Why e.l.f. Cosmetics’ Acquisition of Rhode Is a Game-Changer for Influencer Marketing and E‑Commerce

30th

May, 2025

 

Amazon Influencers
Influencer Marketing
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Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand Rhode has been acquired by e.l.f. Beauty in a deal valued at up to $1 billion. This blockbuster acquisition – one of the most high-profile beauty deals in recent years – comes less than three years after Rhode’s launch in 2022. In that short time, the influencer-founded brand skyrocketed from zero to about $212 million in net sales with only 10 products and a direct-to-consumer strategy. Bieber’s massive personal influence and Rhode’s savvy digital marketing helped the brand achieve #1 status in earned media value (EMV) among skincare lines, driving an estimated $400 million in EMV in 2024 with engagement rates above industry benchmarks. 

For e.l.f. (short for eyes lips face), a company known for its disruptive marketing, acquiring Rhode isn’t just about adding a trendy skincare line to its portfolio – it’s a strategic move that signals a pivotal moment for influencer marketing and the creator-driven brand economy. In this post, we’ll break down why this acquisition matters so much for brands, influencers (especially micro and nano creators), and e-commerce players like Amazon sellers.

Influencer Marketing Breakthrough: Why Rhode x e.l.f. Matters

Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand Rhode has been acquired by e.l.f. Beauty in a deal valued at up to $1 billion. This blockbuster acquisition – one of the most high-profile beauty deals in recent years – comes less than three years after Rhode’s launch in 2022. In that short time, the influencer-founded brand skyrocketed from zero to about $212 million in net sales with only 10 products and a direct-to-consumer strategy. Bieber’s massive personal influence and Rhode’s savvy digital marketing helped the brand achieve #1 status in earned media value (EMV) among skincare lines, driving an estimated $400 million in EMV in 2024 with engagement rates above industry benchmarks. 

Rhode’s rapid rise was fueled by influencer marketing at its finest. Unlike legacy brands that rely on traditional ads, Rhode grew through social media buzz, community engagement, and the star power of its influencer-founder. e.l.f. Beauty’s CEO Tarang Amin highlighted that Rhode has “magnetic brand equity, viral product performance, and a high-margin business model”. In other words, Rhode proved that a brand built on influencer credibility and organic hype can not only compete with established players – it can beat them at their own game. Consider these eye-opening facts:

  • Their Record-Shattering Earned Media

Rhode became the leading skincare brand in EMV, with a 367% year-over-year EMV growth in 2024 driven entirely by non-paid, organic mentions. Essentially, fans and creators were talking about Rhode so much online that it would have cost hundreds of millions in ads to get the same reach. This kind of explosive growth through word-of-mouth is the dream outcome of influencer marketing. It validated that authentic buzz can scale up to big-business levels.

  • Rhode’s Billion-Dollar Vote of Confidence

Industry analysts note that e.l.f.’s $1B purchase “signals a broader shift: large public beauty companies are willing to place billion-dollar bets on digitally native, founder-led brands with strong community engagement.” In other words, the corporate world sees influencer-founded brands as the new power players. 

This is a huge vote of confidence in the creator economy – it says that brands built on content creator influence and community can be just as valuable as those built by traditional means (if not more so). No longer is influencer marketing just a line item in a brand’s ad budget; it is the brand equity.

  • The New “Marketing Playbook”

The e.l.f.–Rhode deal is a case study in how marketing is changing. Founders like Hailey Bieber are “rewriting the playbook” for how brands are built. Instead of heavy TV commercials and department store counters, Rhode relied on TikTok virality, Instagram aesthetics, and creator collaborations. The brand engaged its audience with out-of-the-box ideas – from a traveling photo booth at events to a viral lip gloss phone case accessory – creating shareable moments that didn’t feel like traditional ads. 

