Is there anything more 2017 than taking pictures of yourself and oversharing them with Facebook friends / Twitter followers / Snapchat … whatevers?
Heck, even the most camera-shy of folks (ahem) would love a killer avatar or perhaps that perfect vacation shot for the family back home.
But to paraphrase a popular meme, one does not simply point the phone at oneself and click. We live in a world of bad hair days, water retention, bad skin, pre-sweetened cereal binges, etc.
So you’re not looking your best? Cheer up: There are some great apps out there that can help you tighten up that selfie game.
Your adoring public is probably too busy taking selfies of their own to be impressed with yours, but don’t mind them.
This is all about you.
Check out these apps. (All were test-driven on an iPhone 6.)
YouCam Perfect (free; in-app purchases available) — iOS and Android
Developers weren’t just idly throwing around the word “perfect.” They were swinging for the fences here. A variety of filters are available, sure, as well as the ability to post to multiple social media platforms.
But then there is the “auto-beautify” feature, as well as the “Smile :)” feature, which doesn’t quite turn frowns upside down (but it tries — subtly). Other features include: a skin smoother, blemish removal, face contour, nose enhancer and eye enlarger. And then there are the body-slimming and leg-lengthening features, if you’re into that sort of thing.
As you can see above, there is some subtle difference between the before and after, courtesy of that auto-beautify feature.
Even with those in-app purchases, it’s still cheaper than plastic surgery.
(WTOP/Jack Pointer)
WTOP/Jack Pointer
Retrica (free; in-app purchases available) — iOS and AndroidHere’s an app that prioritizes “stickers” and other whimsical visual effects over face-perfecting technology.Retrica offers text and “doodle” options for users who want their selfies to include a message. In addition, users can decorate their shot with Retrica’s proprietary “stamps” feature. Multiple selfies can also be compiled (see above) into an instant collage or photo booth collection. And because Snapchat is still a thing, Retrica also does live video, which can then be used to build a GIF.
Photo Editor by Aviary (free; in-app purchases available) — iOS and Android
This app, too, offers the standard array of tools for blemish removal, teeth whitening, etc. What really sets it apart are features that allow you to add artistic elements that aren’t really common in the standard garden-variety selfie.
One, for instance, allows you to selectively remove and replace color. Another feature gives you the ability to add overlays or “stickers,” or draw on it and add text. (Like cookies and soup, the best memes are homemade.)
A variety of filters and other effects are available, too.
Selfie Cam (free; in-app purchases available) — iOS only
Like Photo Editor by Aviary, Selfie Cam is aimed at the selfie shooter who wants to have a little fun with the finished product. Stickers (e.g., my sweet pirate hat), frames and other tools allow you to trick out the photo. One can also apply retro effects, such as a modern art print (similar to Warhol’s “Marilyn Diptych”) or photo booth.
But developers mainly aimed for convenience: Users can snap, modify and share their shot using only their thumbs, courtesy of a rotary dial control (similar to an old school iPod).
Even more convenient: Harnessing the iPhone’s face-detection technology, it lets users activate a timer simply by smiling at the camera.
FaceTune ($3.99) — iOSand AndroidFirst of all, this one already has an edge in that there are no hidden costs associated with in-app purchases. As with YouCam Perfect, you can delete blemishes, brighten your skin, adjust your smile, reshape your nose and adjust your cheekbones, jaw line, etc. (Compare the far left before shot with the after shot in the middle. Notice how the jawline on my right-hand side looks more angular.)
In addition, this popular app allows you to change your eye color, whiten your teeth and add hair. You can even transform your face into weird shapes … but that would just be a childish waste of time.
