Flawless Skin On Camera: My Pre-Photoshoot Routine

Want flawless skin in your photos?

A little bit of prep is all it takes to get that healthy glowing skin for your boudoir photoshoot. This is the routine that I recommend to all of my clients, and the one I personally use every time I'm going to be on camera.

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Consistency minimizes Pores and Softens Skin

All anyone really needs in an ongoing skincare routine is face wash, moisturizer, sunscreen, and a retinol. If you want more information on that, check out this article on my everyday routine for skin that looks flawless on camera.

DRINK LOTS OF WATER

It's crazy how much bounce and glow simply staying hydrated will add to your skin. Here's the {{{ WATER BOTTLE }}} that makes it easier for me to stay hydrated.

TWO NIGHTS BEFORE YOUR SESSION…

EXFOLIATE 

Exfoliating helps to remove dead skin cells and reveal the fresh, healthy, glowing skin underneath. You can do this with either a chemical exfoliant or – and this one comes with a big red warning sign – a GENTLE physical exfoliation. I personally love this chemical exfoliant from The Ordinary – it’s high quality and cheap AF which makes me love it even more. If you must use a physical exfoliant instead of a chemical exfoliant for whatever reason – and I’m pointing my finger at you right now, very seriously – use a soft cotton washcloth and be incredibly gentle. Don’t use a scrub, because you won’t have any control over the pressure or evenness of the exfoliation. And don't overdo it; too much exfoliation can cause irritation, inflammation, and damage your skin.

THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR Boudoir SESSION…

WASH YOUR FACE AND REMOVE MAKEUP AS USUAL

This is not a revolutionary step, I know. But not everyone’s skin care routine is on the same level, so I just want to be super clear about the order of operations here, ok? Sue me. Start by removing your makeup, and then go in with your face wash.

DERMAPLANE

Dermaplaning is not as complicated of a process as that word makes it sound. The purpose of this is to make the top of your skin super smooth by removing any peach fuzz, facial hair, and dead skin. This helps your makeup to lay totally seamlessly at your boudoir photoshoot the next day. You’ll use a thin, single bladed razor, and just gently go over your whole face. Once your done simply rinse off your face. Here’s a link to the dermaplaning tools I like to buy, but you can also find these very affordably at sephora, or even at some dollar stores. And of course, not all hotties are hairless. If there’s any facial hair you want to keep, just don’t go over those spots, or feel free to skip this step. 

LIP SCRUB

Don't let anyone convince you to buy anything fancy for this step. I'll literally just use a little bit of sugar from my kitchen and rub it gently just on my lips. Then rinse it off with water. This will help de-chap your lips if they're dry, and remove any dead skin as well.

MOISTURIZE

Hydrated skin looks plump and youthful, and again lays that great base for your makeup to go on the next day. Your moisturizer doesn’t need to be complicated, and actually if your moisturizer has a lot of extra ingredients going on that could be a red flag for fragrance or other ingredients that could be harmful to your skin. Cetaphil or Cerave are both great brands to reach for, and you’ll be able to find them at your drug store. For summer months (or skin that’s not too dry and not too oily) I love this hydrating lotion. For winter months (or skin that’s particularly dry) I like to reach for this heavier moisturizing cream. You can also use an eye cream on your lids and underneath your eyes, but this is far less essential the night before than moisturizing overall.

SLUG YOUR LIPS

Here me out, Vaseline. Don't go for the chapstick, go for the jar. Will you feel gloopy? Yes, absolutely. But your lips will be sooooooo soft in the morning.

The day of your photoshoot…

keep it simple

The fewer the products on your face, the more likely your makeup is to adhere smoothly to your skin. That means stick with the most basic version of your daily morning routine. Face wash, and moisturizer.

Use an eye cream

You've probably noticed your makeup creasing underneath your eyes at some point or another -- it can be really hard to avoid, right? One factor that contributes to this is that the under-eyes are particularly dry, so one way to prevent this is to moisturize underneath your eyes well. My makeup artist will also take good care of you so that this doesn't happen at your session, but going in with a simple moisturizing eye cream the morning of will also make a big difference.

Use a Chemical sunscreen

There are two types of sunscreens, chemical and mineral. While mineral sunscreens are an awesome option for every day, they will also cause flashback on camera, giving your skin an extra pale glow that won’t align with the rest of your body. I love this spray sunscreen because it’s easy to apply and reapply throughout the day without having to ruin my makeup. 

By following these tips, you'll be sure to have radiant and flawless skin for your boudoir photoshoot. Remember that everyone’s skin is unique, spot test new products and try out your routine in advance to know exactly what results you can anticipate. Try it out and let me know how it goes by messaging me on social media, or on my contact page.

If you haven’t booked your boudoir session yet and are looking for a professional boudoir photographer, be sure to check out the rest of my website. I would absolutely love to help you feel even more confident and beautiful in your own skin.