(Yes, Rhode literally launched a phone case that holds their lip treatment, which generated a staggering $8.3 million in EMV and a 31.9% Instagram engagement rate in early 2024! Rhode’s “lip gloss phone case” campaign generated $8.3M in earned media value and an unprecedented 31.9% engagement rate on Instagram.) By investing in Rhode, e.l.f. is essentially declaring that this community-driven, content-first approach is the future of beauty brands.

  • The Creator = Founder = Force

Perhaps most importantly, this acquisition blurs the line between influencer and entrepreneur. Hailey Bieber isn’t just a face of the brand; she’s the Chief Creative Officer and Head of Innovation at Rhode moving forward, continuing to guide product development and marketing. 

As one observer put it, there’s a “continued blurring of the lines between creator and CEO” in today’s market. Consumers aren’t just buying a cream or lip balm – they’re buying into a founder’s story and lifestyle. Rhode’s success shows that an authentic personal brand can be the foundation of a global business. This is a breakthrough notion in influencer marketing: top creators can evolve into true business leaders, and their personal brand becomes a company’s competitive advantage.

All of this makes the Rhode acquisition a watershed moment. It’s a signal to brands everywhere that influencer marketing has come of age. No longer a “nice-to-have” experiment, it’s driving such tangible results that it can create a unicorn (a billion-dollar company) in under three years. It’s no wonder 76% of C-suite executives plan to increase their influencer marketing budgets in 2025, seeing it become a core part of modern strategies. In short, influencer marketing just graduated from the kiddie table to the big leagues.

Why do Micro and Nano Influencers Matter to Big Brands Like Rhode?

Now, you might be thinking: “Sure, a celebrity influencer like Hailey Bieber can create a hit brand – but what about micro and nano influencers?” Here’s the exciting part: the ripple effects of this deal extend to creators at all levels. In fact, industry trends show that micro (roughly 10k–100k followers) and nano (1k–10k followers) influencers are more in demand than ever. Brands are increasingly shifting focus toward these smaller creators because of their high engagement and tight-knit communities.

  • Their Authenticity and High Engagement

Micro and nano influencers tend to have higher engagement rates and stronger trust with their followers than big celebrities. Their recommendations feel personal, not like traditional ads, which makes them incredibly persuasive. For example, a micro influencer might only have 8,000 followers, but if 800 of those followers regularly like and comment on her posts, that 10% engagement is gold. 

(In fact, data confirms that micro-influencers boast the highest engagement rates of all influencer tiers.) Brands get better ROI working with a squad of micros/nanos versus spending the whole budget on one mega-influencer. They cost less and often deliver higher conversion rates because their audience trusts them deeply.

 

  • Rhode’s Relied on Micro Influencer’s Community:

Rhode didn’t only rely on Hailey’s star power. The brand’s growth strategy tapped into hundreds of creators and fans to build buzz. Rhode’s team emphasized “authentic influencer marketing and robust affiliate programs” to drive growth. They sent free products to influencers of all sizes (“product seeding”) and encouraged organic sharing, which felt genuine and not scripted

Many micro-influencers posted about Rhode because they truly loved the products, not because they were paid big bucks – and that authenticity showed. This grassroots approach led to a 45% year-over-year jump in Rhode’s EMV in 2024, largely thanks to influencers and organic mentions. In other words, micro and macro influencers alike were crucial to Rhode’s rise.

 

  • Opportunities for Smaller Creators with Rhode

The success of Rhode sends a clear message to micro and nano influencers: your voice matters. Brands are on the lookout for relatable creators who can foster community around their products. Even if you’re not a celebrity, you can become a key ambassador (or even co-creator) for a brand. We’re already seeing savvy companies run campaigns with armies of micro-influencers to spark word-of-mouth buzz. 

Platforms like Stack Influence, for instance, connect brands with everyday creators and boast networks of millions of micro-influencers to promote products in authentic ways. All of this means more collaboration opportunities for up-and-coming influencers in the beauty space and beyond. The age of the nano influencer is here – and they’re punching above their weight.

