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Question: Why do I always look so white and pale in photographs?

Answer:

If you are looking extra pale or extra ghastly in your photographs, your makeup or sunscreen could be the culprit.

Mineral makeup, along with some non-mineral makeup, contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These ingredients reflect light, making you look paler, especially in pictures taken with flash. UV filters in sunscreen work the same way and also reflect/deflect light.

There isn’t really a way to reduce this effect. Using powder or tinted makeup over sunscreen could help somewhat, but if you know you are going to be photographed for a big day, it’s a good idea to skip your sunscreen and wear only non-SPF makeup just to be safe.

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