Do you have a wedding or other event coming up where you know people will be taking photos of you? Are you dreading the inevitable photos where you have a double chin, or inexplicably horrible teeth while everyone next to you looks like they stepped out of a magazine? There are a few things that you can do to help ensure a more photogenic smile, so you can proudly display the pictures of yourself and your friends and family rather than hiding them away. Here are some top tips for a winning smile:
Smile Gently
Try to keep your smile natural and gentle, instead of forcing a huge smile. With a natural smile your face will look relaxed and the curve of your bottom lip will line up with your teeth for an effortlessly happy look.
If you’re struggling to smile naturally, you could try these tips:
● Take a second to close your eyes, breathe deeply, and relax before you have your photo taken. If you are more relaxed, your smile will be more natural.
● Rather than saying ‘cheese’ say ‘money’. Your mouth forms a kind of grimace when you say ‘cheese’, whereas when you say ‘money’ the corners of your mouth will curl up into a smile.
● Look out for tension that you are holding in your face and jaw. Take a second to release them and your smile will improve.
● Distract yourself by sharing a joke with a friend, making a silly noise or singing a song. These activities will release endorphins and make you feel happier, which will make your smile better because it will be a real one.
● If the photographer is making you nervous, imagine that they are a favorite cartoon character. It’s pretty hard to be nervous if Scooby Doo is taking your picture, right?
Stand Up Straight
This is where we address the double chin problem. If you aren’t standing up straight then it’s likely that your head will be slumped forwards slightly, which will probably give you a double chin.
Stand up straight and try turning your head and dropping your chin a little so that your head is not completely square with the camera.
Look After Your Teeth And Gums
A huge part of your smile is how your teeth and gums look. Be sure to look after your teeth by brushing and flossing regularly and going for regular check-ups at the dentist.
If your teeth are slightly yellow then it might be worth considering cutting back on drinks that can stain them, the worst offenders being coffee and red wine. Your dentist will be able to advise you on tooth whitening treatments if this is something that is concerning you.
Your dentist can help with any aesthetic issue with your mouth, it doesn’t have to be something that is causing you pain or discomfort. For example, if having a ‘gummy’ smile is something that you are self-conscious about then you could talk to your dentist about reshaping your gums so that you can have the smile that you’ve always wanted.
Lipstick? Choose Your Shade Wisely
The shade of lipstick that you choose can have a huge impact on your smile and not only if you accidentally get lipstick on your teeth! The shade of lipstick that you choose can cause your teeth to look more yellow than they really are, or it can make them look whiter.
When you are choosing a lipstick you first need to consider your skin tone. The five main skin tones are fair, light, medium, tan and deep. Each skin tone has lip shades that will be naturally better suited:
● Fair or light skin is better suited to shades like light pink, coral, peach, nude and dusty red.
● If you have a medium skin tone, the best shades are rose, berry, cherry red and mauve.
● Shades that go well with tan skin are coral, deep pink and bright red. Tan skin goes well with most colors, except brown and purple shades.
● Deep skin tones are best suited to brown and purple shades like plum, caramel, wine and blue-based reds.
The shape of your lips will also determine which shades will look good on you. For top heavy lips, choose a bright shade for your bottom lip and a darker shade of the same color for your top lip. If your lips are bottom heavy choose any shade that suits you, and add a little nude color right in the center of the top lip. For asymmetrical lips use a lip liner in a similar shade to your lipstick to outline your lips. You should also take into account how thick your lips are, if your lips are thin then you should avoid colors that are too dark as they will make your lips look thinner. Glosses and creamy lipsticks are your friend. If your lips are quite plump then the opposite is true.
For people with slightly yellow teeth avoid purples, browns, and bright scarlet and red shades as they will make your teeth look more yellow. Instead opt for rose, slightly orange and light red colors.
Practice
It makes perfect! You might feel a bit silly, but spend some time practicing your smile in the mirror before the event so that you know how a natural looking smile feels. It will really help.
