Flashback: What it is and how to avoid it!

Right: NYX HD Studio Photogenic Foundation
Left: Revlon ColorStay Foundation for Normal/Dry Skin 

Flashback: What is it?
     Flashback isn't something that many people hear about in regards to makeup but it is something that you should be aware of. For this blog post I am going to become the Alton Brown of makeup. I want to teach you about what flashback is and more importantly what causes it.
     Have you ever had a picture (with flash) taken and wondered why your face looked so white compared to the rest of your body? If you have ever experienced "ghost face" or looking "washed out" in your pictures, it is probably because you were experiencing flashback. Flashback is when your face appears to have a white cast to it.

What causes it?
     Flashback happens when light reflects off of something. In this case, that something is more than likely one of the following: 1) your moisturizer 2) your foundation or 3) your powder. These three items tend to be the main culprits of flashback because they typically contain UV protectants. Some people will generalize and say that products containing sunscreen or SPF will cause that, but that is not always true. The ingredients in physical sunscreens, not chemical ones are going to be your trouble makers. The ingredients that cause the most problems with flashback are titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and talc. What is really going to determine if these are problematic with flash will be the amount of them in your makeup or skincare.

When to avoid these ingredients
     Now don't get me wrong, I'm not telling you to toss all of your makeup with these ingredients. UV protectants play a crucial role in keeping your skin healthy and youthful looking. What I want, is for you to be mindful of what you are using and when. For your day-to-day makeup you are going to want to use products with these ingredients in them. For your wedding and other special occasions where there will be flash photography, go for something without these ingredients, or minimal traces of them so that your makeup will look just as beautiful in the picture as it does in person.

Finding the right products
     Keep in mind that HD makeup doesn't mean that it does not cause flashback. HD just means that the makeup will look good on film. The lighting that is used for film is completely different than that used in photography. You are going to have to read the ingredients and try the products out. I would avoid anything that advertises SPF in it. Now I know I just told you that not all products with SPF in them are bad but this will just help you narrow things down quicker. You are still going to want to read the ingredients in the product. Remember, ingredients are listed in descending order by predominance. You are also going to have to look for advertising or reviews that suggest it is good for flash photography. Both the foundations I have pictured above include titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. The Revlon one is absolutely terrible in pictures; however, the NYX one looks fantastic. I am still forming my opinions on the NYX foundation so keep an eye out for that review sometime in the feature. Remember to always apply your makeup evenly and carry it down onto your neck; and. if you have a special occasion coming up to take a few test pictures in advance.

Thanks for reading!
Warriormakeup <3