Some things are crazy

Sometimes (most of the time) I don't understand color. I just have a hard time getting it to do what I want.
This is an original photo with it's hideous default RAW color settings:

I accidentally applied some adjustments that only looked good when combined:

And also was trying to understand layer opacity and color channels in Photoshop and discovered a black and white setting that seemed to make skin tones more glow-rious. (get it? hahahaha....)

I wish I could say that I saw those things in mind's eye and then adjusted the photos, but such is not the case. Practice practice practice...