According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), the number of female facelifts is down by 44 per cent and the reason is social media. Well, more specifically the transformative filters and face tuning apps now available. 'The advent of myriad filters in social media platforms allows for the ubiquitous enhancing and facial feminising of ‘selfies’,' says consultant plastic surgeon and former BAAPS President Rajiv Grover.
It’s predicted that millennials will take a whooping 25,000 selfies in our lifetime and with over 50 percent of us admitting to ‘tweaking’ our pictures, it’s no surprise that we’ve become more reliant on filters. Considering the cost, discomfort and downtime associated with surgery, this digital reliance isn’t such a bad thing.
But what about those of us who want our filtered complexion to translate into real life? Contouring and highlighting might be the go-to techniques for Instagram, but off camera you can end up looking like a stripy tin man. Make-up artist Carly Hobbs says that the trick is to be strategic with your base and ditch contouring completely.
'A lot of filters backlight your selfie and bounce light off your face to blur any imperfections,' says Carly. 'Using an illuminating primer, like Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Face Primer, £38.50, before your foundation has the same effect, and the pretty sheen means you can fly solo on good skin days.'
And before you layer on the foundation, try disguising any imperfections with a long-wear concealer, such as Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer, £24, first as you might find you need less make-up than you thought.
Carly also recommends swapping your contour kit for a simple, but effective blusher. 'Opt for a soft, natural shade without any glitter or sparkle,' says Carly. 'Sweep it deep into the grooves of your cheekbones and blend it properly for a natural, healthy flush of colour.' Glossier Cloud Paint, £15, is particularly good for this.
While this might require a lot more effort than a Clarendon or Rise filter, the results make it worthwhile.