Happy National Selfie Day! 5 Secrets to Love Your Selfie

Originally published June 21, 2016 · Updated August 2026

Selfies have changed a lot since we originally published this article in 2016, but one thing hasn't: most of us want to feel good about the photos we share.

Whether you're taking a quick picture with friends, updating your profile photo, capturing a vacation moment, or creating content for social media, a few simple adjustments can make a surprisingly big difference.

And no—you don't need a perfect face, professional equipment, or endless filters to take a selfie you love.

Here are five simple ways to feel more confident in front of the camera.

1. Find Your Best Angle

Forget the old rule that everyone has one universally “best” side. Faces are individual, and different angles work for different people.

Instead, experiment.

Hold your camera slightly above, below, and directly at eye level. Turn your face slightly in each direction and compare the results.

You may discover that a small change in camera position makes a significant difference in how your features appear.

The goal isn't to hide anything—it's simply to find an angle you like.

2. Good Lighting Makes a Big Difference

Before reaching for a filter, look at your lighting.

Natural, soft light can make photographs look dramatically different from harsh overhead lighting or a bright light directly behind you.

Try facing a window or taking your selfie outdoors in soft natural light.

Also pay attention to your background. A simple, uncluttered background keeps attention on you rather than everything happening behind you.

Sometimes the easiest selfie improvement has nothing to do with your face at all—it's just better light.

3. Want to Experiment With How Your Nose Looks in Photos?

Phone cameras, lighting, distance, and camera angles can all affect how facial features—including the nose—appear in photographs.

If you've ever wondered how you'd look with a slightly more lifted or refined-looking nose tip, there are temporary ways to experiment with your appearance.

Makeup and contouring are one option.

NoseSecret® offers another.

NoseSecret® is a non-surgical nose enhancer worn discreetly inside the nostrils. Depending on your natural nose shape, size, and placement, it may temporarily create the appearance of a more lifted or refined-looking nose tip while being worn.

There are no permanent changes. When NoseSecret® is removed, your nose returns to its natural appearance.

That makes it an option for someone who simply wants to experiment with a different look—for a selfie, a special occasion, or whenever they choose.

4. Relax Your Expression

One of the easiest ways to dislike a selfie is to concentrate so hard on taking the “perfect” picture that your expression stops looking natural.

Instead of worrying about exactly how much to smile or where to look, take several photos while relaxing your face and changing your expression naturally.

Smile if you feel like smiling. Don't if you don't.

Some of the best photos happen between the poses rather than during them.

And remember: you don't have to post every photograph you take. Sometimes taking several removes the pressure of trying to get everything right in one shot.

5. Capture the Moment, Not Perfection

This may be the most important selfie tip of all.

Photos aren't only about how you look. They're records of where you were, who you were with, what you were doing, and moments you may want to remember years later.

Filters, lighting, makeup, camera angles, and cosmetic products are all choices you can make if they help you create a photograph you enjoy.

But none of them are requirements.

The best selfie is ultimately one that captures a moment you're happy to remember.

Want to Experiment With Your Look?

If you're curious about how a subtle temporary change to your nose might look in photographs, explore our NoseSecret® Before & After results.

You can also read Will NoseSecret® Work for Your Nose Shape? to learn how individual nose structure and sizing can affect the cosmetic result.

If you've never tried NoseSecret® before, visit Find Your Size and explore a NoseSecret® Intro Kit containing multiple sizes.

Take the photo. Keep the memory. And choose the look that makes you feel confident.