Comments on: How can I cultivate ruddy cheeks?

Question: How can I cultivate ruddy cheeks?

boy detective — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:53:33 -0800

How can I cultivate ruddy cheeks?

I find ruddy cheeks to be impossibly attractive. When I see someone with them, I think that person must be vigorously healthy; playing soccer and having sex constantly. I understand that it is a stereotypically British trait, and that it occurs more frequently in men, which sucks, because I'm neither. Can I, pale as the driven snow (Michigan-American with Polish/Swiss decent), make my cheeks look like that? I'll become flush for a brief period after running, and sometimes when I'm tipsy, but would prefer an abiding luster.

Mind that your spanking jokes are kept to a minimum. A bare minimum.

By: ThePinkSuperhero

ThePinkSuperhero — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:59:49 -0800

This is what blush is for. I reccommend a gel-based cheek stain, such as the ones made by Tarte.

By: frobozz

frobozz — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:02:34 -0800

Many women wear blush to achieve that look. I would say, possibly most, because I think it would be unusual for a person to be habitually red just in the cheeks and not red-faced all over.

By: boy detective

boy detective — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:45:35 -0800

Suppose I should have mentioned that I've used both tints and liquid blushes successfully (ThePinkSuperhero, thank you, those look right up my alley. Esp. "Tipsy"), but am looking for a natural solution.

By: turgid dahlia

turgid dahlia — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:48:53 -0800

"Ladies pinch. Whores use rouge."

By: moxiedoll

moxiedoll — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:52:23 -0800

that's EXACTLY why ladies and whores alike use rouge. I really love benetint (liquid) and dandelion (powder) by benefit. I, too, am of ghostly pallor.

By: Deathalicious

Deathalicious — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:00:10 -0800

I can't think of what a natural solution might be (beyond pinching, of course). Long term, there's makeup tattoo (which, to be fair, is not any more "natural" than rouge). I also knew someone who could force his face to turn red on command...that might be worth researching.

By: mostlymartha

mostlymartha — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:09:50 -0800

Alas, from my perspective at least, when pale women are also ruddy, it tends not to confine itself to the cheeks. Women have thinner skin, so when the blood vessels are near to the surface of the face, it wants to be so all over. I'm both cadaverously pale and wildly ruddy--- on my cheekbones, lower cheeks, nose, chin, and a bit between my eyebrows. I spend piles of time and money neutralizing the redness all over so I can replace it where I want it with Mac blushcreme in Lilicent. Go figure.

The only things that seem to increase it naturally are alcohol (red wine and gin particularly), anger, and sex. The first and last are particularly fun.

By: lottie

lottie — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:13:06 -0800

Just like Moxiedoll I use Benetint by Benefit. Gives you that ruddy, debauched, rolling about in the fields look.

The natural look can probably only be achieved the Little House on the Prairie" way - by pinching them.

By: osloheart

osloheart — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:15:26 -0800

Eat more vegemite, of course!

By: zippy

zippy — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:38:49 -0800

I have this condition (luck/curse of the Irish) and it's more obvious after I've scrubbed my face and, I presume, exfoliated the skin. Perhaps that would work for you too?

By: wingless_angel

wingless_angel — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:39:52 -0800

I have a red face all the time because I have that very common English condition, Rosacea. Having a ruddy face is actually not that pleasant, my face is often very hot and over time it's bad for the blood vessels in your face.

I would suggest sticking to blush or eating a bowl of hot chilli.

By: kosher_jenny

kosher_jenny — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:38:30 -0800

Another girl who goes from cadaverous to completely red-faced at the drop of a hat (or at few drops of booze) here. Like zippy, I've noticed that when I use an exfoliating face wash, but the effect does not last very long.

On the subject of liquid blushes, I've been hearing a lot about Smashbox's O-Glow, a clear gel that is supposed to turn your cheeks a shade of pink to match your natural blush. The reviews I've seen have been pretty mixed, with some people getting a natural-looking result and others saying that it just turned their cheeks bright pink. Personally, I'm thinking that it's probably more hype than anything, but I've a friend who swears by it. If there's a Sephora in your area they should have a tester or a sample for you to try.

By: notashroom

notashroom — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:03:13 -0800

Take a lot of niacin.

By: for_serious

for_serious — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:05:20 -0800

How are your iron levels? Don't take if you don't need it, but iron deficiency or anemia can exacerbate paleness, so correcting it might give you a healthy flush. I haven't taken Floradix but they have a pdf (lower right of screen) that was pretty interesting.

I can think of a few physical activities that give a nice healthy glow too!