Photo-Worthy Makeup

Sonia Kashuk

Preparing your makeup for special occasion photos can be terrifying. You can do it yourself, and risk not standing out, or you can go to a professional, and risk looking too far out. As with many things, the key lies in balance. You want to look like a slightly more polished version of yourself -- not someone else entirely.

Using the right makeup can enhance your look in photos, not change it, and below, I've outlined my top tips to get the most flattering look in pictures -- no matter what the occasion.

For longevity, layer. Start by applying a liquid or cream foundation if needed, and then add color with a cream blush. Dust with translucent powder to set the cream, then, if needed, apply a layer of powder blush on top of that. For eyes, prep lids with foundation, loose powder, or primer before applying shadow. Remember, if you start with a powder foundation, continue by applying powder shadow; liquid and cream foundation must be set with powder before moving to powder eye shadows, or if you like, cream shadows work great. If using primer, it should be followed by cream shadows. In all cases, finish with a light dusting of loose powder to set.

To avoid shine from the camera flash, use powder. A little shimmer is okay; it adds dimension. But avoid heavy, overdone frost or glitter, which will get picked up by the flash and reflect tenfold. To combat natural oils and shine, keep blotting papers in your bag for touch-ups in between photos, especially on a long day.

For eyes that pop on camera, try false lashes in the corner of the eyes only. This will enhance the eyes, but give a more natural look than a full set of falsies. An eyelash curler brings focus to false and real lashes. Curl lashes, then add a coat of mascara. Afterwards, carefully comb through lashes.

Finally, be careful with super-bright lip colors. They will show the most smudges, and thus the application must be perfect. Reds are more difficult than soft peaches and pinks.

Sonia Kashuk's book, Real Beauty, is available at bookstores nationwide.