This £4 Blush From Boots Is Exactly Like Rhode’s Pocket Blush – We Should Know, We Tried It

That's an impressive saving of £20.

Published on6th March 2025 at 3.49pm

Social media's obsession with Hailey Bieber’s beauty brand Rhode is still going strong. Her reputation as one of beauty’s ‘it’ girls is as strong as ever. Famed for her glazed doughnutmanicures and radiant-skinned, clean-girl aesthetic, she's something of a modern beauty phenomenon. That lip peptide phone case? A must among beauty editors. The newest lip shape liner? It’s finally back in stock. And the latest launch to achieve cult status? The Rhode Pocket Blush, £24, of course.

Since its launch in June last year, those dinky bullets have been chucked into make-up bags and swiped across cheekbones the world over, earning their place as one of 2025's beauty staples. Make-up artist to the stars Gucci Westman (who has a rival blush of her own) even leant the product her personal seal of approval on Instagram. A huge moment.

Naturally, with every successful new beauty product comes an influx of purported dupes. Creators are keen to share their opinions on the products that live up to the hype as well as those that miss the mark (there are plenty). It’s important to note, that, where dupes are concerned we err on the side of dubious. It’s rare that we come across anything close to the quality of the original, but it’s sometimes helpful to shine a light on something that may prove a fitting alternative for those keen to buy something similar on a budget. Leave it to #DupeTok (the corner of the internet where creators compare these budget buys to their high end counterparts) to do the rest.

Watch: TikTokers Say They've Found The Best Rhode Blush Dupe

TikTok creator @kkady took to the platform to share her latest find - the 17. Melting Creme Blush in Coffee Love, £4, which she's likened to Rhode's Pocket Blush In Toasted Teddy, £24 'It's a good blush, it blends out really nicely, and it's a stunning colour - I'm a big fan. I would recommend,' she said after applying. But ever the dupe cynics, we thought it only right to compare the two ourselves.

Our review

Rachael Martin beauty editor:

‘If anyone from the Grazia beauty team could be accused of blush blindness it's me. Guilty as charged. I'm unapologetically loyal to a deep, dramatic flush of colour. Could it be deemed "a bit much?" Oh, absolutely. But I won't back down. Fellow blush mavens won't be surprised to know I'm already all over Rhode's Toasted Teddy. The richly pigmented terracotta-toned-pink is my dream shade and it's long been my go-to. Blurring the lines between a blusher and bronzer, it delivers 'sunshine skin' immediately after a speedy scribble and blend. I use it daily, so consider me a good candidate to try out the 17. Melting Creme Blush.'

First impressions? From the get-go there's a considerable likeness where the colour is concerned although, after swatching, it would seem Coffee Love is marginally more red in tone. To truly test the similarities, I applied Rhode to one cheek and 17 to the other. Although I preferred using the stubby bullet as opposed to the pan, both blushes felt very similar on my skin. Soft and creamy, they blended out easily and felt comfortable and non-greasy - both are bolstered with their own clever blends of skin softening ingredients. Impressive stuff. Thus far. However_,_ when it comes to longevity it soon became clear that Rhode's offering was superior. By the end of the day there was a little fading and even signs of patchiness on my left cheek (17's cheek) while the flush of colour on my Rhode cheek stayed even until bed-time. Would I recommend 17's iteration as a dupe? For a mere £3 it is an attractive option - if you don't mind a quick refresh in the afternoon, that is. The warm, rich colour is similar, and, from my side by side pictures (scroll on down) there's little visible difference. That said, I won't be tempted away from my trusted Toasted Teddy Rhode shade anytime soon. The novelty of applying direct from the bullet coupled with the budge-proof colour just feels that touch more special. But 17's Coffee Love is a great buy in its own right.'