We Tested the New Rhode Blush for Two Weeks—Here's Our Honest Review of Every Shade (2024)

We Tested the New Rhode Blush for Two Weeks—Here's Our Honest Review of Every Shade (1)

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Just like her pregnancy, Hailey Bieber hid the new Rhode Pocket Blush right under our noses. That strawberry makeup trend she started last summer? Yeah, that was secretly Rhode blush. Her "peachy beachy" summer glow? Secretly Rhode blush. And, I'd bet my bottom dollar she was wearing Rhode blush during that internet-breaking pregnancy announcement/vow renewal ceremony, too. And now, the time has finally come for us common folk to try her skincare brand Rhode's first foray into the makeup space.

As of today, you can shop the "little blush for a little flush" on Rhode's website in six summery shades, along with coordinating lip tints and phone cases. The lightweight, buildable cream blush stick (which can also be worn on your lips, btw) has a soft, satiny finish that creates a natural-looking glow. Designed to work in tandem with other Rhode products, it's packed with peptides, fatty acid-rich tamanu oil, and other skincare ingredients that can help you achieve Hailey's signature glazed donut skin.

With soooo many new blushes hitting the market rn (call it the Sabrina Carpenter effect), the Cosmo beauty team took it upon ourselves to wear-test this latest launch in the name of research. Here are honest thoughts on the formula, shade range, and packaging, along with application tips and cute selfies showing off our fave shades.

Rhode Pocket Blush in Freckle

We Tested the New Rhode Blush for Two Weeks—Here's Our Honest Review of Every Shade (2)

When Rhode says the formula is lightweight and buildable, they mean it. Believe it or not, I'm wearing three layers of Freckle in this photo. After I'd applied what felt like the perfect amount, I looked in the mirror a few hours later and thought "I need more," so I reapplied. As someone who's used to using hyper-pigmented cheek products like Haus Labs' Color Fuse Powder Blush and Rare Beauty's Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, I simply wasn't applying enough product. But once I got the right amount, I loved how it looked.

Of the six shades, Freckle looked the most natural on my light olive skin. The neutral peach hue has a nice balance of orange, pink, and tan tones that adapt well to different eyeshadows and lip colors. I also loved it as a base layer for brighter shades like Spicy Marg and Juice Box.

Rhode Pocket Blush in Spicy Marg

We Tested the New Rhode Blush for Two Weeks—Here's Our Honest Review of Every Shade (3)

"I love a cream blush for a quick and easy no-makeup-makeup moment. I opted for the coral shade Spicy Marg because I love a peachy glow in the summertime. It felt soft and satiny on my cheeks, as described, and I liked the semi-matte finish because it gave me the glow-from-within look that I was going for," says Heath Owens, senior commerce editor.

While the product is first and foremost a cheek color, it's safe to use on your lips for a super easy monochrome makeup look. I wouldn't recommend swiping it on like a normal lip product, but instead, rubbing your fingertip on the stick and dabbing a tiny bit in the center of your lips. When I did so with Spicy Marg, it created a warm, sunkissed look that felt just right for summer.

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Rhode Pocket Blush in Toasted Teddy

We Tested the New Rhode Blush for Two Weeks—Here's Our Honest Review of Every Shade (4)

"The brown undertone of Toasted Teddy is pretty, but I definitely need to use a few layers for it to show up on my skin tone," says Nashia Baker, commerce editor. "Since the shade has a faint appearance on my complexion once it's fully blended, I think it's best for layering with other products like bronzer for a more noticeable makeup look."

While I wouldn't go so far as to say that the new Rhode blush isn't inclusive, the lightweight texture and softer color payoff mean that darker skin tones will need to use a lot more product than someone whose complexion is similar to Hailey's. Shade-wise, Toasted Teddy was the clear winner for deep skin tones. The rich terracotta color had enough oomph to create a nice, natural-looking flush, unlike Freckle and Sleepy Girl, which became almost invisible when blended in.

Rhode Pocket Blush in Sleepy Girl

We Tested the New Rhode Blush for Two Weeks—Here's Our Honest Review of Every Shade (5)

Regardless of the shade, testers agreed that applying the product with your fingers or a brush was more effective than swiping the stick directly onto your cheek. Though direct application yielded a more intense color payoff, it was harder to control just how much product was applied and how it blended out.

I blend-tested the soft mauve shade Sleepy Girl using a variety of different face makeup brushes and found that shorter, stiffer bristles yielded smoother results than large, fluffy ones. The domed triangular shape of my beloved Anisa Beauty Pinnacle Foundation Brush worked wonders compared to my fingertips.

