Why does my makeup look ok-ish in real life but awful in photographs? How do I get flawless makeup?

[JonahAndTheSale]

I am desperate to be airbrushed and flawless but doubt it's going to happen!

I use good quality makeup and I think it looks ok-ish when I do it. I use primer etc as makeup lady assured me this was the one thing that was missing from my routine it wasn't

Was on holiday recently and the amount of people taking selfies constantly got me thinking about how I look in photographs. I really struggle to find a decent picture of myself.

I look pale and have dark shadows under my eyes. In photographs it looks like I have no makeup on. Not in a 'natural beauty' type of way but a 'gosh she's pale' type of way!

I use a makeup brush to apply foundation.

Can anyone gives me some tips?

I've a wedding to go to very soon and I'd really love some nice pictures of dh and I!!!

[beeny]

I have no idea but want to join u as also suffer this problem !

[Trills]

Better than looking flawless in pictures but weird and overdone in real life, for most situations anyway...

[Trills]

If you are into Facebook groups and things like that you could get some good advice from this makeup group

I think it is just the case that what looks good on camera is not the same as what looks good in real life, and you have to use a LOT of makeup to look like celebrities do in pictures.

[m0therofdragons]

I find a good photo filter helps!

[Pestilence13610]

photoshop or similar app, if you wear enough makeup to look flawless in photos you will look like a clown in RL

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

Yep, agree on filters for photos. Can recommend free app YouCamPerfect. Smoothes everything out and you can adjust the paleness before you share the pictures. Much better than trowelling on the slap!

[JackandDiane]

I suggest this
dont apply moisturiser before foundation - if you are greasy do a mattifying primer of some type ( I am dry so dont have this issue)
Use brushes and do all the foundation concealer, brows, blush, highlighter BEFORE you start on the eyes - like a blank canvas

SPEND on foundation - one thing where you do get what you pay for
put bone colour shadow all over the eye socket to stop liner bleeding
Use a GOOD blush and one that suits your skin tone - ask for advice, don't guess. Also change this shade acc to time of year and the colour you are wearing

[Skitttles]

Spf can cause the pale look when a flash is used in photos. I think smashbox do special photo-ready primers to help with this, maybe Nars too.

[hilbil21]

What skittles said

[Cocolepew]

99% of the photos people put up will have a filter on it.
Im on Mrs Gloss and its easy to pick out the filtered ones.

[Trills]

Some phones (Samsung Galaxy S6/S7) have an automatic filter on the front-facing camera. So people don't even KNOW that their pictures have been digitally altered.

Ignorance is probably bliss in that case though, they are happy to think that they really look that way...

[Wolpertinger]

You don't look airbrushed in photos because you haven't airbrushed them!

Instagram is your friend - I usually don't wear makeup at all and I look rather good after just a bit of amateurish slapping on of filters. The thing is amazing!

There is a reason the celebs are all over it - those shots are not spontaneous at all.

[Cocolepew]

That was me Trills. Then my DD pointed it out to me

[islandtiare]

Remember as well a lot of social media pics will have been edited to look better. X

[ppandj]

Does your foundation have an SPF? If so, it might cause flashback and make you look more pale.

[XiCi]

Dior Star was formulated specifically to look good in photos. Im using it at the moment and can recommend it. Light, dewy but with good coverage and oil free.

[hollinhurst84]

Heavier makeup for photos. I do a lot of shoots and use NIOD photography fluid under foundation
Basically my makeup will look flawless in photos but overdone in real life

[Trills]

Coco I hope your DD broke it to you gently :)

[hollinhurst84]

Here's an example. Selfie taken before shoot (I put lipstick on just before photos!)
It's heavy makeup. But in the pro pics it doesn't look heavy

[JonahAndTheSale]

Thanks everyone for all the tips and reassurance about widespread use of filters!

I wear ultrasun spf 30 as my daily moisturiser. Wonder if this might be the problem? Am worried about damaging effects of the sun as despite my best efforts I have sun damage which is worse in the summer.

I actually use the Dior foundation recommended up thread!

[Cocolepew]

Definitely not Trills

[Redbag123]

Try colour correcting before applying make up and perhaps using a sponge like a beauty blender

[elizabethdraper]

It's the spf

[specialsubject]

the airbrushing and photoshopping is at the root of many body image problems. Remember that NO-ONE actually looks like that.

the amount of makeup needed for a 'flawless' photo looks rough as guts in real life. It's all fake!

selfie is short for 'self-obsessed' ....

oh, and facial sunscreens need to be put on very thickly to do what they say on the tin.

[hollinhurst84]

Selfie does not = self obsessed