Summer Cheek Challenge 2025: A Song & A Slay

[danielledanielle]

Sun's out, whether you're outside with easy breezy beach vibes, camp vibes, OOO vibes, staycation status..... Or all of the above, we're going to blush, bronze and highlight through it allllllllll.  So whether you're shopping your stash, tipping your temples into draping, or justifying your 10000000th blush, please join in. 

 

This time, I want YOUR SWATCH SONG. 
THAT'S right.  I want your songs of summer and your blush look.  And, I know you're gonna slay it.

But, danielledanielle that doesn't make any sense.  These are two separate things, like whyyyyy?  

Well, I'm at this point, you haven't figured out that I'm open for all interpretation, but okay okayyyy

For each challenge, I want a song that just gives you that summer vibe.  Bonus if you can give me a playlist and post to either BIC Playlist and/or 🎶✨Song of the Day and Music Thread!✨🎶 
Red and Ready\RED-dy (June 16-22): Juneteenth Week
(Read up on Juneteenth and why this is typically it's more of an independence day than independence day 😑)
But, embrace that red blush trend and give me a song that gets you RED-dy for the summer.  It can be a muted red as well, I.e., something with green tint/tone to it.

Staycation Radiostation (June 23-29): the vibe is, I'm home, and home is the best club.  What are we wearing, what are we listening to?

Highlight on the Horizon Hotlist (Jun 30-Jul 5): What is the song you'd connect with sunset blush?  Give me your tunes and your favorite blush + highlight combo. 

Bronzed Up Beats (July 6-12) Sun and fun, what's your favorite uptempo song and what's your current bronzer situation? Powder, creme, liquid...all the above?  Bonus if we're also using bronzer for contour.  (I'm not saying these are interchangeable.  But, yes, you can contour with bronzer, and for some undertones/overtones it works out much better 🙋🏽‍♀️💚🩶)

Camp Crescendo (July 13-19): Bonfire and a bop... What's the look for a day of glamping/camping? If you don't camp/glamp and glam, feel free to drop the skincare/SPF routine.

Top Tier Top 5 (July 20-26)
What are your favorites for cheek combos?  USE THEM this week.  This is my "use your pretty things" year and this is the week I'm doing it.  You trying to pan? GO.  You have a drawer of blushing spilling out? Go wild!  Give me your top five songs and top five cheek products.

*****************************

BONUS WEEK!

Jul 28-Aug 3: Take it back, waaaaaaaaaaay back...back into time

If you're catching up, or just loving on something, give me your favorite from this Cheek Challenge and your favorite throwback tune of the summer

*****************************************

 

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti...... Let's goooooo

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi That's too bad it was discontinued. Maybe it's one of those things they will re-release. Or perhaps DM will come out with some type of glitter primer. I don't think she has anything like that, although maybe the eyeshadow bases are meant to work for that. I'll research the NYX version as well. Thank you again! 

[itsfi]

That would be great @PrettyPaint; we'll see. It was discontinued early last year, if I'm remembering right. I mentioned it to one of their global makeup artists and he said that he'd let his contacts know, but that it would be one of those wait-and-see things as they had recently (at that time) just had a new Creative Director come on board and everyone was waiting to see what the collection might look like under that new director. 

If you pick up the NYX primer, would love to know your thoughts on it - not that I'll get through this tube of the Valentino anytime soon but it's nice to know options.

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi I certainly will let you know if I try it. Primer is one of those products that I never quite know how often to replace. I'm working on an about-face eye primer (with a wand), and I just was thinking this morning that it's way over 3-months old if the mascara rule applies to eye primer. I'm really not trying to buy primer every three months, though. 

[itsfi]

@PrettyPaint, ooouh, I like the about-face primer a lot - it, the NARS one & the Valentino glitter are my go-to's. The Valentino is in tube form so it's a little more hygienic in that regard. Do you apply the primer to your lids directly from the wand? In an effort to extend the life of my products, I've been taking product out of the tube and then swiping it on the back of my hands, a dish/palette thing, or picking product up with clean brush and then applying to my lids, for newly opened items, that is. 

Just looked it up and it seems like up to 12-24 months from opening is the shelf life for primers, depending on storage, use, etc., with up to 12 months for water-based primers and up to 24 for silicone-based primers. That can probably be used as a guide, unless something about the product is off - looks, smell, etc. I should probably check to see if my primers have the info about shelf life on the container, though some are just listed on the box. Grrrr.  

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi Yeah, unfortunately I've been applying the primer with the wand. When I first opened it, I was initially applying it to the back of my hands to avoid contamination. I usually start out with good intentions, but once I have a busy morning and am running late I get lazy and apply directly to the eye. 😞 

Thank you for looking up the shelf life - 12-24 months sounds like a good guide. Next time I get a new one, I'll try to be good and swipe it on the back of my hands. I do wish more brands used the tube form. 

[danielledanielle]

😂 @itsfi 

Oh Cay Skin 🫶🏽

HL on my mind now 🤔

[itsfi]

lol, yeah @danielledanielle, I'm self aware enough to know that camping in the great outdoors (I mean, real camping) is gonna be one of those activities that will take me some time to get myself mentally prepared. 

The Cay Skin lip tints are very nice. Chemical filters in lip products I can generally do without problem. Love the tinted ones she offers as well. Now that we're talking about the brand, I should do a little research into her physical sunscreens - errrr, so I can have a list prepared when I've gone through my current supply of sunscreen. 😅 

I fully support keeping that Haus Labs blush sticks on your mind .. maybe even swatch them if you happen to be near a store. For when a sale hits. Yes, for when a sale hits. Because you're on a low buy. 

