Makeup Mistakes You’re Making in Photos—and How to Fix Them
A long time ago, getting your photo taken was a formal, unfrequented event. Now, literally every situation calls for a picture (a trip to the gym, a run to the grocery store), and we want our makeup to flatter us beautifully in every single one of them. But not every look translates well on film, as many celebs have learned in red carpet pics gone bad. We’re all for the impromtu photoshoot, so we caught up with celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg (who works with stars like Kaley Cuoco and Rashida Jones) and learned exactly how to create a picture-perfect beauty look.
Watch Your SPF Application
By no means are we saying to skip the SPF, but if you’re going somewhere and you know you’re getting your pic taken, be mindful of how much you slather on your skin. Greenberg says that common sunscreen ingredients like zinc can make your face appear lighter than the rest of your body.
Keep Powders in Mind, Too.
Suncreen isn’t the only culprit. Greenberg explains that powders can cause your face to look lighter than your body and products that hold luminosity. “This will bounce off the flash and give the floating head effect,” she proclaims.
The Downside of Heavy Makeup
“Sometimes if lighting is blown-out, your heavy makeup will look amazing on camera but really thick in person,” Greenberg tells us. And since we’re not always walking around in red carpet-quality lighting 24/7, tone it down—you need makeup that looks fantastic in real life, too!
Be Wary of Extreme Lip Colors
And that we mean very, very light beiges and super-dark vampy berries. Greenberg says that these types of colors tend to look extreme in photos, so if you’re worried about how they’ll translate, lighten or warm them up. And if that seems like too much work, you can always keep it natural—Jamie says that the best makeup for photos is a natural look, intensified around two notches.
Think Through Eye Makeup
There’s a three main rules you’ll need to keep in mind when it comes to eye makeup. First, stay away from shimmer because Greenberg says it can react poorly with a flash. Second, take blending very seriously. “The flash can really capture the eye, so if it’s not blended well, you’ll be able to tell,” she says. Lastly, keep finely-milled powder away from your eyes. That’s what Greenberg explains will give you an unfortunate “raccoon look.”
More From Daily Makeover: How to Be More Photogenic: 25 Tricks to Look Great in Pics
