It may not be “the most wonderful time of the year” just yet, but with fall in full swing and Christmas decorations already appearing in department stores, holiday photo season is definitely in session! Whether your family gets annual portraits done or just takes snapshots around the Thanksgiving dinner table, holiday photos are a wonderful way to preserve your family’s memories. Unfortunately, they’re also a way to share those memories with everyone on social media, and you know what they say: The internet is forever. If you’re not 100 percent satisfied with your look and aren’t feeling your personal best, don’t panic – there are plenty of quick fixes and pick-me-ups you can do in time for holiday photos, without blowing your gift budget!
Tip 1: Play Up Colors
Unless you’re going to an ugly sweater party, there’s no need to deck yourself in traditional holiday colors – especially if they’re less than flattering to your skin or hair color. You can still look festive if you wear a purple dress. Don’t let the holidays dictate your color palette; just wear what makes you feel your best, and your happiness will radiate more than any sparkly red sequin sweater ever could.
Tip 2: Know Your Angles
You’ve probably heard anecdotes about Hollywood stars demanding to be shot from their “good” side. Well, good and bad angles aren’t a myth. Some angles are more flattering than others. A great tip for giving your face some dimension (and avoiding that double-chin look) is to elongate your neck and stick your face out just a touch. Then lower your chin just a bit … Right there! You’ve got it.
Tip 3: Watch Your Teeth
Nothing ruins a great photo quite like finding out you’ve got food stuck in your teeth! If your family is snap-happy, make an effort to run to the restroom immediately after dinner and do a quick tooth-check. Even if you’re just going down the street, pack a travel toothbrush and floss for emergencies, and remember – even if everything looks good, give your mouth a good rinse with water before returning to the festivities. Sometimes particles or spices are overlooked and can travel back to the front of your teeth in your saliva. Not a good look!
Speaking of your teeth, if they’re not looking quite as dazzling as they could, schedule a whitening treatment, get some whitening strips, use whitening paste and opt for a blue-tinted red lipstick to help offset the yellow tone in your teeth.
Tip 4: Slough It Off!
If the lights of the season are leaving your skin looking dull in comparison, schedule a CO2 laser skin resurfacing procedure. These procedures can take between 30 minutes and two hours, and take about two weeks to recover from, but the results can last between two and five years! It may take up to four months to see the full results, but you should start seeing changes in three to four weeks.
Tip 5: Get Your Fill
Don’t just fill up on turkey and pie this year. If your skin isn’t looking and feeling its best, a quick treatment like Botox or fillers can really perk up your look. The procedure can be done in just a few minutes, and any initial swelling and bruising is usually gone within about five days, which means with the right planning, you’ll have plenty of time to get in a treatment before your photo session or family get-together!
To schedule a consultation for Botox, fillers or a CO2 laser treatment, give Dr. Chau’s office a call at 888-966-9471.