If my partner who has herpes simplex has no visible sores but is in a stage of invisibly shedding, can I.get herpes simplex if I kiss her cheek where no sores have ever appeared. In other words, can shedding occur through the skin of the cheek (perhaps through sweat glands), and would I be susceptible to it by kissing her there? 

No, if she has HSV (I am assuming orally) and has not lesions, and you kiss her check, that is not a risk for acquisition of her herpes.  The skin of the cheek it too thick for virus to shed from there.  That is not any risk at all.---

Thanks Terri.  What if she has no cold sores but is (invisibly) shedding in saliva— if she kisses me on the cheek (not the mouth) can I get herpes simplex? I have that makes getting herpes simplex really a big problem so am super- cautious. 

No, that is also not a risk because the skin of your cheek is too thick for virus to penetrate the skin.  ---

Thanks Terri, there is new compelling evidence that herpes simplex can trigger Alzheimers in apoe4 gene carriers (see  Dr. Ruth Itzak https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34205498/)— explaining my caution. If my partner is shedding and licks fingers while salad ingredients, can remnants  of saliva on ingredients potentially  transmit virus? Thanks