In summary, the influencer marketing boom isn’t just benefiting superstar creators. Micro influencer marketing and nano influencer marketing are riding the wave too. This e.l.f.–Rhode moment validates that every tier of influencer can play a role in building a brand empire, as long as they have an engaged audience and authentic voice. Brands are taking note, and smaller creators are poised to shine in this new landscape.

micro-influencer platforms

Unlock the Power of Micro Influencers and Elevate your Brand Today!

Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand Rhode has been acquired by e.l.f. Beauty in a deal valued at up to $1 billion. This blockbuster acquisition – one of the most high-profile beauty deals in recent years – comes less than three years after Rhode’s launch in 2022. In that short time, the influencer-founded brand skyrocketed from zero to about $212 million in net sales with only 10 products and a direct-to-consumer strategy. Bieber’s massive personal influence and Rhode’s savvy digital marketing helped the brand achieve #1 status in earned media value (EMV) among skincare lines, driving an estimated $400 million in EMV in 2024 with engagement rates above industry benchmarks. 

What Amazon Sellers and E-Commerce Brands Should Learn From e.l.f’s Acquisition of Rhode

This acquisition also carries big lessons for e-commerce entrepreneurs and Amazon sellers. Whether you’re running your own Shopify skincare store or selling on Amazon’s marketplace, Rhode’s story demonstrates how powerful influencer-driven branding can be for online sales.

First and foremost, influencers drive purchasing on Amazon in a major way. A recent 2024 study found that 59% of social media users have bought a product after seeing an influencer use it – and of those, 94% purchased on Amazon. In other words, when an influencer hypes up a product, the vast majority of their followers head straight to Amazon to buy it. If you’re an Amazon seller, this is huge. 

It means that collaborating with influencers can directly boost your Amazon sales and search rankings. In fact, consumers who buy based on influencer recommendations are 2.4× more likely to shop on Amazon than any other site. Ignoring influencer marketing could literally mean leaving money on the table.

Here are a few key takeaways for e-commerce brands and Amazon sellers:

  • Build a Brand, Not Just a Listing

Rhode was a DTC (direct-to-consumer) brand with its own site and social presence – the kind of brand equity Amazon’s algorithm can’t give you. If you primarily sell on Amazon, think about how you can create a brand story and community off Amazon as well. Social media, emails, and influencer partnerships can give customers a reason to seek out your product specifically, not just whatever algorithm shows them. 

That brand loyalty can translate to better reviews, repeat purchases, and even the potential to expand into retail or attract investors. Remember, e.l.f. didn’t just buy Rhode’s formulas – it bought Rhode’s community and hype.

  • Leverage Influencers for Traffic & Trust

Influencer marketing can become your secret weapon for driving external traffic to your Amazon listings (which Amazon’s algorithm loves) and for generating social proof. For example, micro-influencers posting authentic reviews or unboxing videos of your product can lead their followers to search for it on Amazon. 

Those influencer-inspired shoppers are primed to buy, and they often leave reviews, post photos, and tell friends if they love the product. This creates a virtuous cycle of sales and credibility. As a seller, consider enrolling products in Amazon’s own Influencer Program or working with influencer agencies to get your items in the hands of creators who align with your niche.

  • E-commerce is Now a Team Sport

The days of doing all your marketing through paid ads alone are fading. Amazon PPC and SEO are important, but earned media and word-of-mouth can elevate you to the next level. Think of influencer marketing as a scalable form of word-of-mouth

Just as Rhode sent PR packages to many influencers to create buzz, an Amazon-focused brand might seed products to micro-influencers on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. The goal is to have a chorus of authentic voices talking about your product. This not only drives immediate sales, but also builds an asset that isn’t easily copied: a community of advocates.

Bottom line: For Amazon sellers and e-commerce entrepreneurs, the e.l.f.–Rhode deal underscores the importance of integrating influencer marketing into your business strategy. It’s not just a “nice extra” – it’s becoming essential for driving e-commerce growth. The world’s biggest online marketplace is heavily influenced by social media buzz, and those who harness it will win. In an era when 84% of brands believe influencer marketing is effective, taking a page from Rhode’s playbook could be the difference between a stagnant listing and a breakout bestseller.

