Okay, fam, let’s talk family photoshoots because those moments? They live on FOREVERRRR. The good, the awkward, and of course, the makeup! Whether you’re taking pics with your parents and siblings for the holiday card or with your little cousins for grandma’s mantle, you know you gotta come through with that flawless face beat. Trust me; NO ONE wants to look back at a photo 5 years from now thinking, “WHYYYY did I let that foundation slide like that?”
So, to make sure you’re serving nothing but family-photo-fierceness from every angle, I’ve put together my fav makeup tips aaaand some tea to keep you lookin’ cute AND camera-ready.
Skin Prep Is Literally Everything
Alright, so before we get into anything, let’s get one thing straight: If your skin ain’t ready, your makeup won’t be living its best life. No, seriously. It’ll be like trying to color on crumpled paper. You get it.
So what you wanna do is hydrate like you’re sipping iced coffee at the beach; but for your skin. Cleanse your face with your go-to cleanser (you’re out here all glowy from the surf in Huntington Beach, right?), and then hit it with some lightweight moisturizer. If your skin’s dry and flaky, the foundation will cling to that, and trust me, no one wants to look like they’ve got a layer of dust under their glam.
Pro Tip: Use a hydrating primer before the foundation. It really is like setting up the perfect canvas (definitely not a crumpled one, ok?).
Don’t let your foundation break apart halfway through your shoot; skin prep is the ✨foundation✨ to the foundation, literally.
#SlayYourFoundation
Foundation can either make or break you, not gonna lie. You want it to be smooth, slightly dewy (because we like a natural glow without looking like a disco ball), and of course, it needs to MATCH YOUR NECK. Yes, I said it: Please match your neck! Nothing’s worse than holiday-card photos where it looks like two different shades of you are trying to fight on camera.
For a glowy but not greasy finish (ya know, the happy medium between “I just worked out” and “This is dolphin-skin level flawless”), go for something lightweight yet buildable. I’m obsessed with any foundations that have “your skin but better” vibes.
Quick Tip: SPRAY your beauty sponge with setting spray before blending your foundation. It’s a gamechanger, trust me.
Here are some of my 💅🏽go-to favorites:
| Foundation | Finish | Why I Love It |
|---|---|---|
| Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r | Soft Matte | It’s lightweight and stays put forever. |
| NARS Natural Radiant Longwear | Natural Radiance | Gives that glowy but not sweaty look. |
| Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth | Dewy Finish | Affordable and bomb for family photos. |
If you’re worried your foundation will look cakey in your photos, remember this mantra: build it slowly. Less is more until it’s not.
Concealer Is Your Bestie (But Don’t Overdo It)
Now, if you’re running on just three hours of sleep because you stayed up bingeing “Wednesday” on Netflix (again), you’re going to NEED that concealer to come through. But here’s the tea: Go easy. You want to cover the bags, but you don’t want your photos to have flashback under your eyes; that is definitely not the vibe we’re going for.
The trick is to use a creamy concealer that’s just a smidge lighter than your skin tone (for the brightening effect) and apply it in small dots under your eyes, in a triangle shape. Blend, blend, blend until it’s seamless. Light-handed is the move to keep it super natural.
Favorite Concealers for Photoshoots:
- Tarte Shape Tape: Iconic for a reason. The coverage. The staying power. Enough said.
- Maybelline Fit Me Concealer: A drugstore classic that’ll give you flawless, creaseless under-eyes.
Don’t Sleep on Setting Powder
Okay, let’s be real: You DO NOT wanna look shiny in your family photos. A little glow? Amazing. A greasy forehead? I’m screaming internally. To get that selfie-proof finish without looking caked, lightly set your face; especially your T-zone; with a loose or pressed setting powder.
I’m straight-up obsessed with translucent powders because they keep me matte without making me look ghostly.
Some good ones:
– Laura Mercier Translucent Powder (literally the GOAT of setting powders)
– RCMA No Color Powder (affordable and bomb for all skin tones)
Setting powder is that unsung hero. Shine? Gone. Creases? Never met her.
Eyebrows; Let’s Get ‘Em Right 💁♀️
Okay, I feel like your brows need the same energy as an iconic quote in a Mean Girls movie. They need to be on point, bold, but not too extra for family photos (because Aunt Susan will definitely be side-eyeing your brows if they look too carved out, let’s be honest).
