The Problem
It's a common scenario: you spend hours getting ready for a big night out. You meticulously groom yourself, making sure you look picture perfect. You finish your makeup, and head out the door with confidence.
Later that night, you smile for picture after picture, knowing that you look great.
But when you get the pictures back, you're shocked and disgusted to see what looks like you wearing white clown makeup. Your foundation looks like white paint. You feel confused, because the color looked fine when you were applying it. What gives?
A Simple Solution
The culprit is titanium dioxide, an ingredient in the sunscreen of many cosmetics. The weird ghost effect is called flashback, and it happens when the titanium dioxide reflects the light from the camera.
You could always just opt for products without sunscreen, but then you'd be exposing yourself to harmful UVA and UVB rays.
To work around the problem, you have to look for products that contain a chemical sunscreen, not a physical sunscreen. Brands like Makeup Forever and Smashbox are more likely to carry photo-friendly makeup lines. Try stores like Sephora and Ulta, whose asssociates can guide you through the selection process.
Dos and Dont's of Picture-Perfect Makeup
Do:
- Choose a makeup with a chemical sunscreen
- Apply a non-tinted (colorless) primer under your foundation
- Use foundation, concealer and power that match your skin tone
- Use matte products
- Photograph yourself in natural daylight, without a flash, if possible
Don't:
- Try to correct the problem by applying bronzer
- Try to correct the problem by applying makeup that is a shade darker than your skin
- Use foundation, concealer or powder with shimmer or glitter in it.
- Use foundation, concealer, or powder that claims to give you a dewey or brightened look
The dreaded ghost effect looks a little scary, but the solution is simple. Just choose the right products, and you, too will be ready to put your best face forward.
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