We all know those people on our Instagram who somehow look flawless in every single photo. While we have our own impressive collection of show stopping selfies, we've all been there when we take about 100 photos and not one single one comes out to our liking.
Obviously, there are tricks we use to be able to master the perfect selfie. These include positioning the phone to the side so that our face isn't in the center of the frame, holding the phone a little over our heads for a flattering angle, using lighting and adding the best fitter.
We may then get closer to having an image that makes us look good, but what we really want is to look supermodel-stunning. We are all gorgeous in our own unique ways (and we should embrace our flaws), but there's nothing wrong with using a little photo magic from time to time.
There are countless photo editing apps available for both iOS (and Android) that claim they will have you looking like the best version of yourself. I have pretty much tried them all (even a few of these apps that put makeup on you), and have narrowed it down to the two best options: Facetune and BeautyPlus.
I put these two selfie editing apps head-to-head to find out how they compare so you know which one is right for you. Let's see which iOS app is a must-download when we put Facetune vs. BeautyPlus.
*Note: These apps for also available for Android.
Facetune
•Main features: Launched in 2013, this retouching app makes you into an Instagram model. Users can smooth their skin to have a flawless airbrush makeup look, whiten their teeth, reshape their face, take in their waist and emphasize other assets. •Why download it? This is the editing app used by Khloe Kardashian, so if it's good for celebrities, it has to be good for us common folk. •Pros: Users don't need any serious Photoshop skills, just tap and touch to make quick fixes. The best paid for app for editing. •Cons: Facetune costs $3.99, whereas most other editing apps out there are free. |
BeautyPlus
•Main features: Used by over 100 million people worldwide, this app lets users do everything from smooth out their skin, get rid of acne, stretch or thin a body part, change their eye color and add filters. •Why download it? BeautyPlus is so easy to use, turning you into an editing pro in seconds. It also just added Facebook video profile support so you can look flawless in your seven-second close-up. •Pros: This app is absolutely free to download! Also, it gets the job done better than other free options. •Cons: The filters are best only if you want a more natural look, but if you use the accompanying makeup app, you will come out too fake-looking. |
Facetune vs. BeatuyPlus: Selfie Showdown
Your selfies will never be the same after trying these apps. However, when put against each other, of course we found that one is better than the other when it comes to certain features. For example, Facetune has a whole category of lighting filters that is to die for, and reshaping certain body parts is easier to do and comes out better in that app. However, BeautyPlus is best for making your eyes pop and more naturally slims the face.
Keep in mind that dramatic changes depend on how much you edit your selfie. Some tweaks will slightly enhance natural beauty, while heavier edits can have you looking nothing like yourself.
Here's how an edited selfie compares when using Facetune vs. BeautyPlus:
In Facetune, I whitened my teeth, smoothed out my skin, and then used the "smoother" tool for an even more radiant-looking glow. I then played around with the "reshape" and "refine" tools to slim and sculpt my face.
The best Facetune feature actually has nothing to do with changing the physical appearance. It's the "defocus" feature that blurs out the background so all eyes are on me (the right side of the edited photo features the "defocus," the left is "blur").
Last thing to do is pick a filter, which I tend not to really like on Facetune. Instead, I tweaked the lighting to "S-Curve" for a tan, and was ready to share.
BeautyPlus has an auto retouch feature that can make you look 10 times better in one second. This time, I edited myself, starting first with the "Fresh" filter. I then manually used the "Smoother" filter at its highest on my face, brightened my eyes, removed any traces of dark circles and made the size of my eyes a bit bigger.
It was then time to slim the cheeks, chin and arms, but I noticed I was doing less editing than the previous time. It's easy to go overboard in Facetune, whereas this app makes the user feel more true to who they are. Don't get me wrong, BeautyPlus has an awesome "stretch" tool that is perfect for making legs look longer and leaner.
The Winner?
Both apps are extremely easy to use and include many of the same features that it's hard to pick a clear winner. After using both apps for quite some time, Facetune is well worth it if you are a selfie-holic and want that right-off-the-runway look. There's just no way you won't be able to see a dramatic difference in how good your photos come out. It's the clear winner for full body sculpting and more realistic lighting and effects.
However, BeautyPlus doesn't fall too far behind. It is truly the best free option out there to me, and was my go-to sefie app for a long time. It also has the perk of somehow editing nicely while not being too much, though again, this does depend on your hand and how you edit. My tip on this app is to edit first, then add an Instagram filter before sharing for an even better overall look. BeautyPlus will get the job done if you just want to tweak your image a little without having to open your wallet to do so.
