What's the Deal with #passportmakeup ??

If you follow anything related to cosmetics on TikTok, you can’t help but see an influx of Passport Makeup tutorials! So what exactly is it?

The Passport Makeup Look is all about using the right products and creating contours, to make your features stand out in photos. Pictures have a tendency to make our best features fade into the background. DMV and Passport photos are a classic example! Even regular pictures taken on holiday or at certain events often do not have good lighting situations, so you end up questioning … is this really what I look like?? 
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#passportmakeup has been trending on Tik Tok – and it’s techniques can prevent looking washed out and tired in photos. Here are some steps for looking beautiful in photographs, no matter what type of lighting is used.  

​1) Use foundation that closely matches your natural skin tone. Using one that is significantly more fair can cause light to bounce off, giving a washed out glare in photos. Using one that is much darker can cause your skin tone to appear muddy and flat. 

2) The main focus of the Passport Makeup look is to sharply contour your face. While this may feel a bit over-done for everyday wear, you will be astounded how great it makes you look in pictures! Liquid bronzers are best for dry to combination skin, and powder bronzer works best for oily skin types. Referring to the model, apply bronzer in the places where the #2 is indicated.

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​3) ​Apply a concealer two shades lighter than foundation. Use it under eyes, under brow bones, on lengthwise bridge of nose, and on center of forehead, and center of chin. Blend well! This will ensure that you lighten key areas of your face, so your features don’t just blend into one Referring to the model, apply concealer where the #3 is indicated. ​

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*A few tips about bronzer application: 

• Be sure to apply bronzer directly under your natural cheekbones. This sculpting process creates definition and highlights your natural face shape, which may be otherwise “lost” due to bad lighting during the photograph process.

• Next, apply bronzer down sides of nose and sweep just above the tip of nose. Once again, it provides definition and can be helpful if you feel that your nose looks exaggerated in pictures. It can help minimize a wide nose, and visually shorten a long nose.

• Depending on how dark of a bronzer you’re using, you may need to apply it twice, for added impact. I would suggest a bronzer 3x darker than your foundation. ​

4) On cheeks just above where you’ve applied bronzer, apply a rose or peach colored blush – but make sure it’s matte and has no sheen, to prevent a reflective glare. 

5) Set out to bring visual focus on your eyes. A person’s eyes are usually the star of the show in photos, so you want to make yours really stand out! Applying dark liner that wings slightly up and out will ensure that you don’t look tired; it’s tremendously uplifting to your overall complexion. If you choose to wear shadow, creating a cut crease will add additional depth to your eyes.  

​What colors should you use for the biggest impact?

Go matte and dark! Super bright or sparkly eye shadow can be too light reflective to show up in photos. You want to use dark, matte or semi-matte colors for your eyes to really stand out.
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You may also want to use false lashes, as smaller lashes tend to fade away when photographed. Falsies can create an eye-opening effect, and will highlight smaller eyes. 

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​6) The eyebrows have it! Brows essentially frame your eyes and can even impact the overall visual shape of your face. Too thick, and they overshadow your eyes… too thin, and they can make eyes look out of proportion to your face. 
Medium thickness is your best bet. If they are naturally too thick, a visit to a salon for brow shaping will help them be more suited to your features. If they are naturally too thin, use a pencil or liquid brow pen to slightly fill in any gaps, and add shape. 

7) Matte powder is the key to an anti-glare complexion. Apply an oil-control powder with a fluffy brush or powder pad. Be generous with the initial application, but be sure to blend well, so that the powder sets properly onto skin. If you are using a powder pad or puff, PRESS the powder onto skin in sections, to avoid disturbing makeup. 

While I’m usually in favor of shimmery highlighters to provide contrast against contour, this does not work out favorably in photographs. Especially in harsh light, highlighters will cause flashback, which leaves you looking completely washed out. The reason you applied a light concealer in step 2 is so you can bypass the need for highlighter, while still brightening your overall complexion. ​

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8) Last but not least, select a matte lipcolor in a deep shade. It also doesn’t hurt to slightly over-line your lips. Just be sure to use a liner that’s the same shade as your lip color, so the lining doesn’t obviously stand out.

Avoid shiny or sparkly lip gloss, as they can reflect light, leading to a washed out effect. Also, avoid bright colors, and stick to cooler tones. Bright shades often look discolored and clownish in photos, since lighting can visually change their true shade. 

​The Takeaways: 
If you follow the basic “do’s and don’t’s” on the below picture, you’ll have a fantastic passport makeup look. The main rules are to keep things matte, and sharpen the focus on your features;  it’s as easy as that!