Passport Photo Make Up: How to Look Fresh for the Next 10 Years
With summer holidays around the corner, it might be time to renew your passport - and that means facing the dreaded passport photo. You know the one. No smiling, no filters, and the joy of seeing it every time you travel for the next 10 years.
With the right makeup, you can still look fresh, confident, and like you - even in fluorescent lighting.
As a professional makeup artist, I’ve picked up a few tricks over the years to help you look more wide-awake, radiant and polished for close-up photos like this. Here’s how to get photo-ready with ease.
It’s All in the Eyes
Passport photos are close-up and often harshly lit, so brightening the eye area is key to looking well-rested and alert.
Concealer
A brightening concealer is your best friend. Apply a lightweight, full-coverage formula to any areas of darkness under the eyes and around the inner corners. My top picks:
Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer - creamy, radiant and flawless in photos.
Too Faced Born This Way Super Full Coverage Concealer - a go-to in my kit, with buildable coverage and a skin-like finish.
Mascara
To open up the eyes, opt for a mascara that lifts, lengthens and volumizes - without clumps.
Charlotte Tilbury Volume Mascara Exagger-Eyes defines and widens the eyes instantly for that awake, polished look.
Radiant, Natural Base
Harsh lighting can wash you out, so focus on creating a base that’s fresh, glowing and dimensional - not flat or overly matte.
Foundation
My forever favourite is the Dior Face and Body Foundation. You can tailor the coverage from sheer to full, but it always delivers a radiant, skin-like finish that photographs beautifully.
Blush
Don’t skip blush - in fact, apply slightly more than usual. Camera lighting tends to flatten features, and a pop of colour brings life back to the face.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush adds a lit-from-within glow. Layer it with a powder blush for longevity and dimension in photos.
Lips That Pop (Without Overpowering)
When it comes to lip colour, you want something that feels fresh and flattering - not too bold, but enough to lift your whole complexion.
Lip Oils
A hydrating lip oil is perfect for this: soft, glossy and packed with pigment.
I love the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil for its beautiful sheen and just-right wash of colour -perfect for looking more alive in those passport photos.
Bonus tip: avoid ultra-nude lips - a little tone or tint helps bring warmth to your face under the harsh lighting.
You might not get to smile in your passport photo - but with the right makeup, you can still look like your most confident, radiant self. Stick to brightening, glow-boosting products and don’t be afraid to enhance the features that matter most in a close-up: eyes, cheeks, and lips.
You’ll be carrying that photo for the next decade… let’s make it a good one.