These days, enhancing our selfies with the Valencia filter just doesn’t cut it anymore. Before we hit the upload button and share our photo, there are many things to consider: is our skin blemish-free? Makeup applied to perfection? Pout on point? To get a good selfie, we don’t need a personal glam team, director, 300 takes, or magazine cover lighting—just a good photo editing app. I tested five different photo editing apps, all of which can be found on the app store for free, in order to find the best one. Make sure to use sparingly; you don’t want to look like different people when it comes down to your photos and real life.
5 Photo Editing Apps for Selfies Put to the Test
WonderCam
Using this app, I was able to erase the pimple on my forehead as well as minimize the appearance of my dark circles. I also smoothed out my skin to make any lines less prominent. This app features several non-conventional options, such as the ability to enlarge your eyes and breasts, as well as make your face thinner. Out of curiosity, I increased the thinness of my face and the size of my eyes to the max and needless to say, I looked like a deformed Bratz doll.
VSCO Cam
This app is perfect for filter-lovers. It has an endless array of different filters to choose from, many of which are free. For my selfie, I increased the sharpness and saturation to make my blush pop. To make my lipstick stand out more, I used the skin tone edit option. I then chose the T1 filter, and lowered the effect to 6. The cons of this app are mainly that it does not contain a blemish remover, and the symbols for editing can be confusing and require some getting used to.
PS Express
This photo editor is iPhone’s answer to Photoshop. First, I used the blemish remover to hide the pimple on my forehead. I wanted to make the ombré in my hair more prominent as well as give myself a summery tan, so I increased the contrast and vibrancy, which also made my makeup brighter. Some functions of this app require payment, such as the “reduce noise” feature, which I used to soften my skin to lessen lines and shadows.
Perfect365
Okay, I thought WonderCam was crazy but this app takes deception to the extreme. This photo editor literally gives you a full face of makeup, including eyeliner, fake lashes, blush, lipstick, foundation, and even eyebrows. Some makeovers are already pre-done, with names like “Fantasy,” “Summer,” and “Goblins.” I didn’t go for the full-face makeover, but I did darken my eyebrows and even added some eyeliner and lip gloss. I then removed my dark circles, and gave myself a cheek lift, because, why not? You can add a wig as well, but I wouldn’t recommend it—they look super fake.
Selfie
First, this app requires you to select detection points on your face for precision. After going through the hassle of aligning dozens of tiny dots around my face, I thought I might as well utilize the app to its full potential. I started with a tan. Then, I proceeded to whiten and enlarge my eyes before making them green. For the finishing touch, I used the “define” feature to slim and lift my cheeks.
