Few beauty experiences feel more permanent than a passport photo. Taken under harsh fluorescent lighting and carried across borders for the next decade, it’s one of the rare images we repeatedly return to, and often regret. Which is exactly why Allure Philippines asked the experts: What actually makes a passport photo look good?
Passport photo makeup tips
Kieran Punay
Professional makeup artist and former flight attendant Jigs Mayuga assures that you don’t have to worry so much about being skilled in makeup. “You just have to define your facial features without overapplying makeup,” he says.
He advises avoiding getting carried away with brow trends, noting how eyebrow styles quickly change, from the thinly shaved arches of the ’90s, heavily tinted brows of the 2010s, to the feathered, laminated brows of today. Instead, keep brows well-groomed; not overplucked, not overdrawn, and filled in with natural hair-like strokes.
Picking the correct hues is also important. He recommends sticking to brown tones, which work well with flash photography, especially for morenas. Go for light, medium, and deep browns, and blend these on your eyelids. For eyeliner, he suggests skipping the usual black pen and opting for brown instead.
While dewy skin is in, it can appear oily in flash photography. Mayuga suggests scaling back on shine and choosing foundation closest to your natural skin tone. The same applies to concealer. He warns that if you use a concealer shade that is too light, you will get the “reverse raccoon look,” where the undereyes are too bright when photographed.
Also, dimension is crucial. Since passport photos are taken under cool fluorescent light, Mayuga counters this by adding warmth to the makeup. His tip is to test makeup near a window or a harsher light source to check balance and contour.
For the blush, he advises only choosing a color similar to the flush that appears when you work out. And for placement, he shares a timeless trick: smile to find the apples of your cheeks and apply there.
What’s a makeup look without lipstick? Mayuga recommends avoiding excessive gloss. Choose a satin-finish lipstick, because matte lipsticks can have a tendency to look flat on camera. And once the look is complete, lock it in with a setting spray for longevity.
Passport photo hair tips
Kieran Punay
Professional hairstylist Cats Del Rosario reminds readers that there is a need to abide by the rules that the hair should be tucked whatever the hairstyle is, eyebrows should be visible, and you should work with your natural hair. “If your hair is straight on a daily basis or when you travel, it would be nice to just keep it straight for your passport photo,” she says. For curly-haired ladies out there, she advises using a nondescript bobby pin if you need to tie your hair. Ditch the loud hair accessories.
Now, there are multiple ways to style your hair, it could be a ponytail or cascading hair, but Del Rosario advises avoiding anything messy like an updo or a style with tendrils or face-framing pieces.
To achieve a more polished look, she advises using products to tame the hair like hairspray or a hair wax stick. She recommends skipping texturizing or volumizing powders. But the less product, the better, because when you put a lot of product in, it will weigh down the hair.
For those with frizzy hair, heat is your best friend. You have to blow-dry your hair. It doesn’t have to be on a high heat setting, but mind the direction of the nozzle of the dryer. Her technique is to follow the hair downwards in a parallel motion and not perpendicularly to lessen flyaways and control the hair.
Passport photo posing tips
Kieran Puna
Photographer Kieran Punay advises, “You should be comfortable and calm, because it shows in the photo when you’re stiff or stressed.” Take a deep breath, relax, and perhaps do a shoulder roll before posing for the camera.
And since you need to face the camera head-on, Punay notes to mind the posture. Shoulders back, neck forward, and chin slightly up, this will make the jawline become more prominent. Although it feels awkward, he says this posture photographs well and creates more shape.
As a photographer, he says that one marker of a good photo is the presence of a catch light in the eyes. A catch light is the reflection of the light source in the eyes of the subject, which adds that definitive sparkle and dimension. If there is a direct light source in front of you aside from the overhead fluorescent lighting, make sure to face that light source.
The look that photographs best
All three professionals emphasize preparation over experimentation. Don’t try a new look, and stick to what you know works for your face, because if you’re not comfortable and happy, it will show. This will allow you to walk in with confidence. By following this guide, hopefully you walk out with a smile on your face, knowing that you got a passport photo that brings out the best in you.
Jigs Mayuga’s Pro Artist Picks:
ViseArt Pro Neutral Mattes Palette gives a wide-range of light, medium, and deep brown eyeshadow tones.
Maybelline Tattoo Brow 3D Gel to help groom the brows naturally.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation to achieve a photo-ready makeup base.
Rimmel Lasting Finish Lip Liner to outline the lips.
Dior Addict Lip Glow Hydrating Lip Balm In Rosewood to hydrate the lips, and lessen cracks.
Tom Ford Lip Color Matte for a stunning color payoff without being overpowering.
Dior Backstage Glow Maximizer Palette in 001 Universal for a subtle glow and sheer color.
Makeup By Mario Softsculpt Shaping Stick to define your best features and avoid looking washed out.
L’Oreal Infallible 3-Second Makeup Setting Spray Mist to lock in your passport-ready makeup look.
Art: Nicole Almero/Allure Philippines; Source images: Kieran Punay. Product Images courtesy of brands.
Cats Del Rosario’s Pro Stylist Picks:
Betterhair Slide and Slick Hair Wax Stick to achieve a polished hair look.
Schwarzkopf Professional Osis+ Session Extreme Hold Hairspray to lock in your hairstyle of choice.
Shiseido Fino Premium Touch Essence Hair Oil to help tame frizzy hair.
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray to give the hair a silky, shiny finish.
Art direction and beauty direction by Nicole Almero. Photography by Kieran Punay. Makeup by Jigs Mayuga. Hair by Cats Del Rosario. Modeled by Eula Paltep of Farah Models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brown-toned eyeshadow, eyeliner, and blush photograph better than black under fluorescent lighting, says makeup artist Jigs Mayuga. He recommends light-to-deep browns, satin-finish lipstick, and foundation matched closely to skin tone.
Hairstylist Cats Del Rosario advises keeping hair in its natural texture, tucked with eyebrows visible, secured with a nondescript bobby pin if needed. She recommends avoiding updos, tendrils, or heavy styling product.
Photographer Kieran Punay recommends relaxing the shoulders, bringing the neck slightly forward, and lifting the chin to define the jawline. Staying calm and facing a light source also helps produce a flattering result.
A catchlight is the reflection of a light source in the eyes, adding sparkle and dimension, says photographer Kieran Punay. Facing a direct light source alongside overhead fluorescent lighting helps create this effect.
No, all three experts agree familiar, tested looks photograph best. Sticking to what works for your face beats experimenting, since discomfort with a new look tends to show in the final photo.
