My earliest memory of getting an ID photo goes back to when I was about 4 years old, probably for a passport. I brought my favorite plush cat with me, but despite my mom and the photographer’s best efforts, I couldn’t stop crying—so you can imagine how great the photo turned out.
Later, I tried various tricks with little success. My driver’s license photo shows me with huge panda eyes staring at the camera, and my ID card makes me look like a surprised fish. (Though I was luckier than some friends who somehow look like they have a full beard in their photos.) Now that I need to renew my driver’s license, I was excited to discover this new makeup trend promising stunning ID photos.
The ID Photo Makeup Trend
Beauty creator Georgia Barratt shared on TikTok how to create the best makeup for ID photos, even showing the final result in a photo booth. She emphasizes that lifting and symmetry are key.
@georgia.barratt Reply to @petassnym yes I’ve got as it was on repeat the whole way through #xyzbca #beauty #makeup ♬ original sound - georgia barratt
Step-by-Step Guide
- Georgia starts by laminating her eyebrows—brushing them up with gel. Then she applies a great foundation followed by concealer under the eyes and brows.
- For this look, stronger contouring is needed. Don’t hold back with a creamy bronzer—apply it to your temples, cheekbones, and both sides of your chin in a V shape. Use outward and upward strokes for a flawless finish. Then contour your nose, including the tip, and add some on your eyelids following their natural curve.
- Next, use a light concealer on the inner corners of your eyes, the lower part of your forehead, your chin, and along your lower lash line.
- Apply blush above your cheekbones, between your eyes and ears—not on the apples of your cheeks.
- Finish with a little concealer along your cheekbone line under the bronzer.
- Set your base gently with powder. For liquid or non-powder products, add matching blush, bronzer, and powder. You can also add a bit of blush on your eyelids if you like. (If you enjoy baking, now’s the time—but this step is optional.)
- Draw a thin dark brown eyeliner line, including a tiny line in the inner eye corner to make your eyes appear wider. Apply mascara, then fill in sparse areas with an eyebrow pencil. Add a little highlighter on your eyelids to finish.
- Make your lips look fuller by slightly overlining just outside your natural lip line with a pencil—but be gentle and follow your natural shape! Finish with a nude lip gloss, and you’re all set.
Here’s Georgia’s ID Photo:
@georgia.barratt Reply to @haaalzzy mission complete #xyzbca #makeup #beauty ♬ As It Was - Harry Styles
Many commenters noted that while the makeup looks amazing, they wouldn’t spend that much time just for an official ID photo. What do you think? Would you invest this much effort in your makeup for a great ID photo, or not?
