9 apps for better-looking selfies
Put your best face forward with one of these apps.
When it comes to selfies, you want to put your best face forward. Making subtle fixes to a splotchy complexion or taming wrinkles and under eye shadows doesn’t necessarily present a false face to the public—just a better one. Some selfie apps let you go all-out glam, complete with face shapers, eye makeup, nose thinners, and stylish lighting and airbrushing. How far you go is your choice, but keep in mind that too much fixing can result in a fake or even creepy look. Moderation is key.
Many selfie apps are free or ad-based, but nearly all offer in-app purchases for specialized enhancements and pro-level portrait features as well as to disable
watermarks and ads. An increasing number of apps are adding subscription options, which may be ideal for habitual users. Here are nine of our favorites out of many available on the app store.
1. FACETUNE 2
Price: Free, in-app purchases available Available from: go.macworld.com/fct2
Facetune 2 is all selfies all the time, and as a specialist in beautifying faces, this app gives you the look you seek, whether it’s a natural expression for a business portrait or a more airbrushed and glamorous shot for friends and family.
The app lets you smooth skin and remove blemishes, slim or augment a face or narrow a jawline, whiten teeth, and enlarge eyes or change their color. The app can adjust light sources for a more flattering look, removing harsh shadows. You can play around with backgrounds, and add filters and effects while a new Wipe tool lets you choose discrete areas of the image to enhance. The Magic Camera feature can apply facial enhancements as you shoot. The Magic Camera feature uses artificial intelligence to let you apply various facial enhancements as you shoot. While the basic app is free, in-app purchases and subscriptions are available for some advanced features. Subscriptions to access all features cost $5.99 per month or $35.99 per year.
2. YOUCAM PERFECT
Price: Free, in-app purchases available Available from: go.macworld.com/ycmp
When it comes to your comely visage, Youcam Perfect is not fooling around. You can shoot still or video selfies, aided by an auto-beautify function that improves your features as you shoot. The app hides skin problems while an eye enhancer enlarges and removes under-eye puffiness. With group selfies, multi-face detection can enhance the look of
each face in your shot.
Youcam Perfect further improves selfies with fun elements like stickers, backgrounds, and frames, and can remove distracting background elements. With full body portraits, the app works to lengthen legs and slim bodies and make you taller or shorter.
While the basic app is free with in-app purchases ranging from $0.99 to $3.99, a premium version costs $2.99 per month, $6.99 per quarter or $17.99 per year, for which you can save HD photos, remove watermarks, access new effects, and remove ads. For makeup, you have to install the free Youcam Makeup companion app ( go.macworld.com/ucmu).
3. AIRBRUSH
Price: Free, in-app purchases available Available from: go.macworld.com/arbr
From head to toe, Airbrush brings out your best self(ie). If you can’t abide individual feature edits, Airbrush’s Magic tool tackles most facial flaws in one go. But if you’re obsessed with creating the absolute perfect face, Airbrush gives you plenty of options. You can