What is The Future of Brand Collaborations and Product Development?

Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand Rhode has been acquired by e.l.f. Beauty in a deal valued at up to $1 billion. This blockbuster acquisition – one of the most high-profile beauty deals in recent years – comes less than three years after Rhode’s launch in 2022. In that short time, the influencer-founded brand skyrocketed from zero to about $212 million in net sales with only 10 products and a direct-to-consumer strategy. Bieber’s massive personal influence and Rhode’s savvy digital marketing helped the brand achieve #1 status in earned media value (EMV) among skincare lines, driving an estimated $400 million in EMV in 2024 with engagement rates above industry benchmarks. 

What does this all signal for the future of brand collaborations and product development? In a nutshell, we’re going to see brands and influencers more entwined than ever. The e.l.f.–Rhode partnership hints at several emerging trends:

  • More Creator-Brand Partnerships and Acquisitions

Expect to see more deals where big companies snap up successful creator-founded brands, or where influencers become equity partners in brands from the start. As one report noted, major beauty companies are now willing to make “billion-dollar bets” on brands that started on Instagram and TikTok. We’ve already seen examples: e.l.f. previously acquired Naturium (a skincare line founded by influencer Susan Yara) and Keys Soulcare (by Alicia Keys) to tap into those built-in audiences. 

This trend won’t be limited to beauty either – think fitness influencers launching wellness products or gaming streamers creating tech accessories, with larger brands ready to invest if those ventures take off. For influencers, it means your endgame might not just be sponsored posts – it could be building a brand that gets acquired or partnered by a major player.

  • Influencer Input in Product Development

Traditional brands are likely to involve influencers much earlier in the product development cycle. Rhode’s story shows that products formulated with real-time feedback from the community can hit big. (Hailey Bieber often incorporated follower feedback and social trends into Rhode’s product roadmap, resulting in highly desired launches.) 

We anticipate more brands will form creator councils or do co-creation collabs where influencers help design or refine products. The result? Products that feel made for the target audience, because in a sense the audience helped make them. This community-centric development can increase the chances of a product becoming a hit – just as Rhode’s peptide lip treatment became a viral bestseller with 300k+ waitlists at launch.

  • Community as the New Moat

Going forward, a strong community may become a brand’s most important asset. We’re moving toward a world where customers are fans, and fans are contributors. Brands will invest in cultivating tribes of enthusiasts through Discord groups, private Instagram pages, or interactive campaigns. Influencers (big and small) will often lead these communities. 

When a brand drops a new product, this built-in network will amplify it organically. Rhode exemplified this by turning customers into unofficial ambassadors – many proudly shared their “glazed skin” looks, spreading the trend. We foresee more brands embracing this model: less top-down advertising, more bottom-up community buzz. It’s a shift from broadcasting at consumers to building with them.

  • Blurred Lines Between Content and Commerce

The integration of content creation and selling will deepen. Social media platforms are already adding shop features, and e-commerce platforms are embracing live streams and UGC (user-generated content). The influencer marketing and e-commerce worlds are converging into “social commerce.” Amazon itself tried a TikTok-like feed (Amazon Inspire) to blend content with shopping, and while that particular feature was short-lived, the concept isn’t going away. 

We’ll likely see influencers hosting more live shopping events, curating product lines, and even running their own storefronts (Amazon’s Influencer Storefront program is one example). For brands, collaborating with influencers on these initiatives will be key to staying relevant and driving sales in new channels.

Bottom line: For Amazon sellers and e-commerce entrepreneurs, the e.l.f.–Rhode deal underscores the importance of integrating influencer marketing into your business strategy. It’s not just a “nice extra” – it’s becoming essential for driving e-commerce growth. The world’s biggest online marketplace is heavily influenced by social media buzz, and those who harness it will win. In an era when 84% of brands believe influencer marketing is effective, taking a page from Rhode’s playbook could be the difference between a stagnant listing and a breakout bestseller.

micro-influencer platforms

Unlock the Power of Micro Influencers and Elevate your Brand Today!

Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand Rhode has been acquired by e.l.f. Beauty in a deal valued at up to $1 billion. This blockbuster acquisition – one of the most high-profile beauty deals in recent years – comes less than three years after Rhode’s launch in 2022. In that short time, the influencer-founded brand skyrocketed from zero to about $212 million in net sales with only 10 products and a direct-to-consumer strategy. Bieber’s massive personal influence and Rhode’s savvy digital marketing helped the brand achieve #1 status in earned media value (EMV) among skincare lines, driving an estimated $400 million in EMV in 2024 with engagement rates above industry benchmarks. 

Practical Tactics and Real-World Examples

Let’s ground all this advice in some real-world context. How are actual eCommerce brands leveraging whitelisting, and what tactics are they using to scale? Here are a few examples and tips drawn from industry experience:

  • Multi-Platform Presence with Consistent Message

A DTC fashion brand found success by whitelisting influencer content on both Instagram and TikTok simultaneously. They had a campaign with a group of mid-tier fashion influencers. On Instagram, they ran Partnership Ads to the influencers’ lookalike audiences; on TikTok, they ran Spark Ads of the same videos to interest-based audiences (fashion, beauty interests). The messaging was consistent – showcasing how these influencers styled the brand’s clothing in daily life – but tailored to each platform’s style (IG had nice photos and short Reels, TikTok had raw try-on videos). The result was a unified cross-platform boost. The takeaway: when you find a good influencer or content angle, deploy it wherever you can, tweaking format for the platform. You catch consumers on whichever app they use most, and reinforce the message (someone might see the TikTok ad and an IG ad from the same influencer, which really drives it home).

 

  • Branded Content Ads for Retargeting

One nifty tactic is using whitelisted ads in retargeting funnels. For example, a skincare brand ran YouTube influencers talking about their product. They then retargeted everyone who watched 50% of those YouTube videos with a Facebook whitelisted ad from a different influencer as a follow-up (“Still curious? Here’s another person’s experience!”). This one-two punch of social proof can persuade fence-sitters. Essentially, you treat influencer content like a sequence: initial awareness from one creator, then retarget with another creator’s testimonial, and maybe a third ad with an offer to seal the deal. Each touchpoint feels like another friendly recommendation rather than repetitive brand ads.

 

  • Leveraging Micro-Influencers at Scale

There are brands that have taken on hundreds of micro-influencers in whitelisting campaigns – think along the lines of affiliate/influencer hybrid programs. They might give each micro-influencer a small commission and ad budget, or the brand runs the ads centrally. One example: an accessory brand got 50 micro-influencers (around 5k-20k followers each) to post content. The brand then whitelisted all 50 posts with modest budgets (~$50/day each) targeting local regions or specific interest groups relevant to each influencer’s niche. Individually, each ad spend was small, but collectively it was a significant campaign. Many micro-influencers meant diverse content (different styles, demographics) and the brand’s ads seemed to be everywhere without feeling like repetition, because each ad had a different face on it. This shows that scaling doesn’t always mean one ad with a million dollars; it can mean a million micro-campaigns with a few dollars that sum up. Tip: if you go this route, definitely use automation tools like Stack Influence, because managing 50+ creatives and partnerships is an operational challenge – but one that can pay off big.

Real-world outcomes from whitelisting vary, but many brands report that it has become a top-performing part of their ad mix. By studying what others have done and borrowing ideas, you can shortcut your path to success. The common thread in these examples: whitelisting ads leverage authenticity and social proof, but amplify it with strategic paid muscle. 💪

Recommended Tools and Platforms for Whitelisted Ad Campaigns

Scaling across multiple platforms and influencers can get complex. Thankfully, there are tools purpose-built to help brands navigate whitelisting. Here are some top tools and platform features to consider:

  • Meta’s Branded Content / Partnership Ads (Facebook & Instagram)

Within Facebook Ads Manager, the feature for whitelisting is often called Partnership Ads (previously Branded Content Ads). This is not an external tool but a built-in capability. Make sure you familiarize yourself with it – Meta has guides on how to request access and create these ads. The platform itself is enabling this because they know how effective it is. Use the power of Facebook’s Ads Manager for detailed targeting and analytics when running influencer ads on FB/IG.

