Love Your Selfies! The Easiest Top Tips from Models and Photographers

Who doesn’t feel a sense of excitement when you nail a selfie that you actually love?  Ever look in the mirror someplace and think “wow – I actually look like the vision I had in my mind – I need to capture this now”?  This is followed by at least fifteen snaps on your phone from various angles and the expressions, usually followed by despair, and “arghhhh I don’t look as good as I thought I did”.  Stop! It’s not you but how you are taking the picture, and believe me when I say models take tons of selfies in every sort of situation, trying to find the right angles, the best light, and the hottest/freshest/cutest expressions  - and so should you.

1)  Start with a flattering light without shadows or bright spots.  Try facing a window when indoors as that is probably going to be the brightest and most natural light in the room.  Face the window directly for some shots and at an angle for others and see what works for you. 

2)  Watch out for distortion:  Tweety Bird foreheads and Jay Leno chins don’t make for great selfies.  Extend your arm and see what distance keeps the right proportions of your face. 

3)  Expressions – pro tips from top beauty photographers: 

Sticking your chin out and then down when facing the camera directly diminishes the prominence of your nose and makes you open your eyes in a way that plays up a bright-eyed innocent look with big lashes.  This is a great way to capture a fresh-faced, innocent look.

                                                                                    (click pic to enlarge)

Tilting your chin a bit upwards gives the face allure as the eyes become “bedroom eyes” that are dreamy and half open, the cheekbones and jawline become more refined, and the mouth will be slightly open giving the lips a sexy look. This position works well with a glam look with makeup.

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4)  Don’t be afraid to smile or be natural and “real”.  These are the selfies you will love later as they will evoke happy memories or fun moments.  Just make sure your smile has a laugh behind it or it will look fake and both you and those who look at the pic will know it. Always tell a story with your eyes no matter what the emotion is behind the pic.  You aren’t a paper cutout and neither should your selfies be, so practice and try these tips and you will have more pics to love and much less to delete.    

                                                            XOXO Shelley 

                                                                                                                         

#selfies #models' tips for selfies #how to take a great selfie #photographer tips of selfies #easy selfie tips #love your selfies #facethis.blogspot.com #Shelley Goodstein

The Golden Ratio: George Clooney rated the Most Beautiful Man in the World

We’ve known it for decades but science has confirmed it: George Clooney is the most beautiful man in the world, at least the world of celebrity.  London plastic surgeon Dr. Julian De Silva used the Golden Ratio to measure the faces of male celebrities rating them on a scale of ten by their score out of one hundred, with George Clooney at the top of the list with a score of 91.86. (But seriously, did we need science to tell us that? Just saying.) 

So how do you measure beauty using math? The golden ratio, or divine proportion is an ancient Greek mathematical equation based on “phi” or 1.618, where the sum of two qualities is equal to the ratio of the quantity as a whole.  Sounds greek to me, but generally it was used by the ancient greeks as a way to measure symmetry which they found to be the most perfect representation of beauty in relation to art, sculpture and architecture.  Ever noticed how ancient sculptures of greek gods are representations of perfect male specimens?  Divine proportions indeed.

So does this theory hold true to modern day beauty standards?  Consider the top ten list compiled by Dr. De Silva: no one would argue with the results, although maybe personal preferences might rearrange the ranking order. 

The Golden Ratio measures “beauty” based on symmetry which leaves out sexiness, personality, humor, or expression, all of which add to a man’s appeal, so while a symmetrical face might make a man beautiful it doesn’t replace a twinkle in the eye or an off-kilter smile.  Having such symmetry may have a great effect on achieving success in the world of celebrity, as even though most people are completely unaware of why they are attracted to a celebrity’s facial beauty.  It makes leading men more telegenic and photogenic, which means more screen time.  Of course a beautiful face won’t go far without being backed up with serious acting or music skills. George Clooney and the others in the top ten list have depth, charm, and talent, that combined with their symmetrical good looks is a winning combination. But being handsome, certainly doesn't hurt career prospects.

The Golden Ratio is ageless meaning the most beautiful male celebrity is 56 year old George Clooney, and we agree. Can’t argue with science. 