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Rhode Pocket Blush in Piggy

We Tested the New Rhode Blush for Two Weeks—Here's Our Honest Review of Every Shade (6)

"I've patiently awaited my turn to try Rhode's cream blush since Mrs. Bieber began teasing it on Instagram... and I'm excited to say that I was way more impressed than I anticipated based on other reviews," says Beth Gillette, beauty editor. "The formula is so creamy that I could swipe it on and then blend it out with my finger (as I did when I applied it in the photo above). But, it has just enough body and grip to really stick to my cheeks and stay put for hours. I blended Piggy on my cheeks around noon, and it was still at peak opacity when I came home at 6 p.m."

Rhode Pocket Blush in Juice Box

We Tested the New Rhode Blush for Two Weeks—Here's Our Honest Review of Every Shade (7)

The hot pink shade Juice Box was a surprise favorite for many Team Cosmo testers, and my spidey senses tell me it's going to be one of #BeautyTok's top picks, too. I'll admit I was a little scared of just how hot pink it was in the tube, but it looked waaay less intense once on the skin.

As associate shopping editor Daisy Maldonado's selfie proves, Juice Box looks great on its own, but I found it pops even more if you begin with a base layer of the light pink Piggy shade. First, I blended a layer of Piggy all along my cheekbones and up my temples using this $5 liquid blush brush from Elf. Then, I dabbed Juice Box on the apples of my cheeks for added dimension. A touch of highlighter on the high points, et voila!

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What we liked:

We Tested the New Rhode Blush for Two Weeks—Here's Our Honest Review of Every Shade (8)

The natural-looking finish

Like all Rhode skincare products, the new Pocket Blush is vegan and cruelty-free, which are v important in my book. The fragrance-free formula features peptides, fatty acids, and tamanu oil, which help hydrate the skin and create Hailey's signature plump, dewy look. It's not glossy or shimmery, so you can layer highlighter on top of it without looking overly shiny. Plus, you can dab it on your lips for a monochromatic moment.

The color-coordinating lip tints

Fans of Rhode's viral Peptide Lip Treatment will be thrilled to hear it's available this summer in four limited-edition tinted shades that coordinate with the new blush sticks. Purchasing the two products together in the $42 Pocket Blush + Peptide Lip Tint Duo won't save you money (bummer), but it will ensure you grab the correct shades for a monochrome blush-gloss combo. Die-hards can take their Rhode obsession a step further by grabbing one of the four color-coordinating, limited-edition Summer Lip iPhone Cases.

What we didn't like:

We Tested the New Rhode Blush for Two Weeks—Here's Our Honest Review of Every Shade (9)

The packaging

Though most of the feedback I received from Cosmo testers was positive, there were a few areas where we found room for improvement—mainly, the packaging. For a blush that's marketed to be pocket-size, it's surprisingly bulky.

Though the fill size is the same 0.18 oz as most other blush sticks, the tube itself is noticeably wider than the narrow applicator inside. Yes, 50% of the plastic used is upcycled post-consumer materials, and yes, you can theoretically mail your empty containers back to Rhode for recycling, but it's still disheartening to see a new product launch with wasteful packaging. I'm crossing my fingers that we'll see more streamlined (or perhaps refillable) packaging in the future.

The color payoff

Some testers found the buildable coverage too lightweight and wanted a more intense color pay-off from a single swipe. The formula is best suited for subtle everyday makeup looks, what the brand likes to call "a natural flush." Yes, you can achieve the bold statement blush Alex Cosani and Paloma Elsesser wear in the campaign, but it'll take you many layers to get there.

"As someone who loves an in-your-face kind of blush, I had to swipe on quite a bit for it to make an impact," says Maldonado. "I feel like this would appear more pigmented with a tinted moisturizer than with medium to full coverage foundation.”

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The final verdict:

We Tested the New Rhode Blush for Two Weeks—Here's Our Honest Review of Every Shade (10)

The TL;DR is that the dewy finish and lightweight, buildable formula work best for no-makeup-makeup days when you want a subtle, natural-looking flush. It's the type of product you keep tucked inside your bag for a quick pick-me-up when you're on the go.

While the Pocket Blush may be the first Rhode makeup product to hit the market, it's certainly not the last. Additional launches are on the horizon, at least based on the hints Hailey has been dropping in her GRWM vids. But it goes without saying, Baby Bieber is still the new arrival we're the most excited about.

We Tested the New Rhode Blush for Two Weeks—Here's Our Honest Review of Every Shade (11)

Sarah Maberry

Fashion and Luxury Commerce Editor

Sarah Maberry is a fashion and luxury commerce editor at Hearst Magazines, where she covers fashion, beauty and pop culture. A seasoned trend forecaster and fashion historian, she analyzes viral products and trends on a deeper level, helping readers determine what's worth buying. When she’s not writing for ELLE, Harper’s BAZAAR, Town & Country, Esquire, Cosmopolitan and other publications, she can be found roaming the Museum at FIT (her alma matter) or sewing her own couture while she binge-watches reality TV.

We Tested the New Rhode Blush for Two Weeks—Here's Our Honest Review of Every Shade (2024)
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