Just perception or real re quality, Canon vs Nikon

Hmm. Just took a Galaxy S and an iPad 2 into my back garden where it's now pitch black, and the skin still looks odd to me.

Here's one of my brat taken last year. It just has a pinker, peachier and punchier looking skin in my opinion. When you compare, do you not think that Nikon shot looks dreary? I know I'm not being scientific, but I keep feeling I'm seeing it over and over again.