To learn more about the Golden Ratio and how to find out where you fit on the scale, see my post:  The Perfect Face - Golden Ratio Beauty Calculator

                                                               XOXO Shelley

#golden ratio #George Clooney #most beautiful man in the world #most handsome male celebrities #divine proportion #golden ratio ratings for men #facethis.blogspot.com #Shelley Goodstein

Power Pout: The Dramatic Berry Lip

For some of us a natural lip, even in the summer, is just not an option.  I love the eye-catching drama of a deep berry lip that, depending on my outfit, can be the height of workplace pull-together sophistication, or night out drama.  There is a cinematic quality to a strong lip color that is striking and powerful while at the same time extremely feminine.  A dark burgundy lip emits strength and is a no-holds-barred expression of feminine power. 

This year’s take on this beauty classic means a matte complexion highlighted along the brow bones, temples, down the nose and on the chin, along with full eyebrows, brushed and filled in.  Skip the eyeliner and have a light touch on the mascara so your eyes don’t even try to compete with your lips.  Let your eyebrows be the counterpoint to balance the look. 

Find these products at Sephora.com

Shrinking violets take note: a power pout like this can give a woman a jolt of moxie so don’t be afraid to go bold. You might just find your alter ego. 

                                                                  XOXO  Shelley

#berry lips #dark red lips #beauty trends #makeup #dark lip trend #dramatic makeup #power makeup looks #facethis.blogspot.com #Shelley Goodstein

Miami Swim Week 2017

Swim Week is here again and it is just as steamy and fun-filled as Miami Beach where the annual event draws buyers, customers, media, and editors from all over the world.  The models are back in force, castings are complete, and the beach is lined with gorgeous bodies all in anticipation of the shows, the media coverage, and the parties and events that accompany one of the most-anticipated events on the fashion calendar.  

The runway shows and accompanying trade show features international swimwear and resort wear brands' collections for 2018, and sets the trends for the coming season.  Many brands make their debut at Swim Week, exposing them to the media and buyers from around the world, placing them alongside established labels.  I can't wait to see what the new collections have in store for next year, as there is something for every taste, body type, and vacation destination. 

Loving this editorial for Harper's Bazaar Germany by Paul Bellaart:

                                                                 XOXO Shelley

#Miami Swim Week 2017 #swim week shows #swimwear models #fashion week calendar #resort collections #swimwear collections #facethis.blogspot.com #Shelley Goodstein

90’s Makeup for 2017: The Top Two Beauty Trends of the 1990’s Are BACK

The 80’s,90’s, and 00’s are all having a beauty moment right now which means we have a lot of beauty looks to play with, and with very little risk of looking like you are stuck in a time warp – or worse – a beauty rut.  70’s blue eyeliner, 80’s intense colors and eye liners, and both the 90’s nude palette beauty and the opposite, strong contour looks, are relevant again.  Summer is the perfect time to try the no-makeup makeup while fall is the right time for the more defined looks of the 90’s.

(click on image to enlarge)

The nude-toned palette look was seen on models like Amber Valetta and Kate Moss, with thin eyebrows, peach-hued blush, no eyeliner, and lips one shade darker than the model’s own lip color.  The 2017 take on this trend skips the thin brows and instead full, strong eyebrows keep things modern.  Mac Spice Lip liner was King, or Queen as it were, and for a hot moment it was trendy to let the lip liner be visible, without matching the lip color or blending it in, but that too is thankfully relegated to the past. So blend, blend, blend.  (Or look ridiculous). 

(click on image to enlarge)

Legendary makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin was the master of the stronger contoured beauty looks that filled editorial pages and covers.  The same color palette ruled but applied in a way to really define the face, almost altering it.  Think all today’s contouring trends are new?  Think again. Kevyn Aucoin started it almost thirty years ago, and everyone today can thank him for the sculpted face look, with highlighted temples, cheekbones and eyebrow bones, and refined noses.  The 2017 take is less dramatically contoured, toned-down highlighted areas, and a more glowing complexion rather than matte. 

Everything old is new again and most of it is relevant is some way or other, so be inspired.   Pick some part of the trend and update it to today with simple tweaks from this years most fashion-forward looks.  And yes, Mac Spice Lip liner is still a top seller, and no beauty kit is complete without it.  That’s as classic as it gets. 

                                                            XOXO Shelley

#90’s makeup #90’s beauty trends #contouring #highlighting #Kevyn Aucoin #2017 beauty trends #Mac Spice Lipliner #facethis.blogspot.com #Shelley Goodstein