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How to Look Good in Photos: Photo-Ready Makeup Tips 2025 

By Alayah Brantley

How to Look Good in Photos: Photo-Ready Makeup Tips 2025 

By Alayah Brantley

Picture this: your makeup, which you spent a lot of time perfecting, looks flawless in the mirror. Then someone snaps a photo and sends it to you—but what you see looks nothing like what you saw in the mirror. Sound familiar? Makeup can be tricky to master for photos. Depending on the lighting or camera used, your look can vanish under harsh lighting or flash. Makeup should ultimately make you feel good in person, but when you’re attending a wedding, graduation, or party where you know there will be lots of photos, it also needs to hold up on camera. In this blog, we’ll break down how to adjust your makeup specifically for photography, so you feel confident and picture-perfect in every shot. 

Start With Skin: Prep Is Non-Negotiable

Fundamental to all makeup looks, good skin prep is nonnegotiable. For photos, it’s important to be hydrated—but not shiny. Contrary to popular dewy makeup trends, matte skin tends to be photographed better. 

Start with a cleanser to remove any dirt or buildup. Then apply toner or serum based on your skin type. For oily skin, focus on balancing or clarifying products. For dry skin, it boosts hydration. Regardless of skin type, use a deeply hydrating moisturizer—dry skin can cause flakiness or creasing, so it’s essential to keep it well-moisturized. You can also use an illuminating primer for a 'lit-from-within' glow. For oily skin, a silicone-based matte primer will help control shine. 

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Base Makeup That Won’t Wash You Out 

Woman applying bronzer and blush
@cakefacehaze how to layer cream and powder products to achieve a perfect base🥵🥵 #baseroutine #creambronzer #creamblush #blending #makeuptutorial #fyp #greenscreen ♬ original sound - hazel🍒

Eye Definition That Doesn’t Disappear  

Brows and eyes need to be more defined on camera than they do in person. Starting with brows—these frame the face, so it’s important they’re filled in and bold enough to show up clearly in photos. Use a brow tint or pomade to ensure full, opaque coverage. 

Eyes help set the tone of your overall makeup look heavy eyeliner gives a grungy vibe, a cat eye reads classic and smoked-out shadow leans glamorous. Regardless of the style, always use waterproof mascara to prevent smudging. To keep your eyes looking open—especially when using dark eyeliner or mascara—add a nude or white liner to your lower waterline. This small step helps balance heavier eye looks and keeps your eyes from appearing smaller on camera. 

Lip Color That Shows Up

Unless you're going for a bold red lip as the focal point of your look, choose a lip product that adds color while still complementing the rest of your makeup. Make sure your lips are exfoliated and well-hydrated before applying any product. Start with a long-lasting lip liner to define and shape your lips. Then apply a semi-matte or highly pigmented lipstick to create even, rich color. Finish with a lip gloss or balm to keep your lips hydrated and add dimension.

Finishing Touches and Setting Strategy 

Woman using setting spray with heavy makeup
Woman applying makeup holding phone

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