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

[jaaayp]

love this spreadsheet @itsfi ! i wouldn't expect anything else! 😂 i love your OG choices. It also reminds me that i need to go dig up my laguna before the summer is over (thank god this socal weather is like in the 90s still) 😍

[itsfi]

lol, a good spreadsheet comes in handy. It can all be right there, at a glance. 😊

Gotta love the OGs, @jaaayp. In the 90s? The warmest day of the summer so far here was mid week this week, clocking in at 76 degrees. And the next day it was back to low 60s. We do historically have late summers so we'll see what's in store for us this year.

[jaaayp]

Agreed - it's easy to see @itsfi ! Wow 76. How i miss 76. The past two weeks here have been MID 90s now. One of the days, my car said 101... feeling the heat yet? 😂

[PDXXXX]

@itsfi how do I love the spreadsheet, let me count the ways! I've been very curious about the Rare Beauty highlighter - I may have to snag a mini if I can get my hands on one. The Haus Labs is so intriguing too - so far I'm loving the color range.

[itsfi]

Gotta love a spreadsheet @PDXXXX! 😄Keeps it all organized. The Rare Beauty liquid cheek items are packed with product so the mini sizes are great 👍🏼. A little definitely goes a long way. Been super happy with the Haus Labs stick; it’s easy to use and I’m loving the color - it’ll be a good one for fall too. 

[Cissy63]

@itsfi  Oh I love your organization!   And your product choices are so pretty ❤️

[itsfi]

Thank you so much @Cissy63! I have my moments with being organized - the chart here, yes. Some of my drawers, not so much. 🤣 The Top Tier, Top 5 theme was a lot of fun (even if I had to rein it in and focus on narrowing down my final choices). 

[danielledanielle]

All the tie ins!!!  🙌🏽👏🏽👏🏽 @itsfi 

This is that itsfi level of organization!  Glad you were able to narrow it down, I realize the pain in "picking your favorite children", but sometimes it's good to do it (not with actual children) 

Is HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick Glassy Clove moving into HG territory? 🤔

[itsfi]

lol "not with actual children" 🤣 I'm making a note to self for that now @danielledanielle - Self, do not ... 😆

I do really like the HL Glassy Clove. It's been a good one for this season but I feel like I need to see how it holds up (in terms of how often I use it) in the fall and winter months first. A potential HG in the making. I know, I know, I try to be pretty particular about what I label a HG. For myself, I just want to make sure it's not just a passing phase. It's definitely one I can see myself reaching for as the year goes on.

[danielledanielle]

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

My Top Tier Top Five:

Tunes:

5. Last week it was Jessie J's Price Tag on repeat

4. TaTaTa - Burna Boy

3. Happy Without Me - Chloe & Halle

2. Aje - Trinix

1. Made For Now - Janet Jackson - this always gets my spirits up

Makeup:

5. Charlotte Tilbury Mini Hollywood Blush & Glow Palette 

4. PAT McGRATH LABS Skin Fetish: Divine Powder Blush Desert Orchid 

3. Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter Flaunt 

2. Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed - Matte Color for Cheek & Lip Creme Bruelee 

1. Danessa Myricks Beauty Groundwork: Defining Neutrals - Palette For Eyes, Brows, Face & Lips 

[Cissy63]

@danielledanielle  These are beautiful choices for blushes ❤️

[Cissy63]

Staycation Radio Station 

Well I have to say that The Beach Boys on the radio has me imagining a beach. Bright sun, hot sand and sounds of waves crashing into the sand.  
“Good Vibrations “ comes to mind as well as “Surfer Girl “

To keep it daytime simple I usually start with spf.  Right now I’m using Saint Jane Beauty Luxury Sun Ritual Pore Smoothing Face Sunscreen SPF 30 1.7 oz / 50 mL . It does give me some pore smoothness while blending well.  And I will use a primer, right now I’m using #Makeup Forever Pore Minimizer Step 1 Primer (wouldn’t tag) , then Revision Skincare Intellishade Original Anti - Aging tinted moisturizer with sunscreen.  This is new to me but Sephora doesn’t carry it.  It’s a broad-spectrum SPF of 45 . It also gives a slight coverage and I like it for this horrendous hot weather!  Then #Makeup By Mario SoftSculpt Shaping Stick in Light Medium and MAKEUP BY MARIO Mini Soft Pop Blush Stick in Dusty Rose.   These blended will with my fingertips.

And on the lips #NARS Afterglow Lip Balm Blur All Lines in Laguna.

 

 

My hair is up and off my face and neck for comfort!

[itsfi]

Love your fresh face look @Cissy63 - softly flushed cheeks and a bronzey glow to the lips are a pretty pairing. The Saint Jane SPF is great for under makeup. 

[Cissy63]

@itsfi  Thank you very much.  This summer I really do like the Saint Jane spf😎

[lmaster]

Love this look!! @Cissy63 

[Cissy63]

Thank you a bunch 😃 @lmaster 

[danielledanielle]

You look so comfy and cozy @Cissy63 , but oh so freshly flushed

[Cissy63]

@danielledanielle  I appreciate this, thank you 😊 

[PDXXXX]

@Cissy63 the blush is a beautiful shade on you! I've been curious about the Saint Jane lineup. Have you tried any of their other products? The SPF sounds lovely.

[Cissy63]

@PDXXXX  Thank you, so far this is the only one I have tried. 😎

[Cissy63]

I am finally joining the challenge 😎

Week One- RED and READY/ Juneteenth 

Tried a new foundation for summer - PUR 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup application with their Chisel Brush

The jury is still out on it.

My blush is a combination of BASMA The Cream Blush Mauve and elf’s Sheer For It Blush Tint in Left on Red.

The bronze and highlight is Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Contour Duo Fair/Medium 

Neutral eyes are #Makeup By Mario Ethereal Eyes. And Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Lengthening Mascara.

Lip color is #Charlotte Tilbury Pillowtalk Big Lip Plumpgasm in fair/medium and SEPHORA COLLECTION Satin Hydrating Lipstick in 15.

With Urban Decay all-nighter setting spray.

My song is “Summertime” by Kenny Chesney.