Cheek Challenge Winter 2026: I'm Ready For My Glow Up, Mr. DeMille.

[danielledanielle]

 

Are you ready for your close up glow up?I want Main. Character. Energy. (Definition in the spoiler....Not to be confused with Main Character Syndrome).

Definition: Main Character 👇🏽

Spoiler

 from psychplus.com

This is allowing yourself to shine, and while you don't need anything tangible to get there, I find a joy in coming up with looks, personas, costumes, playlists and routines/practices. If "fake it to you make it" is a motto you resonate with, you're not alone. Sometimes a really good look/beat is a big help. If you've come across any of my foolery, you might have caught me saying "I'm Beyoncé in my head, ALWAYS" as sort of a nod to this.

The weeks ahead, I want you to select icons from a variety of themes to blush your best. I want you to blush boldly, whatever that means to you, whether it's placement or pigment or even just practice by selecting products as described. If you attribute any of these to a persona, created or in existence, feel free to share.

Instafluence Ingenue (Jan 5-11): is there someone you follow on social media or even here in BIC that you want to pay homage to?  Or choose a blush/cheek product you were influenced into buying.  Character: Faithful Fan

May the Face Card never decline(Jan 12-18): Let's face map!  That's right, contouuuuurrrrr and highlight time!!!  Also, another Beyonce reference that lives in my head rent free. Character: Supermodel.

Heroically Highlighted (Jan 19-25): Give me the glow of your favorite hero.  This can be your favorite product, still/scene from a movie or all of the above. Character: Hero/Role Model 

Scene Stealing Sidekick (Jan 26-Feb 1) - Do you have a blush that just attracts too much attention, AKA steals the scene?  Tap into that scene stealing energy by finding ways to tamp it down or try different placements with it.  You can also align this with your favorite sidekick/secondary character from film/tv/media. Character: Scene Stealer or Breakout Star.

Am I .. The Antihero? (Feb 2-8): Pick a non-blush or hybrid item and blush boldly with it.  Character: the "bad" good guy.

Silver Screen Starlet (Feb 9-15): that's right, give me a look from the GOLDEN ERA of Hollywood.  The character is the title.

Big Screen Baddie (Feb 16-Feb 22): We had the bad good guy, now give me the good bad guy.  That's right..."Very Villainous , not at all demure...". This is a nod to the Evil Queen from Disney (she's so good) as well as our own @Cissy63  for her Evil Queen from last year's Winter Challenge.   Character : obvs, Evil Queen Energy!!

Just Call Me(Feb 23-Mar1)... [Insert alter ego] (Yes. Two Beyonce references.)  Beyonce used to refer to her stage presence as "Sasha Fierce."  If you had to do this with a look, how would it look?  Let me see those alter egos with your boldest blushes. Character: Alter Ego.

[lmaster]

Instafluence Ingenue x @SportyGirly125 

 

Using GUERLAIN Terracotta Sunkissed Natural Bronzer 03 and HUDA BEAUTY Blush Filter Blurring Blushlighters Palette Toasty Peach 

[danielledanielle]

May the Face Card never decline

Gucci Luminous Matte Powder Blush in Intense Ruby 

HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Precision Sculpt Shaping Balm Contour Stick Silhouette 

DIOR Forever Glow Maximizer Longwear Liquid Highlighter 016 Bronze 

DIOR Forever Glow Maximizer Longwear Liquid Highlighter 013 Gold 

DIOR Rosy Glow Blush Stick 103 Toffee 

 

I started out like the map, but placed Intense Ruby near the eyes, so it's more like this/ kinda of Liz Taylor-ly

[PDXXXX]

@danielledanielle the Gucci Intense Ruby looks gorgeous on you and I'm loving the lip color and cardigan as well! LMAO at the Liz Taylor picture as well - I am all about bringing my blush up towards the eyes as well though so I'm not mad at it lol.

[PDXXXX]

Instafluence Ingenue: Hourglass Founder Carisa Janes X  @caitbird 

This look was influenced by finding Hourglass founder Carisa Jane's new foundation line Outside In (maybe the best foundation I have found...ever?) and my dithering and dathering about whether to splurge on this year's Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked Palette Deer and seeing a review and look by @caitbird (who pulls off some of the most diffused, lovely looks I see here) that led me to part with the pretty chunk of change it took to snap it up

First off, the Hourglass Holiday Palette Struggle:

I think most of us know the hype and sometimes underwhelm of Hourglass's Holiday Palettes. The gorgeous packaging...the potential to try out shades exclusive to the palettes...the dreamy color stories. But, also sometimes having only two or three of the six shades really "work" for us, the seeming lack of color pay off and general confusion about how Hourglass's Ambient line works (are those finishing powders? setting powders? what brushes even fit into the tiny pans?). Admittedly I gave away both the palettes I snatched up last year because so few of the shades popped on me and the color payoff seemed weak. But then I got the Hourglass Ambient® Lighting Palette, started working more with the powders and watching more tutorials and was determined to figure out how people like @caitbird  have been pulling off the looks they do with them.

