How to Look Good in Photos

Most of us have our pictures taken pretty often. And while most people have a "good side" or a smile they tend to fall back on, it's far less common to see someone who has a makeup and hair philosophy for photos. You don't have to rush off to the bathroom to make yourself over every time someone whips out a camera, but there are a few things you'll want to steer clear of if you know you're going to be within a lens' scope. See our quick rundown on what not to do.

Foundation with titanium dioxide

Ever seen a picture of yourself where your face looked oddly white or had pale patches? That's probably thanks to titanium dioxide. This common foundation and concealer ingredient is a great natural sunscreen, but its reflective properties interfere with camera flash, making your face look "ghosted." So unless you're going flash-free, make sure the product you're wearing isn't chock full of the stuff.

Too-tall hair

Yes, the beehive is back, but when it comes to photos (especially group pictures) big hair is a mistake for lots of reasons. If you're part of a large group, it's going to be hard to place you anywhere without obscuring someone else's face. And even if you're by yourself, huge hair makes it difficult for a photographer to get everything in, so you'll end up with odd angles and maybe an unflattering photo crop.

Understated lip and cheek colour

On a normal day sheer, soft blush and lip colour might be more than sufficient, but when you're going to be in photos, it's best to go for a full face. Photos tend to flatten and blanch out features, so having a little extra colour is a smart way to ensure that you come out looking like yourself.