diff --git a/code/datums/bodypart_overlays/emote_bodypart_overlay.dm b/code/datums/bodypart_overlays/emote_bodypart_overlay.dm
index fbdea601839..78cb9752fa3 100644
--- a/code/datums/bodypart_overlays/emote_bodypart_overlay.dm
+++ b/code/datums/bodypart_overlays/emote_bodypart_overlay.dm
@@ -63,6 +63,19 @@
 	offset_key = OFFSET_FACE
 	attached_body_zone = BODY_ZONE_HEAD
 
+/datum/bodypart_overlay/simple/emote/blush/color_image(image/overlay, layer, obj/item/bodypart/limb)
+	var/base_color = limb.owner?.get_bloodtype()?.get_damage_color()
+	if(!base_color)
+		return ..()
+
+	var/list/blood_hsl = rgb2num(base_color, COLORSPACE_HSL)
+	//  take blood color then just make it a lot brighter and desaturate it a bit
+	blood_hsl[2] = max(0, blood_hsl[2] - 20)
+	blood_hsl[3] = min(100, blood_hsl[3] + 30)
+
+	overlay.color = rgb(blood_hsl[1], blood_hsl[2], blood_hsl[3], space = COLORSPACE_HSL)
+	overlay.alpha = 200
+
 /datum/bodypart_overlay/simple/emote/cry
 	icon_state = "tears"
 	draw_color = COLOR_DARK_CYAN
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/blood_types.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/blood_types.dm
index f9d84a4cc9d..7335bd2204f 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/blood_types.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/blood_types.dm
@@ -349,6 +349,7 @@
 // Ensures that lighter slimefolk look half-decent when wounded and bleeding
 /datum/blood_type/slime/get_wound_color(mob/living/carbon/victim)
 	return victim.dna?.features?[FEATURE_MUTANT_COLOR] || get_color()
+
 /datum/blood_type/slime/get_damage_color(mob/living/carbon/victim)
 	return victim.dna?.features?[FEATURE_MUTANT_COLOR] || get_color()
 
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/carbon_update_icons.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/carbon_update_icons.dm
index 19d5039de92..8fd030d51b8 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/carbon_update_icons.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/carbon_update_icons.dm
@@ -295,7 +295,6 @@
 			continue
 		if(isnull(damage_overlay) && (iter_part.brutestate || iter_part.burnstate))
 			damage_overlay = mutable_appearance('icons/mob/effects/dam_mob.dmi', "blank", -DAMAGE_LAYER, appearance_flags = KEEP_TOGETHER)
-			damage_overlay.color = iter_part.damage_overlay_color
 		if(iter_part.brutestate)
 			var/mutable_appearance/blood_damage_overlay = mutable_appearance('icons/mob/effects/dam_mob.dmi', "[iter_part.dmg_overlay_type]_[iter_part.body_zone]_[iter_part.brutestate]0", appearance_flags = RESET_COLOR) //we're adding icon_states of the base image as overlays
 			blood_damage_overlay.color = get_bloodtype()?.get_damage_color(src)
diff --git a/code/modules/surgery/bodyparts/_bodyparts.dm b/code/modules/surgery/bodyparts/_bodyparts.dm
index ca031ab518f..d603e7c8c7b 100644
--- a/code/modules/surgery/bodyparts/_bodyparts.dm
+++ b/code/modules/surgery/bodyparts/_bodyparts.dm
@@ -116,8 +116,6 @@
 
 	///the type of damage overlay (if any) to use when this bodypart is bruised/burned.
 	var/dmg_overlay_type = "human"
-	///a color (optionally matrix) for the damage overlays to give the limb
-	var/damage_overlay_color
 	/// If we're bleeding, which icon are we displaying on this part
 	var/bleed_overlay_icon