The Beauty Sleuth

Everyone seems to love selfies. I’m not ashamed to admit that I love to take as many with my models and friends as I can, just because we usually have a great time together and it’s a nice way to end our sessions. My photographers always lend a hand by giving me tips like extending the chin slightly for a nice clean jawline, tilting the head up towards the camera to get rid of under eye darkness and look for wrap-around lighting to make the skin look glowy and fresh. Aside from the photographic technicalities of taking a good picture, there are a few makeup techniques that will make your efforts tag-worthy. Recently, my incredibly talented friend Kendall Farr, who is also the fashion director and Chief Stylist at PersonalShopping.com asked me for advice on makeup for the best self portrait and she offers more tips in her post about taking the perfect selfie. Be sure to check it out here: PersonalShopping.com

Here are a few things I’ve put together to help get you camera ready.
The Basics:
The face can tend to read a little flat on camera especially if there is overhead lighting, so it’s important to make sure the skin looks dimensional. To help the skin look even and healthy looking, try a Beauty Balm or Correction Cream ( Aka: BB and CC creams) instead of foundation. They are a fantastic way to blur imperfections and even out skin tone and also hydrate, and protect. Apply with a foundation brush for sheer but even coverage, paying special attention to the corners of the eyes, around the nose, and the space between your lip and chin, which can appear ruddy on camera. Extend the product down the neck as well so there is no color shift from face to neck.

Product suggestions:

Tarte Cosmetics CC clay primer $34.00
Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizing Broad SPectrum SPF20 $36.00
YSL All in one BB cream SPF 15 $50.00
Stila Stay all day 10 in one HD BB cream SPF 30 $38.00
Maybelline Dream FFresh BB Cream $7.44
PERFEKT skin perfection CC créme $42.00
Kelley Quan large vegan domed makeup Brush #16 $65.00

It is important to eliminate distracting imperfections as well as highlight various features. Add a pop of concealer to the inner corners of the eye “wrapping” it from the lower under eye to the inner corner moving upward toward the brow. Don’t forget the outer corners of the eyes to give them a little ‘lift’. A small flat brush or pinky finger to press the concealer into the area to blend works best.The skin around the nose can show some signs of redness because the skin here is a little thinner, so add concealer if needed.

Product suggestions:

NARS Radiant Creamy concealer $29.00 for dryer skintypes
BOBBI BROWN Creamy concealer duo $33.00
Makeup For Ever HD invisible Cover Concealer $29.00
Beauty is Life Camouflage $35.00 for oilier skins
Kelley Quan Vegan makeup brush flat domed brush #3 $24.50

When it comes to contouring and blush, a little goes a long way. A soft touch, applied to the apple of the cheeks and blended toward the temples gives an overall pretty look. Soft apricots, warm pinks work well and cream or powder formulas work well. Bronzers are great if you want to shade the jawline or nose area, but again use a light hand and blend well.

Product Suggestions:

Narsissist Cheek Kit, $49.00
TARTE Cheek stain in Tipsy, Blissful or fearless $30.00
Kevyn Aucoin Creamy glow $26.00 in Pravelle or tansoleil
Smashbox Blush Rush $24.00 in Chiffon, Paradise.
Laura Mercier Matte radiance baked powder $36.00
Kelley Quan vegan makeup Brush #5 for powder blush $38.50 and large vegan domed makeup Brush #16 for creme formulas $65.00

No one wants to look oily, especially in photos and there lies the dichotomy. While everyone wants their skin to look healthy, finding the balance between too powdery to greasy-looking is crucial to a great photo moment. A light dusting of HD powder to set any makeup products will enhance the skin and remove any hotspots on the face. The fine milled powders allow for more control and won’t obliterate the life out of your skin.

Product Suggestions:
 
Beauty is life Loose Powder $50.00
Makeup For Ever Pressed HD Powder $36.00
Kelley Quan vegan makeup Powder Brush #22 $65.00

And now for some color:

The best angle for a great selfie is to hold the camera up above your head and gaze upward. This extends the neck and removes any top heavy lighting which leads to heavy shadows under the eyes. Since you are looking upwards towards the camera – the eyes should really pop. To do this, create a full, dense lash-line using a heavy pigmented eyeliner pencil. Lift your upper lid slightly and wriggle the pencil in and around the lashes. Smudge the liner with a small brush into the lashes and the upper eyelid, keeping the color as close to the lashes as possible, creating definition. Set the pencil with a layer of matching eye shadow. The lower lid can be lined in the same manner and if you want a softer look, choose a shade that is at least three shades lighter. Finish with a healthy coat of mascara beginning at the lash line, working mascara to the ends of the lashes. This will give a strong lash-line, framed by full, feathery lashes that will mesmerize!

Product Suggestions:

Urban Decay 24/7 glide on eye pencil $20.00
Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel crayon $25.00
Kevyn Aucoin “The Eyeshadow”single in Black or coffee bean $30.00
Marc Jacobs Lash Lifter-Gel Definition Mascara, $26.00
Maybelline Lash Stilletto Ultimate length Washable mascara in very black $8.95
Kelley Quan Flat liner vegan makeup brush #15 $14.00 and short dome vegan makeup Brush #8 $14.50

Pretty Pout:

If you are video chatting or skyping, you will be talking so don’t use a color that is too aggressive. I like to use a lip stain to shape and add tone, keeping it in the neutral wheelhouse. Lip staining formulas that come in marker pen or swivel crayon styes work extremely well for this. After defining the lips with color, top with a sheer clear gloss or lip balm. Your lips will look defined, pretty but never over-powering. For those who want more expressive lips, opt for a satin or matte finish lip pencil, leaning toward brighter colors over deep, rich shades which can look harsh.

Product Suggestions:

Tarte Cosmetic Lip Lusters $24.00
Pixi Lip Blush $18.00
Tom Ford Lip Color shine $48.00 in Abandon, Bare or for a little color quiver
NARS Satin Lip pencil in Timanfaya
Velvet Matte lip Pencil, Red Square $25.00
DIOR Creme de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm $27.00
Rosebud Perfume Co. Minted Rose Lip Balm , $7.00

And that’s what we call, a wrap, Folks! Happy Snapping!