I Tried the Brand New Rhode Pocket Blush & I Have Tons of Thoughts
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Rhode, founded by queen of the clean girls Hailey Bieber, has quickly become Gen Z’s favorite skincare brand. From its Peptide Lip Treatments to Glazing Treatments, Rhode has proven to be TikTok certified viral. And with so many loyal fans, the brand has decided to venture into the makeup world with the release of its brand new Pocket Blushes. As a perpetual blush hoarder, I was beyond excited to test it out for myself and see what all the Rhode hype is about.
Surprisingly, I haven’t tried any of Rhode’s skincare products. Mostly because I’ve never felt the need to, since I already have an established skincare routine. But when it comes to makeup, I’m way more open to trying new things. In the humid NYC summer, I tend to stick to a more basic makeup routine—so when I saw the Pocket Blush claimed to be the perfect lightweight blush for on-the-go, I was more than interested. While I reach for my Glossier Cloud Paint the most these days, I was inspired to step out of my comfort zone and try the new clean girl-approved blush.
The blush is $24 and comes in six different shades. Because I’m a lover of cool-toned blushes, I opted for Piggy, which is a baby pink. But there’s tons of shades to choose from, there’s Spicy Marg (a bright coral), Sleepy Girl (a soft mauve), and Juice Box (a hot pink), Freckle (a neutral peach), and Toasted Teddy (a bronze terracotta). Unlike Cloud Paint, the Pocket Blushes have far more shades that I could see myself using.
How to Use Rhode’s Pocket Blush
Although I know skincare enthusiasts warn that directly applying a product to your skin can be unhygienic, that’s usually how I apply the Pocket Blush. I swipe it on to my cheeks and use a sponge to blend it out. The super dewy formula makes it easy to blend, so if you’re doing your makeup in a pinch you can use your fingers to blend it out too. Because it’s so dewy, it usually looks pretty sheer after only one swipe. (Even though, it didn’t look too sheer on Hailey Bieber in the campaign photos.) So if you like a lot of blush like me, feel free to pack on a lot to get your desired look.
Like most cream blushes, the application is fairly simple. But, some people on TikTok find that applying blush directly to your skin isn’t the best method. While the Pocket Blush’s creamy formula eliminates the need for tons of blending, you could always transfer it on to a brush or the back of your hand first. And if you don’t find yourself using your fingers at all, you might not fully understand how creamy (and borderline oily), the formula truly feels.
Our Rhode Pocket Blush Review
Because I have dry skin, I found the Pocket Blush to look natural and dewy. Admittedly, I’ve never tried a cream blush with a formula like this one. While other cream blushes have been too dry for me, the Pocket Blush had the opposite problem. When I rubbed it between my fingers, I was shocked by how slippery and almost greasy it felt. The upside however, is that it’s super easy to blend and won’t go on patchy like other blushes. For me, the blush lasted all day, but I really wondered if someone with oily skin would have the same results. While Rhode claims that it can work on all skin types, to me—it definitely feels like a formula that would work best for normal-to-dry skin.
When I’m sticking to a minimal makeup routine, I want my blush to do the heavy lifting. Since I’m so used to Cloud Paint, I always apply the tiniest amount because of how pigmented it is. But in terms of color payoff, the Pocket Blush left a lot to be desired. To me, it seems a little excessive to have to apply the blush and blend it out multiple times to get a more saturated look. But for the days when my skin is feeling super dry and I just want to add a bit of color to my cheeks, it’s a nice option to have.
With all that in mind, I enjoyed how the Pocket Blush melted into my skin almost instantly and left my cheeks looking naturally flushed. And because wearing highlighter is becoming less and less common, a blush like this nails that glow-from-within Sabrina Carpenter dewy look without being blinding like a 2016 highlighter. I can see it being a staple for my low-maintenance makeup days spent in the summer heat. If you’re a normal-to-dry girly craving an easy-to-use, creamy, yet sheer blush—it might be worth trying.