 

  • TikTok Spark Ads

As mentioned, TikTok’s native solution for whitelisting is Spark Ads. It’s basically the way to do influencer ads on TikTok, and it’s very straightforward. The TikTok Ads Manager interface allows you to easily input codes from creators and launch ads that look native. The advantage here is TikTok’s algorithm might even favor Spark Ads since they keep content feeling organic on the For You Page. If TikTok is a key channel, master Spark Ads – TikTok provides tutorials on it and even case studies. Plus, TikTok’s ad creation process is snappy, which is great when scaling many creator campaigns quickly.

 

  • Influencer Marketplaces (Stack Influence)

These are platforms where you can automate influencer collaborations and whitelisting ads at scale. For example, Stack Influence (Micro-influencer automation marketplace) allows you to scale up Micro-Influencer collaborations, streamline product shipping and promotion management, track influencer posts, and activate whitelisting ads all in one place with end-to-end campaign management. If you’re looking to scale up to hundreds or even thousands of influencers, using a platform like Stack Influence can help you achieve those goals without breaking the bank or adding more work bandwidth to your team. Stack Influence also has a simple product compensation model and “pay as you go” payment system so you only have to send free products out to get social posts and only pay fees for successful promotions without ever losing inventory.

In summary, while you can do whitelisting manually, scaling efficiently often means investing in the right software. These tools take care of the heavy lifting (like connecting accounts, tracking who’s who, and measuring results), so you can focus on the strategy and creative aspects. As the saying goes, “work smarter, not harder” – the same applies to whitelisting campaigns at scale. 🛠️💡

Tips on Ad Creative, Targeting, and Influencer Partnerships

We’ve covered a lot of ground, but let’s zoom in on some key tips in specific areas that can make or break your whitelisting success. Consider these additional best practices as a quick-reference list:

  • Leverage Social Proof in Targeting

Here’s an interesting targeting tidbit – some brands have had success targeting friends of people who follow the influencer (on Facebook) or using Twitter’s (X’s) feature to target followers of a certain account. The idea is, if Alice follows Influencer Amy, Alice’s friends might also trust Amy if they see an ad from her. Facebook allows targeting of “friends of people who like [Page]” – if the influencer’s profile is a page you have access to, you might tap into that. It’s a bit meta, but it can expand reach in a semi-warm way. Similarly, look at interest categories that align with each influencer’s persona. If an influencer is a vegan chef, target vegan, healthy eating interest groups with their ad. TL;DR: Mirror the influencer’s own audience characteristics in your targeting, plus use any platform-specific options to hit related social circles.

  • Influencer/UGC Collaboration Tips

When working with influencers, treat them as creative partners. Involve them in brainstorming – they might have ideas for angles that you didn’t think of. After all, they know their audience best. Also, encourage them to interact with the comments on the whitelisted ads if possible. One cool thing: on Facebook and Instagram, the whitelisted ad will show up as a post from the influencer’s handle, and people can comment on it (depending on your settings). If the influencer jumps in and replies to comments (“Glad you like it!” or answers questions about the product), it boosts engagement and authenticity. It shows it’s really them. This can improve ad performance and also make the influencer feel more genuinely connected to the campaign. It’s not always feasible for them to moderate every ad comment, but even occasional interaction helps.

