Experimenting with creative makeup looks is a great way to shake up ordinary selfies. With just a little time – and the right
natural makeup products – you can transform your appearance, wow your friends and attract new followers on social. Think of makeup as not just a beauty-enhancing tool but a way to help you convey a mood or create a setting. Here are five trendy approaches you can take, and what you need to create the looks.
1. Natural glow
The no-makeup look has become wildly popular recently. This bare-minimum style really accentuates one's natural features without being overwhelming. The goal is to look fresh, natural and well-rested without your makeup being obvious or overstated.
To achieve the look, start by nourishing your skin with a high-quality
hyaluronic hydrating serum to lock in moisture and add a dewy, supple quality to your skin. Go light on coverage, using thin applications of primer, concealer and foundation. Alternatively, swap out the layers for a simple
BB cream.
Use a cream contour, highlighter or
blush to add just a touch of definition to your cheeks, and take ample time to blend it in. Rather than defining your eyebrows and lips, keep things simple with a quick brush of the brows and
lip stain for your mouth. Use a neutral mascara or none at all to complete the look.
This style looks fantastic during early morning and golden hour photo shoots.
2. Classic Hollywood charm
There’s nothing more eye catching than the stunning style of the golden age of Hollywood. Channel your inner red carpet goddess with a sleek cat-eye and bold red lips.
Start with a basic application of moisturizer, primer, concealer and
foundation to create the perfect canvas for this look. Keep contouring to a minimum, using a light blush and highlighter to accentuate your cheekbones.
For the eyes, use darker nude shades to line and crease the lid with a lighter highlight to fill it in. Then, use your
best black liquid eyeliner to create a showstopping cat-eye. Punctuate the look with a fiber
mascara to fill in your lashes.
Gorgeous arched brows are another important part of the old Hollywood look. Line and define your brows to frame your face.
Finally, choose a bold red
lip liner and fill in your lips before applying a matching lipstick. Consider overlining your lips to get that glamorous celebrity pout. Remember to dim the lights and experiment with the ambiance of the room when taking your selfie.
3. Dramatic smokeshow
If your eyes are your best feature, you may feel more confident making them the focal point of your makeup. Create a dramatic smoky eye paired with nude lips to perfect this incredible style.
For this look, consider doing basic face prep with
moisturizer and primer but leaving the concealer and foundation until last to prevent eyeshadow dust and creasing. Choose three shades of a single
eyeshadow color palette— blacks and grays are most common. You can also add a pop of color to showcase your eyes. Apply a white base underneath to make the color pop.
Blend your shadow to create a smoky, mystical look, then punctuate it with mascara and dark eyeliner. Bring the look together with your favorite nude lip liner, lipstick and semigloss. Don't forget to add some contour to your cheeks!
This is a great look for studio-style photo sessions or self-portraits taken during the twilight hours and cloudy afternoons.
4. Watercolor pastels
When most people think of pastel makeup, they think of characters from 80s sitcoms. However, the pastel look has evolved since then. The key here is lighthandedness, blending and subtlety.
Follow the same process for the natural look outlined above. Then, give your eyes some extra love with your favorite pastel shade. Apply it lightly around the eyes, then blend it out thoroughly. Forget everything you’ve previously learned about shaping your eyelids with shadow and let it take on a more whimsical shape.
Don't be afraid to mix shades of mint, yellow, cornflower and mauve— all of which are
hot trends this year. This self-portrait makeup look looks great all day long. Take the selfie, post it using inspiring hashtags (check out
Facetune’s guide), and showcase your bright personality.
5. Vamp glam
Fashion from the 90s is making a startling comeback, including everything from choker necklaces to brown lip liner. The vamp glam look from this decade is dark without being overstated, grunge without being grungy, and easy to pull off.
Start by prepping your face as usual. Outline your upper brows, following the natural shape, then fill them in. Use a medium brown to cover the eyelids and line under the eyes, a nude to highlight the brow, and a dark brown to fill in the crease. Finish the eyes with a brown liner and black mascara.
To complete the look, use a maroon or brown
lipstick shade to over line and fill in your lips. This look is ideal for darker and natural settings when taking selfies.
Experiment with these five makeup looks to see which one works best for your self portraits. Don't hesitate to take various features from these trends and create a look that's unique and fresh.
