​Get Ready for your Christmas Selfie!

Have you perfected your Christmas selfie pose yet? The silly season can be a minefield of cringe worthy awkward family photos, unflattering party pics that are more Donatella Versace than Kim Kardashian and an abundance of snaps that make you hit ‘untag’ more than you care to remember. And even if you’re a stunner in the flesh, it can take practice to ensure that your hard earned beauty translates on camera (and Facebook!). But fear not my primed friends, being photogenic is a skill that you can absolutely master and here are a few of our favourite tips that will have you looking all Cheryl Fernandez-Versini in no time!

#1. Prep & Prime. Beautifully prepped skin will have you pixel perfect in no time. Make sure your skin is healthy, hydrated and primed for makeup. A complexion perfecting primer will help you achieve smooth, evenly toned, photo ready skin that will deliver radiance all night long. BF recommends: Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer .

#2. Opt for a Matte Finish. Step away from the sparkle! Try to avoid sparkle and shimmer on the face as it may create a sheen in the photograph. A soft glow is lovely but if you have oily skin it can exaggerate the shimmer and make your face very shiny, so try to choose a matte finish if your aiming for pixel perfection. However if you can’t help but sprinkle the shimmer ensure you keep your face matte or even semi-matte and add a little highlighter to just the tips of your cheekbones and the bridge of your nose for a faint soft sheen.

#3. Match your Foundation. Professional makeup artists will always tell you to ensure your makeup is a perfect match to your skin. As a camera flash hits the skin it will tell a thousand mismatched tales if your foundation is too pale for your skin tone. Try and match your skin to your chest and make sure to add a thin layer of foundation to your neck if your neck is paler.

#4. Be Bold. Often marvel at Hollywood A-listers and how they can carry off such heavy makeup? Well ladies the truth is that the camera can actually diminish the very features you’re trying to accentuate with makeup such as bold lips and bronzed skin, so in this case the more makeup the merrier. We’re not talking the Joker from Batman here but a little bolder than you normally would will make your features pop!

#5. Flash those Peepers. Curled lashes and intense mascara are musts. You want to draw people into the picture, and as the eyes are the focal point of any picture you need to maximise their impact. If you normally wear a brown mascara, opt for a black, try false lashes to create volume and the more open your eyes are the more the light hits them, giving off a flirty twinkle

#6. High Brow Definition. Fill in your brows. Not only do the eyebrows convey character and emotion they often mean the difference between looking wide awake and washed out on camera.Try using a slightly darker brow pencil if you know you’re going to be photographed avoiding that washed out diminished look.

#7. Shine on Crazy Hair. Ensure your hair is in tip top condition and sporting a healthy shine. And remember a photo can highlight flyaways, so make sure your hair is not only shiny but stylishly sleek as well. BF recommends: Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray .

#8. Body Language. Avoid the dreaded double chin by elongating your neck and pushing your face forward a little. Think of sticking out your forehead and tipping your chin slightly down. Yep it’s going to feel a little awkward, but it will look great, we promise. Also if you tend to blink in photos, close your peepers just before the photo is taken and open them slowly just before the camera clicks. Voila! No more half-closed eyes!

#9. Hollywood Tips. Try this old school red carpet trick, place your tongue behind your teeth when you smile to avoid a goofy, too-wide grin. And avoid red eye by looking at a light right before someone snaps your photo, this will shrink your pupils and eliminate any red eye from spoiling your pose. Check out our blog Beauty lessons we can learn from Cannes for more Hollywood tips.

#10.Put your Best Face Forward. Morph into Angelina with the ‘red carpet’ pose by placing your hand on your hip, angle your body to the side and turn your head towards the camera. It’s a cliche but it really works to help you look slimmer.