Merit Flush Balm vs Rhode Pocket Blush: Which glowy formula is best?

Rhode and Merit are two of the most popular ‘clean girl’ beauty brands out there.

Merit is known for its dewy, buildable, and minimalist formulas that cater to busy people and those who prefer a more natural look. Founded by Hailey Bieber, Rhode is a highly successful brand adored for its barrier-repairing skincare products and hydrating makeup staples that promote healthy-looking skin.

Both brands have cream stick blushes that have become cult classics in the makeup community. They’re pretty similar, so I decided to put the Merit Flush Balm and Rhode Pocket Blush to the test to find out which dewy formula is the best.

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Need-to-knows

Before I delve into this comparison, I wanted to give you a rundown of how I tested the stick blushes. I’ve got combination skin with mild rosacea. Whenever I swatched or applied either product, I kept everything else as similar as possible for a true comparison. This includes the majority of my skin prep, makeup products, the brush I used to apply the products, and the time of day. When I tested the cream blushes, the weather was warm, so this could impact the longevity.

About the Merit Flush Balm

The Merit Flush Balm is a vegan and cruelty-free cream blush. It claims to be buildable, glowy, last all day, and never feel cakey or greasy. Merit says its blush stick is suitable for people with sensitive and acne-prone skin. Available in 13 shades, with a good range of colours for all skin tones, the blush costs £26 for 9g. Merit is Leaping Bunny-approved.

About the Rhode Pocket Blush

The Rhode Pocket Blush is a vegan and cruelty-free cream blush. It promises to be hydrating, deliver a radiant satin finish, be lightweight, and stay put all day. Rhode says this formula melts on smoothly, never feels greasy, and leaves you with baby-soft cheeks. Available in 13 shades, with a wide range of colours for all skin tones, the blush costs £25 for 5.3g. Rhode is Leaping Bunny-approved.

The comparison

Price and packaging

Merit wins on price, as it costs £26 for 9g, whereas Rhode costs £25 for 5.3g. That means you’re getting almost double the amount of product in the Merit Flush Balm for just about the same price.

However, I slightly prefer the Rhode Pocket Blush’s packaging. The lid feels sturdier, I like the sleek cylinder tube, and it looks modern. Both are very lightweight, though, making them perfect for travelling.

Shade range

Both cream blushes come in 13 shades. Rhode and Merit offer a great range of shades, from baby pinks and warm terracottas to deep berries, soft peaches, and cool mauves. I think Rhode offers a better range of colours for deeper complexions, whereas Merit has a more extensive range of soft neutral tones.

Swatches

The swatches below were done on the back of my hand. I swatched the shade Fox (a warm taupe) from Merit Beauty and the shade Sleepy Girl (a soft mauve) from Rhode below. This photo is completely unedited and taken in natural light.

While the shades are obviously different, you can also see some noticeable differences in formula. Rhode is more pigmented, smoother, and offers a satin sheen. Merit is much dewier, less pigmented, and balmier.

Formula application

For this review, I applied both blush sticks by swiping some product on the back of my hand first, dipping an angled brush into the blush on the back of my hand to coat the bristles evenly, and then using the brush in tapping motions to distribute the blush across my cheeks.

I prefer applying the Rhode Pocket Blush using this method. The blush applies smoothly, blends effortlessly, and you can build pigmentation to your desired level. It doesn’t disturb any complexion products underneath and leaves you with an even pop of colour. It’s also very easy to buff the edges out for a soft, diffused look.

When I applied the Merit Flush Balm using this method, it applied patchily and took a fair bit of working into the skin for even coverage. As I blended this blush into my skin, it started to disturb my foundation underneath. Because this formula is very creamy, it’s easy to blend the product into nothingness. I think this blush works better when applied directly to the cheeks and using a brush to blend out.

Overall, I prefer the smoother, versatile, and creamy consistency of Rhode’s cream blush, as it doesn’t slip around on the skin.

Makeup looks

I did a makeup look with both cream blushes so you can see what they look like on the skin. For this, I used the same primer, foundation, concealer, setting spray, and setting powder.

See what they look like on the skin below:

For my Merit makeup look, it’s just the blush applied directly on top of primer, foundation, concealer, setting spray, and setting powder. For my Rhode makeup look, as well as the same complexion products, I’m also wearing bronzer and highlighter.

I think both look nice on the skin. Rhode is more pigmented, satin, and smooth, whereas Merit is more natural and subtle. On the cheeks, Merit is nowhere near as glowy as the swatch. However, I think if you applied the Merit blush with your fingertips or directly onto your cheeks, it would be more radiant.

Personally, I prefer the seamless look of the Rhode Pocket Blush. I love how versatile it is, and it’s completely foolproof. If you apply too much, you can buff it out so it looks softer.

Longevity

The Rhode Pocket Blush has better lasting power than the Merit Flush Balm. After 8 hours, the Rhode blush has minimal fading and still looks smooth and even. In the same amount of time, the Merit blush fades significantly.

Key differences between Merit Flush Balm and Rhode Pocket Blush

The biggest difference between the Rhode Pocket Blush and Merit Flush Balm comes down to performance. Rhode delivers a smoother, more pigmented formula with better longevity and easier application, while Merit offers a sheerer, more natural finish and significantly better value for money thanks to its larger size. Both are lightweight, travel-friendly cream blushes with 13 shades, but they’ll appeal to different makeup preferences.

Which dewy blush balm is the best? The verdict

I like both the Merit Flush Balm and Rhode Pocket Blush. They have different strengths, with Rhode being more pigmented, smooth, and long-wearing and Merit being creamier, more natural, and better value for money.

The Rhode Pocket Blush is my favourite overall. I love how seamless it is to work with, the lit-from-within finish, and the fact it doesn’t disturb base makeup. While it’s more expensive, because it’s also more pigmented, you don’t need as much product, which makes it last that bit longer.

Sarah Sarsby is the owner of A Woman's Confidence. With over 7 years' experience of writing in the fields of beauty and lifestyle, Sarah is passionate about all things content, makeup, skincare, wellness, and lifestyle. She has combination skin, is obsessed with lip gloss, and loves cookie dough.