So, here’s what we’re gonna do: Fill in any sparse areas of your natural brows with a pencil or powder that’s the same shade or just a tad lighter than your hair. Then hit them with a clear brow gel to lock everything in place. They should look like you, but a polished version of you. We stan a natural brow moment.
If you’re looking for product recs:
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz: Super precise for killer detail.
- NYX Brow Pencil: Perfect if you’re on a budget but still want fire brows.
The Eyes; Keep It Soft & Simple
Look, I get it: We LOVE a super bold, smokey eye TikTok vibe. But for a family photoshoot? Maybe not that intense.
Go for more natural, soft glam. Think fresh, peachy tones, warm browns, and a subtle shimmer on the lids. Trust; the focus will still be on your eyes, but in a “wow, your skin looks AMAZING” way; not “who punched you in the face?”
Eyeshadow Breakdown:
– Use a warm brown as your transition shade in the crease.
– Tap a shimmer (like champagne gold or rose gold) onto your lid.
– Add a touch of depth with a slightly darker brown on the outer corners.
If you’re feeling spicy and wanna get subtle glam, you can pop on some falsies (but keep ‘em light; you know, like Demi Wispies).
Need a quick guide to know which shades suit your eye color?
| Eye Color | Best Eye Shadow Shades |
|---|---|
| Brown Eyes | Bronze, gold, and warm nudes |
| Blue Eyes | Browns, taupe, peachy tones |
| Green Eyes | Mauves, purples, copper tones |
Blush & Bronzer FTW
This part is fun! You want your face to have dimension and LIFE, so bronzer and blush are low-key MVPs for family pics. Bronzer will add warmth (and definition for the angles), while blush will keep you looking fresh and awake. Bronzer should go on the outer parts of your face, like your cheekbones and forehead, while blush goes right on the apples of your cheeks.
Honestly, blush is one of those things where more is MORE (hello, blush trends!). It’ll look even better in the pics.
Smile in the mirror while you apply blush; place it where your cheeks look the fullest to get that natural flush.
Some blush faves? Rare Beauty, NARS (orgasm shade is iconic for a reason), and Milani!
Let’s Talk Highlighter; Cuz Yasssss!
People sleep on highlighter for photos and honestly? BIG mistake. You want to glow just enough; especially when the light hits your face just right. Dab it onto the high points of your face: the tops of your cheekbones, the tip of your nose, and a little on your cupid’s bow.
Key tip: Don’t go too ham, you don’t wanna look like a sweaty glazed donut; more like a soft, dewy glow.
Best Highlighters for That Glow:
– MAC Soft & Gentle (classic)
– Colourpop Super Shock (affordable & bright AF)
Highlight, don’t outshine. Less “glitter bomb” more “soft candlelit glow.”
Lip Game; Stay Longer, Slay Harder
Lips can be tricky if you’re out here smiling for an hour solid during your family shoot. You don’t want something that’ll rub off, but you also don’t want your lips feeling dry AF.
Here’s the play:
1. Exfoliate your lips with a lip scrub or toothbrush.
2. Apply a creamy matte liquid lipstick (not too drying but lasts).
3. Keep a neutral lip liner handy for touch-ups, and top off with clear gloss if you’re feeling the juicy lip vibe!
Probs not the time for bold fire-engine red mama might freak out.
Lipstick Recos?
– Charlotte Tilbury Pillowtalk (literally Kylie Jenner-inspired vibes)
– NYX Lingerie Matte Lip (bomb budget option)
Finish With A Setting Spray✨
Girl, if you’ve come this far, you are already looking like a SNACK, but we need to lock it in. Grab your fav setting spray, close your eyes, and mist that beautiful face of yours. It’ll make your makeup last through all the family hugs, squishing, and cheek kisses from grandma.
Some faves:
– Urban Decay All Nighter (you will be Untouchable)
– Morphe Continuous Spray (for staying power & hydration)
The 3-Second Check:
Right before stepping in front of the camera, do this:
1. Check your teeth for lipstick (seriously).
2. Blot that T-zone one last time.
3. BIG SMILE; you’ve got this!
At the end of the day, the most important thing? You feeling bomb in your own skin, and having FUN with your fam… oh, and flawless makeup in all those pics, obvs 😉.