So what finally brought me back to the dark side I mean back on the Ambient Light train?

It finally hit me, for the most part, that a major key to the Ambient line is brush selection. So I want to start by sharing the brushes that are working for me and a shot of the Deer Palette and gloss I'm wearing with it today (see the spoiler for product descriptions):

Spoiler

In terms of the palette itself I simply got lucky this year as 5 of the 6 shades are working for me (I'm scared of that pink though). But mostly what I've finely learned is brush selection is key: think smaller, denser (to pick up more pigment), think even outside the contour, highlight and standard blush brushes (one of these is even a concealer brush). Some of my faves are SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Contour Brush #79, SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Contour Brush #78 , MAKEUP BY MARIO F3 Dual-Ended Precision Powder Brush due to it's small profile, SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Concealer Brush #57  and SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Bronzer Brush #80. And, of course, gotta love the versatility of CAY SKIN Isle Lip Balm SPF 30 with Sea Moss and Aloe Stem Cells Irie Rose.

I'm still learning (any tips on how you keep nailing those ethereal looks @caitbird or others?) But with what I've learned so far here is the look I came up with today:

I think I might even pan out on most this palette this year - who da thunk?

[danielledanielle]

I'm so giddy! First, radiance. 🍎 cheeks!

The tools really can make it break something, but I'm happy you unlocked the palette.  Here's to a pan 🥂 @PDXXXX 

[lmaster]

That's a beautiful blush shade on you @PDXXXX 

[PDXXXX]

Thank you @lmaster !

[sister13]

Okay well I have to say this is inspired by thread challenge extraordinaire @danielledanielle  though surely not as fabulous! I haven’t put on much makeup in a while and I was rushed since the little one woke up so I didn’t get to do my brows. The last one has the portrait filter on, fyi.

Anyway, on cheeks is the Hourglass Ambient Palette from several years ago (I keep wanting to buy the limited edition ones but this will last me to my grave!) and the Dior Glow Palette. I extended the blush up into the temples and topped with a swirl of the Dior highlighter. 

Switched the lip mid way, the first was a little browner than I was expecting.

Happy New Year everyone and hope you’re allall hanging in there!

 

 

 

 

[danielledanielle]

🫶🏽 @sister13 , pffft.  Not fabulous.  But FAB-oooh-lous 🤌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽

It's just so soft and sultry

[lmaster]

Incredibly stunning! @sister13 

[caitbird]

@sister13  you look absolutely beautiful! I know what you mean about the Hourglass face palettes - they are eternal, and yet somehow I always cave and pick up a holiday palette every year anyway 😅

[Titian06]

You look gorgeous, @sister13 !  I love the first lipstick.  What color is that?  It's wonderful to see you again! 😘  I hope all is well and the fur babies have adjusted to their human sibling. 😄

[Shosh85]

@sister13  Gorgeous!! Such a beautiful glow! 🌟

[PrettyPaint]

You look beautiful @sister13 What is the first lip color you are wearing? I love it.

[Titian06]

Today's blush was influenced by YT influencer Charlotte Holdcroft and her love for peachy/coral blushes. 🍑

- Ulta Blush Cream, color unknown (it came in a sample bag)

- Yves Saint Laurent Make Me Blush 24H Buildable Powder Blush 37 Peachy Nude 

- Saie Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Dewy Multipurpose Illuminator Starglow 

 

[PrettyPaint]

That blush is gorgeous @Titian06 

[Titian06]

Thanks, @PrettyPaint ! 🧡🧡🧡  It's VERY pigmented.

[sister13]

Ohhh so pretty! I wasn’t much into corals but then some of my favorite looks have been more peachy/coral! @Titian06 

[Titian06]

Corals are my fave, @sister13 !  I would think they would look lovely on you. 🧡🧡🧡

[caitbird]

@Titian06  ooh, I love these peachy/coral shades, I bet this was a stunning look! Off to check out Charlotte Holdcroft now - I'm always looking for new inspiration!