Summer is here and with it, a flurry of events day and night. From destination weddings to birthdays, exhibition openings and city break weekends, there are bound to be many photo ops on the sunny horizon.
Put your best face forward by perfecting your makeup for photos so that you never look washed out. Whether you’re going for a natural or glam DIY makeup look, highlight the right areas and create extra luminance with this guide on how to do makeup for pictures.
The Best Makeup Tips Begin with Prepping + Protecting Your Skin
To begin your DIY makeup routine, start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser and cool water. Apply a brightening Vitamin-C serum or face oil, like the Sunday Riley C.E.O Glow. This will boost skin vibrance, giving you that healthy summer glow without even having applied makeup for photos yet.
Follow this with Glo Skin Beauty SPF 40+, the lightweight SPF moisturizer from your Summer Box of Style. It’s essential to include SPF in your daily skincare routine year-round to protect from sun damage. This moisturizer also pulls double duty by nourishing the skin with beneficial antioxidants, so it’s a win-win in our book when it comes to makeup tips and tricks.
Enhance Makeup for Photos with Dewy Foundation
There’s still more to know about how to look good in photographs when it comes to makeup and skin prep. Once the moisturizer is dry, applying a primer is a must. Laura Mercier’s cult-favorite Radiance Foundation Primer does the job without being greasy. This will fill in fine lines and create a flawless base for a lightweight foundation that enhances your DIY makeup look.
When applying your foundation, use a brush to blend everything and extend beyond your jawline onto your neck. This is essential when doing makeup for photos, as it will help you avoid discoloration between your face and neck.
Make sure your T-zone is completely matte as a dewy face can unfortunately look oily in photos. Finally, dab a bit of foundation over any concealer used, particularly under your eyes. There is nothing worse than the flash lighting up your concealer to create obviously bright under-eye circles.
How to Highlight the Eyes in Pictures With Makeup
Wondering how to look good in a photograph when you want your eyes to stand out? Our best advice is to concentrate on makeup tips and tricks that pump up the volume. The higher the contrast, the better your eyes will stand out in flash photos.
When doing your makeup for photos, choose a matte eyeshadow that complements your eye color and use a strong liquid liner and mascara like Maybelline Great Lash to add extra oomphf.
Brows tend to fade out in photos, so make sure yours are well defined. Once you have filled in your brows, set them in place with the Benefit Cosmetics 24-Hr Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel from your Summer Box of Style.
Make Cheeks Pop with This DIY Makeup Trick
One of the best makeup tips for photos is to avoid anything that sparkles. When it comes to your cheeks, opt for a bright, matte blush for your photo-ready look.
Start by applying blush to the apples of your cheeks and sweep outward along the cheekbone. Finish your makeup for photos with a few strokes of Nars Bronzing Powder in the shape of a number 3 on your face, gently sweeping over the forehead, cheekbone and jawline. This will create a light contour and an instant tan that will look radiant when photographed.
Makeup Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Pout
An easy DIY makeup trick that will plump your lips in photos is to use a lipliner one shade darker than your lipstick. By outlining the cupid’s bow and outer corners of the lips, you’ll create the illusion of fuller, plumper lips in photos. For extra poutiness and a soft photo-ready finish, swipe on some Dior Addict Lip Maximizer gloss.