How SKINSKOOL Distinguishes Dupes From Knock-Offs: A Look at Five Below’s Beauty Line

Key Takeaways

• Dupes are ingredient- and function-based alternatives that offer similar performance to higher-priced products. Knock-offs rely on visual mimicry without real formulation overlap.
• Five Below’s Hale and Lazy Days brands visually resemble Rhode and Summer Fridays, but most fail to deliver comparable ingredients.
• The worst offender is Hale’s “Peptide Face Serum,” which contains no peptides despite its name.
• Only two Hale products—the Pineapple Cleanser and Peptide Milk Cream Toner—appear in SKINSKOOL’s algorithm as possible dupes of their inspo products based on ingredient similarity.
• SKINSKOOL supports affordable alternatives—but only when the formulas can stand on their own, not just the packaging.

Introduction

At SKINSKOOL, we spend a lot of time analyzing ingredients to find true comparable alternatives—what we call ingredient dupes. These are products that offer similar formulation benefits or ingredient profiles to more expensive or cult-favorite items, often at a better price point. But every now and then, we come across products that prompt a different kind of conversation—one that’s not about similarity in function, but rather mimicry in appearance.

That brings us to the recent conversation surrounding Five Below’s in-house beauty brands, particularly Hale and Lazy Days, which bear striking visual similarities to Rhode and Summer Fridays, respectively. Five Below, if you didn't know, is a $5 discount store type chain. While the packaging might invite comparison, we took a closer look to see if the formulas themselves back up the lookalike claims. The results suggest that in many cases, we’re not dealing with dupes—but knock-offs.

Let’s break down some of the most talked-about comparisons.

Barrier Cream: Hale vs. Rhode

Hale Barrier Restore Face Cream $5 vs. Rhode Barrier Restore Cream $32

At a glance, both products include ingredients like glycerin, shea butter, niacinamide, and sodium hyaluronate—common hydrators and barrier-supportive elements. However, the Rhode formula notably includes four peptides, along with squalane, bisabolol, and antioxidant-rich botanicals. The Hale version omits all peptides and lacks some of Rhode’s standout soothing and firming ingredients.

Verdict: Some shared elements, but ultimately not functionally comparable.

Cleanser: Hale Pineapple Face Wash vs. Rhode Pineapple Cleanser

Both cleansers highlight pineapple extract, hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) oil, lactobacillus ferment, and saccharide isomerate, along with overlapping cleansing agents like potassium cocoyl glycinate and acrylates copolymer. These similarities suggest that both products target a gentle, hydrating cleanse with light exfoliation.

Evidence of Similarity: The Hale cleanser actually appears in the SKINSKOOL algorithm’s dupe results for the Rhode Pineapple Refresh Cleanser, meaning it meets a baseline level of functional and ingredient similarity.

Verdict: One of the most compelling comparisons in this lineup—this one does seem to qualify as a true dupe.

Peptide Serum: Hale vs. Rhode

Despite the name, the Hale Peptide Face Serum contains no peptides. It’s a standard emollient-based serum with ingredients like jojoba oil, retinyl palmitate, and basic humectants. This contrasts starkly with Rhode’s Peptide Glazing Fluid, which includes acetyl hexapeptide-8, niacinamide, marula oil, and several high-performance actives.

Verdict: The name and packaging imply a similarity that the formula doesn’t support—this is a clear knock-off, not a dupe.

Overnight Mask: Lazy Days vs. Summer Fridays

The Lazy Days All Nighter Mask is a straightforward occlusive moisturizer built on petrolatum, glycerin, and a few hyaluronic acid variants. In contrast, Summer Fridays’ Jet Lag Mask delivers a layered formula with ceramides, niacinamide, panthenol, botanical extracts, and antioxidants.

Verdict: While both are moisturizing masks, the Lazy Days version simplifies the concept and lacks the barrier-repair sophistication of Summer Fridays.

Milk Toner: Hale vs. Rhode

This comparison involves Hale’s Peptide Milk Cream Toner and Rhode’s Glazing Milk—two toners with milky, hydrating textures.

The Hale version contains ceramide NP, AP, and EOP, acetyl glucosamine, and sodium hyaluronate, along with coconut oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, and glycerin—all supportive of hydration and barrier care. The Rhode version adds sodium hyaluronate derivatives, beta-glucan, phospholipids, and a suite of trace minerals for added skin support.

Evidence of Similarity: Hale’s Peptide Milk Cream Toner also appears in the SKINSKOOL algorithm as a dupe candidate for Rhode’s Glazing Milk, based on overlapping ceramide and hydration-focused ingredients.

Verdict: While not 1:1, this is the second most convincing dupe in the lineup, particularly in function and base ingredient strategy.

Ranking: Most Similar Matches

1. Hale Pineapple Cleanser → Rhode Pineapple Cleanser
   Shows up in SKINSKOOL results as a dupe
   Shares several cleansing agents and hydration/exfoliation actives
   Functionally aligned
2. Hale Peptide Milk Cream Toner → Rhode Glazing Milk
   Also appears in SKINSKOOL as a comparable product
   Shared focus on ceramides and hydration delivery
   Close match in intent and feel, even if some actives differ

Conclusion: Dupe or Deception?

At SKINSKOOL, we advocate for accessibility in skincare. That’s the whole point of our platform—to help people find more affordable, effective options that genuinely mirror the function of pricier products.

But there’s a meaningful difference between a dupe and a knock-off. Dupes hold up under the scrutiny of ingredient analysis. They offer a similar experience, texture, and sometimes identical actives—just at a better price. Knock-offs, on the other hand, aim to win consumer attention through visual imitation alone, with little regard for what’s inside the bottle.

What’s especially frustrating about this Five Below case is that the visual branding almost dares consumers to believe they’re getting a comparable product. But in several instances—most glaringly, the so-called “Peptide Face Serum”—the copycat strategy falls apart on inspection. It’s not just underwhelming; it’s misleading.

We’re all for budget-friendly alternatives. But packaging shouldn’t be a substitute for substantive overlap.

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