How To Look Good In Photos

Make sure your skin is photo-ready with these high definition primers, foundations and powders

Doesn't it feel like someone is ready to take your photo every time you step outside? Camera phones, HD digital cameras and the not-going-anywhere craze for posting photos on social media mean we are constantly looking at images of ourselves - as is everyone else.Now that we're entering the season of weddings and holidays, the opportunities for appearing on camera are ever increasing, leaving us (and probably you) wondering, how to look good in photos?

Some say the camera never lies, but photographs do have a habit of picking up shine, pores and lines that would never be visible to the naked eye, then capturing them for posterity (thanks smartphone!) Luckily, brands like Cover FX,Make Up Forever and Smashbox have created high definition makeup and skincare to give you a flawless, photo-ready finish every day.

If you want to learn how to look good in photos, always start with flawless skin. We give you the run-down of the best HD foundations on the market, ranging from inexpensive Revlon to luxury Dior.

Of course, to look good in photos, prepping your base is just as important as what you put on top, so we show you the very best primers and pore-minimisers. Once you're done with your flawless base, add definition with contour and make your eyes pop with false lashes.With this magic make-up kit, you will look shine free, radiant and flawless in photographs.

Click through to discover how to look good in photos, with a little help from our favourite perfecting beauty products...

Cover FX Custom Cover Drops, £36

Skin is everything when it comes to looking great in photos, and this innovative new base by Cover FX will make sure you shine (without any actual shine, of course) This little dropper bottle contains pure pigment which can be mixed with absolutely any skincare product - face oils, primer, day cream, SPF - to create your own bespoke base. Add one drop for light coverage, two for medium, three for full and four for total coverage (great for concealing blemishes, spider veins or pigmentation) It comes in an impressive 24 shades, including plenty for darker skin, and the tiny bottle will fit neatly into any clutch for touch-ups throughout the day. Genius. 

Make Up Forever Ultra HD Concealer, £20

Dark circles can often be accentuated in photos, so it is important to use concealer under your eyes to erase them. This Make Up Forever concealer works particularly well as it contains pure focus pigments that reflect light to erase shadows, meaning you'll look vibrant and awake in every shot.

Estee Edit Pore Vanishing Stick, £21

Flash photography can often draw attention to your pores, so it's important to smooth them out before getting in front of the camera. The Estee Edit, the new brand from Estee Lauder, has released a pore-vanishing stick that helps to blur pores, even out skin tone and shut down shine. The dual-action formula contains an outer core of oil-absorbing powders and an inner core with a sheer pigment that's suited to all tones. It is portable and easy to apply, making it perfect for achieving that model-esque velvet smooth complexion.

RCMA No Color Powder, £9

Loved by beauty bloggers and makeup artists alike, this translucent powder by RCMA sets makeup without changing the colour of your foundation. This loose powder is so finely milled that it will not add any unwanted texture to your face, simply creating an invisible veil to keep shine at bay and ensure your makeup lasts in front of those flashing lights.

Clinique Chubby Contour Set, £22

It is important to add definition to your face when taking photographs, as a snap can sometimes wash out your features. Achieve that chiselled look with the Clinique Chubby Contour set, made up of two creamy sticks. Use the darker shade just after your foundation to draw lines along your cheekbones, the top of your forehead, and your jawline, before blending out with a sponge or brush. Then, add the highlight shade to the tops of your cheekbones and your cupid's bow to brighten your look.

Eyelure Volume No 83, £5.50

If you look at celebrities on the red carpet, you'll see that they all wear false eyelashes. Why? They really open up the eyes, and look amazing in photographs. Although lashes can seem pretty daunting when you first put them on, these Eyelure lashes come with glue and instructions and are incredibly easy to apply. We particularly love these number 83s for a wispy, flirty look. 

Smashbox Classic Photo Finish Foundation Primer, £25

You won't achieve truly flawless skin without the Smashbox Classic Photo Finish Foundation Primer. This base gives makeup a soft canvas for foundation to sit on, helping it last all day without moving. Fine lines are fillled and imperfections covered to give the smoothest possible start to your make-up routine.

Revlon PhotoReady Makeup, £9.99

For lighter coverage that still gives a luminous finish, try Revlon's PhotoReady Makeup. Virtually undetectable, even under harsh lighting, this foundation gives the appearance of naturally perfect skin.

DIOR CAPTURE TOTALE High Definition Serum Foundation, £61.79

Combine your skincare and make-up with the DIOR CAPTURE TOTALE High Definition Serum Foundation. As well as improving the skin's texture and reducing fine lines, the light-reflecting particles give skin an immaculate finish.

Chantecaille HD Perfecting Powder, £62

For a velvety-soft, matte finish, invest in Chantecaille's HD Perfecting Powder. The one-colour-suits-all powder feels weightless on the skin, blending perfectly with your natural skintone for a photo-ready look.