Afternoon beauty fix: How to look your best in every holiday photo


Holidays mean one thing in my family—endless photo sessions. Is there anything I can do to make my makeup look its best under the glare of a thousand flashing cameras?
Just because your uncle Terry is no Terry Richardson (that’s a good thing, trust) doesn’t mean that you can’t look smashing in your annual family photos. First things first, blame all bad photos on the flash. When it bursts directly in your face instead of from above, like the sun, it can drown out natural colouring and emphasize the oil you’ve produced throughout the day. Prepping your face with a primer is a great way to make sure your makeup lasts, and one that’s oil-free and infused with hydrating ingredients, like Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating primer ($50 at Sephora), will keep your skin moisturized so its oil production isn’t in overdrive. Applying a pressed powder will help set foundation in place or, if you don’t typically wear foundation, it can build a light level of coverage to hide imperfections. We like mineral powders, such as The Body Shop’s Extra Virgin Minerals ($25 at The Body Shop) because they’re suitable for sensitive skin and light enough to allow your skin to breath. Finally, ‘tis the season for jewel tones like fuchsia and magenta, so add some colour to your face before the flash attempts to steal it away. M.A.C Cosmetics lipstick in “Impassioned” ($18, maccosmetics.com) is a beautiful shade between red and pink, and—the best part about bright lip colours—they’ll make your teeth look whiter. Say cheese!

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