2013
• BEAUTY
Lights! Camera! Poise! Beauty Tips and Tricks for Looking Great in Photos. By Diana Bocco Do you always look less than perfect in pic-
tures? Turns out that the kind of makeup you use and how you style your hair or treat your skin can make a world of difference—and really affect how radiant you look in photos. For that extra touch that can make or break a photo, here are some beauty tips from the experts.
Get Your Skin Ready
When it comes to taking flawless photos, it’s more than about just the foundation—it’s about skin prep, says celebrity hairstylist and beauty expert Billy Lowe, who appeared in TLC’s 10 Years Younger. “I always recommend a light exfoliant or toner prior to application and then a skin-perfecting serum of some kind to help fill in fine lines and wrinkles and to make the foundation application smooth and flawless,” Lowe says. When picking a photo-friendly foundation, go liquid. Avoid overpacking powder to your face—especially pressed powders.“These can look cakey,” Lowe says. LeAura Luciano, a celebrity stylist and makeup artist who has worked with everybody from Zoe Saldana to Stella McCartney, agrees. She points out that finding the best foundation to look good in pictures can be tricky because it depends on your skin t ype. “If you are on the drier side, look for hydrating foundations,” she says. “For oily skin types, mattifying formulas are key, as these will help keep you from getting too shiny all over.”
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Apply Some Bronzer Bronzers are great because they add depth and dimension to skin and give it a healthylooking bronzed glow, according to Lowe. He adds that different people look better with different applications. Some prefer a more dewy look, which promotes a youthful shine, and others enjoy that more bronzed Miami lookand-feel for a sunshiny gleam to the skin. Luciano adds that the best way to bronze is to put it where the sun would naturally hit you. “Apply along your temples, cheekbones, sides of the nose and chin,” she explains. For best effects, use a large, fluffy powder brush to apply. You really don’t need that much to get a nice tan effect.
Don’t Forget Your Hair Want to look years younger in your photos? Luciano says you can cheat a face lift by pulling your hair back in a tight, high ponytail or bun.
“Both are trendy looks and great ways to make your skin look a little tighter, your eyes more lifted, and cheekbones more defined,” Luciano says. Do you have a round face, or are you carrying a few extra pounds? Lowe recommends having some texture or “piecy”strands around the face to help conceal and add contour to facial features. One last tip? Posing is important, so practice, practice, practice. “Take a page from supermodels and learn your best side and angles,” Luciano says.“The more familiar you are with the way you look and feel best, the better your photos will look.”