  • Keep Influencers in the Loop

For long-term partnerships, share results with your influencers. Many influencers are curious how their whitelisted posts performed: Did it get a million impressions? How many clicks or sales? Sharing this data (as long as you’re comfortable) can strengthen the relationship. It shows you value them as a partner. Plus, if performance was great, it’s a nice way to lead into “let’s do this again!” Conversely, if something underperformed, you can discuss together why that might be – maybe the content didn’t feel right or maybe the targeting was off. Good influencers will appreciate being part of that conversation and might adapt their content for future collaborations. Remember, a happy influencer who feels valued will likely go the extra mile for your brand (like giving you extra content, or just speaking more genuinely about the product).

In sum, the future points toward closer collaboration between brands and creators at every stage – from brainstorming product ideas, to marketing launches in creative ways, to sharing in the financial success. The e.l.f.–Rhode deal is a landmark, but it’s probably just the beginning of a creator-led brand revolution. As consumers, this means we’ll see more products that feel authentic and aligned with our favorite online voices. As marketers and entrepreneurs, it means we should be ready to embrace influencers not just as advertisers, but as partners, co-creators, and even business leaders.

micro-influencer platforms

Unlock the Power of Micro Influencers and Elevate your Brand Today!

Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand Rhode has been acquired by e.l.f. Beauty in a deal valued at up to $1 billion. This blockbuster acquisition – one of the most high-profile beauty deals in recent years – comes less than three years after Rhode’s launch in 2022. In that short time, the influencer-founded brand skyrocketed from zero to about $212 million in net sales with only 10 products and a direct-to-consumer strategy. Bieber’s massive personal influence and Rhode’s savvy digital marketing helped the brand achieve #1 status in earned media value (EMV) among skincare lines, driving an estimated $400 million in EMV in 2024 with engagement rates above industry benchmarks. 

How Can Brands Find the Right Influencers (and Win in 2025)? 

Feeling inspired to amp up your influencer marketing? Whether you’re a brand owner, marketer, or Amazon seller, finding the right influencers is crucial. Here are some tips to help you replicate a bit of Rhode’s influencer magic in your own strategy:

1. Define Your Goals and Target Audience: Start with the basics – know what you want to achieve (brand awareness, more Amazon sales, content creation, etc.) and who your customers are. Then look for influencers whose audience matches that demographic and niche. Rhode did this expertly by focusing on creators whose followers were young women 18–34 who love minimalist skincare. 

The alignment meant that every time those influencers posted, they were reaching exactly the people most likely to buy Rhode. Be similarly strategic: if you sell fitness gear for busy moms, an influencer mom who posts home workouts might be a perfect fit.

2. Prioritize Authenticity and Engagement: Don’t get blinded by follower counts. Often, a micro-influencer with 15k genuine followers and a 10% engagement rate will outperform an influencer with 500k followers but low engagement. Look for signs of real influence – consistent likes/comments, quality interactions, and content that isn’t overly polished or ad-like. 

As we saw, Rhode’s gifted campaigns worked because the posts “didn’t feel like marketing”. Influencers truly using and enjoying your product will naturally create content that resonates. Nano influencers can be hidden gems here; their smaller audiences might trust them like a close friend, making their recommendations highly persuasive.

3. Leverage Micro-Influencer Platforms: Managing dozens or hundreds of micro-influencer relationships can be daunting. This is where platforms and agencies come in. Consider using specialized micro influencer marketing platforms (e.g., Stack Influence) that streamline the process. These services can help you source quality creators, handle outreach and product gifting, and ensure campaigns run smoothly. For instance, Stack Influence’s platform boasts a vetted network of over 11 million micro-influencers across the U.S. and offers AI tools to target the right creators and manage campaigns at scale. 

Such platforms are a boon for e-commerce brands looking to generate buzz without a massive in-house team. (Tip: Look for platforms that align with your industry and budget – some operate on pay-per-post or product-for-post models, which can be very cost-effective for small brands.)

4. Start with Product Seeding and Affiliates: One of the most effective (and budget-friendly) ways to kick off an influencer campaign is product seeding – i.e. sending free samples to influencers with no strings attached. This lets creators try your product and share it authentically if they like it. Rhode’s pre-launch seeding created a sense of exclusivity and tons of early chatter as influencers unboxed products and shared first impressions. 