[danielledanielle]

I am wondering why I included this prompt...I think because of the Nature Walks and The Beautiful Outdoors photos 🌿🌷🏞 thread, I thought "someone must like camping!  They are outside...there's a moose! Alas, nature walks and camping are very different things and it seems like at BIC, we might not even be glampers (most of us) 😂 @itsfi 

Look, I have swatched HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick Glassy Clov... many a times, for research purposes, it will be decided later

[itsfi]

It's a great prompt @danielledanielle! Very on point with a summer theme. And believe you me, I'm taking notes on how to slay my cheek makeup should the opportunity to actually go camping or glamping ever come up (and I decide to take hold of that opportunity...) But currently, my point of reference for it is just very ... limited. 😅 So i did what I could.

Camping ...Glamping ...

@itsfi in The Great Outdoors ... ruh roh, this doesn't look familiar ...

Photo credits: familydrifts(dot)com for tent pics and

dreamstime(dot)com for lost in woods image

Keep up with that research! I think a holiday mini set of the Haus Labs blush sticks would be lovely!! 

[danielledanielle]

@itsfi , 😂 lost in the woods.  Too real.

[sister13]

Hi hi hi family!! What a great challenge as always @danielledanielle ! I’ll see if I can manage to get a look in for the last week or two! 🩷💜❤️

[danielledanielle]

You're welcome to hop in anytime! I'm happy you broke through the login brigade just to post this! @sister13 

[PDXXXX]

SPF LOVES FROM A CITY GIRL WHO WILL STAY IN A HOTEL PLEASE:

I like hiking. I like being on the river, lakes and beaches. But camping? Glamping??

So, let's talk about something I do know a thing or two about as someone who turns into an instant tomato in hot weather - sunscreen (of note, these are all pretty sweatproof products for times you're trying to pull a natural no/low makeup look while being outdoorsy to boot, though as well).

SOME OF MY FAVS :

I'm stoked to have discovered EltaMD's color-correcting face sunscreen (right). EltaMD is fab whether you get the color-correcting or original. I've used it for years and it's never pilled under makeup, made my skin flare, or left a white-cast.

I'm trying different body sunscreens and after some trial and error the Coola (middle) is rocking. I'm also a big Supergoop fan.

But sometimes (often) what I really need this time of year is a product to relieve my redness and calm things down. And Avene's Antirougers Mask (left) fits that bill perfectly. It's discontinued now, though. So, I've been hoarding it and also looking for replacements. Of what I've tried so far, the entire Summer Fridays Jet Lag line (not pictured but the Summer Fridays The Jet Lag™ Essentials Hydration Set for Travel is a great way to try it - the serum and mask in particular are helping me a ton) is my absolute favorite.

Now, makeup with SPF? I've tried a lot. And I am blown away by every Ciele product I've tried so far. The ciele prime & PROTECT SPF 30+ Smoothing Primer (not shown) is lightweight and moisturizing. And I'm in love with the ciele tint & PROTECT medium coverage serum foundation with SPF 50+ (shown in shade Fair, second from left) and the ciele blush & PROTECT SPF 50+ liquid blush  (shown in shade Elodie, second from right). They all apply like butter, the shades are great and hello...SPF 50?? Um, yes.

THE SPF LADEN LOW/NO MAKEUP FACE ON ME (USING ALL THE PRODUCTS ABOVE):

I also swiped on some Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil Stain Serenity and worked in a little bronzer and highlight with Hourglass Ambient® Lighting Palette. And did a basic eye with my usual mascara.

MUSIC:

You guys have been inspiring my listening a lot with these challenges, and I'm currently going to the way back with some low-key Lauren Hill. Such a good album and one song I'm feeling today in particular:

[lmaster]

Such a beautiful look!! @PDXXXX 

[Cissy63]

@PDXXXX  Such pretty choices for spf coverage!  I also like Coola . Especially the COOLA Scalp & Hair Sunscreen & Color Protection Mist with SPF 30 .  This one is great for the beach when my hat just wants to blow off with every gust of wind 💨!

[PDXXXX]

Thank you @Cissy63 ! I've been curious about a scalp/hair SPF - great recommendation! 

[makeitup305]

@PDXXXX beautiful! great song, too!

[PDXXXX]

@makeitup305 thank you, lovely! Hope you're doing well.

[itsfi]

Hahaha! I fully support you going the hotel route @PDXXXX and you're all set with the sunscreen and makeup! Does the Coola SPF smell like tropical coconut? I'll have to check out that Avene mask. 

[PDXXXX]

I believe the Coola comes in at least two scents, but yes, somehow you have intuited that I went for the coconut-scented one (it's not a terribly heavy scent, though, which is nice in terms of perfume layering options). Avene has so many great products for sensitive/dry skin. It really is a nice, cooling mask. If you can't find it anywhere, their Tolerance line is also a gem.

[danielledanielle]

You know I love this @PDXXXX , because I couldn't fathom going camping but I imagine this is what it would look like if a makeup maven did it! 

The song choice 🤌🏽🤌🏽 that's an album you listen to in completion, like there's not that may I'd still listen to from start to finish

Yay ciele!

Glad to hear feedback on the coolant, I always wondered about it, but then press through with other sunscreens, yet I 🤔 

Spoiler

Glamping is me going on a hike, maybe, and then getting some wine 🍷 (?)... But, I know it's a thing people do!