Today I was looking at photos from a friend’s wedding — which, incidentally, was one of the most mammoth weddings of the 20th century — and almost every one of them showed my makeup as patchy, chalky, with horrible white flour-like spots everywhere.
Needless to say, this evoked pure hysteria, given that I had managed to circulate through some 10,000 people (yes! this wedding was that mammoth) for five days looking like a badly uncoordinated orangutan had taken a paint brush to my face.
Fortunately, my makeup artist friend called just before I flung myself out of the window, with a panic-subsiding explanation: I was using mineral makeup for this occasion, which reflects light very easily.
Hence causing, what is known in makeup circles, as “flour face” or “makeup flashback”.
What in the world is “flour face”?
Ever seen those celebrities with what looks like white powder residue on their face? And couldn’t figure out WTF they were thinking? And why did they not bother to look in the mirror before leaving the house?
It’s not their fault (which is to say it wasn’t mine either!).
In all probability they were simply wearing mineral products, which can cause major makeup flashback.
Mineral makeup, you see, looks absolutely fine in natural lighting.
BUT when someone takes your photo and the flash goes off, suddenly that’s all you’re seeing — a big reflection of chalky powder on your face.
The same thing happens with silica-based powders, which have white undertones and are very pigmented.
And that’s even more of a bummer as silica-based products are sometimes your only hope of keeping the face grease-free through a hot and humid evening.
This is what’s happening to the celebrities in these photos… at least I have makeup stalwarts like Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Miley Cyrus and Eva Longoria for company!
The solution to flour face makeup faux pas?
The simplest solution is to just check yourself before heading out!
Turn off the lights and take a photo of your face with a flash camera — this will help identify any rogue floury-looking areas and you’ll be able to correct them before heading out of the door and confronting a camera.
This is specially important if you’re wearing mineral makeup.
Or you’ve set your face with setting powders or makeup sprays, which usually contain light-reflecting ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which will reflect light back to the lens under a flash.
Also avoid physical sunscreen on days when you’re bound to be taking photographs (selfies at brunch, anyone?), since it contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as well — thereby setting off the makeup flashback.
Another quick tip? Avoid an under-eye concealer that’s several shades lighter than your foundation.
It’s a great way of looking less tired but will be picked up and thrown into focus by the camera… which is why a lot of celebrities seem to have the flour face effect in their under-eye area.
Or, if you can, simply avoid flash photography.
But photos, after all, are always half the fun. Aren’t they?
What’s the most terrible makeup disaster that you’ve ever had the bad luck to run into?
Anubha Charan is a powerhouse in the luxury beauty industry, with over 15 years of expertise shaping the global beauty narrative. As the former Beauty Director at Marie Claire, she worked with the magazine's French headquarters to craft cutting-edge beauty content for international audiences.
Anubha's bylines have appeared in some of the world’s most prestigious publications, including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Travel + Leisure, WebMD, and Architectural Digest. She is also the co-author of Paris Bath & Beauty, a Simon & Schuster book on French beauty rituals.
Name withheld says
I have never seen this on anyone. What is the point of this article? And your solution is check yourself in the mirror. Are you joking?
María says
I have never seen this, save for some pics from red carpets in the 2000s and the early 2010s. But there’s something I’ve seen quite often and it seems we can’t correct it: Many girls’ eyeshadow look like a shiny white spot ( unlike this chalky effect you’ve shared here) above their eyes. And I’ve seen it when they’re suppossed to be wearing colored eyeshadow, not white. To make things worse, it’s not only visible in pictures, you see it “un the flesh”, so you wonder if they noticed it while having their make up done and didn’t care,
Carmen mallia says
Never ever have a noticed this in celebrity photos! Where is this coming from??
Jennifer says
That’s called “hilighter “
Jennifer says
Replying to Maria,,the shiny stuff on the eyes
Space Waves says
hahaha, so good
schoolboy runaway says
I think this is a common mistake when applying makeup.
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I absolutely loved this post! It’s so relatable and refreshing to hear about beauty mishaps. Your story about the flour face made me laugh out loud! Thanks for sharing your experience—it’s a great reminder that we all make mistakes and can learn from them. Can’t wait to read more!