then UPF50+ sun patches over the top for the areas that sweat your sunscreen off fastest.
I guess you could say these two types of patches are teammates! Not competitors.
Love, Becca