Even a few posts like that can snowball into widespread interest. Alongside seeding, consider an affiliate program or discount codes for influencers. This gives creators an incentive to promote (they earn a commission per sale or their followers get a deal), and it provides you trackable sales data. Many micro-influencers are eager to join affiliate programs as it rewards their genuine recommendations.

5. Track Results and Iterate: As with any marketing effort, keep an eye on your metrics and be ready to adjust. Define KPIs for your influencer campaigns – it could be EMV (earned media value) like Rhode tracked, direct sales using unique Amazon affiliate links, new followers on your socials, or content assets generated. Use analytics (some platforms provide dashboards) to see which influencers or content themes perform best. Double down on what works. 

If a particular micro-influencer is driving a lot of conversion, consider a deeper partnership or even making them a brand ambassador. If a certain style of TikTok video about your product goes viral, prompt other influencers to try something similar. Influencer marketing is part art, part science – you need to listen to the data without losing the human touch that makes this channel so special.

By following these tips, brands can build their own influencer-powered growth engine. The key is to think long-term and relationship-first. Influencer marketing in 2025 isn’t about one-off transactions; it’s about building a network of passionate advocates for your brand. When done right, it can propel even a modest e-commerce business to new heights of visibility and sales – and maybe, just maybe, set you on the path to becoming the next big acquisition story!

Conclusion to Why e.l.f. Cosmetics’ Acquisition of Rhode Is a Game-Changer for Influencer Marketing and E‑Commerce

The marriage of e.l.f. and Rhode stands as a landmark in the evolution of influencer marketing. It validates that in today’s digital age, a savvy creator with a vision can build a brand that not only rivals the industry giants, but also becomes a prime target for them. For brands, it’s a wake-up call to embrace the power of influencers – be it macro celebs or micro niche voices – in shaping their futures. For influencers, it’s an inspiration to think bigger about your own brand and business potential. And for everyone in the e-commerce arena, it’s proof that community and authenticity are the new currency of success. 

The influencer marketing landscape is blazing forward, and the e.l.f.–Rhode deal just poured rocket fuel into it. Now is the time to hop on board, experiment, and innovate – the next billion-dollar brand story may very well be written by you.

Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand Rhode has been acquired by e.l.f. Beauty in a deal valued at up to $1 billion. This blockbuster acquisition – one of the most high-profile beauty deals in recent years – comes less than three years after Rhode’s launch in 2022. In that short time, the influencer-founded brand skyrocketed from zero to about $212 million in net sales with only 10 products and a direct-to-consumer strategy. Bieber’s massive personal influence and Rhode’s savvy digital marketing helped the brand achieve #1 status in earned media value (EMV) among skincare lines, driving an estimated $400 million in EMV in 2024 with engagement rates above industry benchmarks. 

By William Gasner

CMO at Stack Influence

William Gasner is the CMO of Stack Influence, he's a 6X founder, a 7-Figure eCommerce seller, and has been featured in leading publications like Forbes, Business Insider, and Wired for his thoughts on the influencer marketing and eCommerce industries.

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stack up your influence
turning creativity into currency

our headquarters

111 NE 1st St, 8th Floor 
Miami, FL 33132

our contact info

[email protected]

Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand Rhode has been acquired by e.l.f. Beauty in a deal valued at up to $1 billion. This blockbuster acquisition – one of the most high-profile beauty deals in recent years – comes less than three years after Rhode’s launch in 2022. In that short time, the influencer-founded brand skyrocketed from zero to about $212 million in net sales with only 10 products and a direct-to-consumer strategy. Bieber’s massive personal influence and Rhode’s savvy digital marketing helped the brand achieve #1 status in earned media value (EMV) among skincare lines, driving an estimated $400 million in EMV in 2024 with engagement rates above industry benchmarks. 

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© 2025 Stack Influence Inc