Photo: Claire Benoist/Montrose Images
You know how you take a good picture and add an Instagram filter, and it suddenly becomes an amazing picture? Thanks to a stroke of skincare genius, you can get the same effect in real life for your (filter-less, of course) wedding photos. The secret? Two magic letters: HD. High-definition foundation includes pigments that catch and absorb light, giving your skin an airbrushed-celebrity-on-a-billboard effect. In less than a minute, you'll get the perfect base for your wedding day makeup, with zero — and we mean zero — imperfections. Our editors tested some of the hardest-working HD foundations around to help find your wedding-day makeup bag's new all star.
The camera's best friend: Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation, $42, Sephora.com
The choice of professional makeup artists everywhere, this medium-to-heavy coverage liquid wonder is the king of HD foundations: It dries to a soft-focus satin finish, blurring imperfections so flawlessly, it's like a real-life Photoshop retouch. The HD magic works for all skin types, but the oil-free formula is a godsend if you're stressing about breakouts or shine on your wedding day.
Our tester, a major Instagram addict, couldn't get enough of the camera-ready coverage — she took no-filter snaps all night without a single touch up! The foundation comes in a huge variety of shades, so make sure to stop by Sephora (the exclusive retailer for Make Up For Ever) and test with a foundation sponge before you buy.
See More: How to Pick the Perfect Foundation
The featherweight champ: Smashbox Liquid Halo, $42, smashbox.com
If you're saying "I Do" anywhere the mercury might climb above 75, try this lightweight liquid foundation. It's so airy, you'll hardly know you're wearing makeup, but every microscopic, gel-covered pigment is formulated to absorb light and blur blemishes. Bonus: it has SPF 15! Sponge on one layer for a barely-there look, or build layers for more coverage.
The instant glowifier: Revlon Photo Ready Airbrush Mousse, $13, ulta.com
Turns out, you don't need to be a member of the Cullen family to sparkle in the sun. This airy mousse formula is full of light-catching pigment, which means every swipe yields effortless radiance, especially for outdoor photos. Our tester went nuts for the lightweight formula, but warns, "One pump gives you more mousse than you need, so dispense it in your hand slowly — otherwise it could get messy!"
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The budget best bet: E.L.F. Studio HD Mattifying Cream Foundation, $6, eyeslipsface.com
For less money than you spent on that salad you had for lunch yesterday, this little powerhouse compact packs a major mattifying punch. Use a foundation brush or sponge to cover fines lines and your T-Zone, or sponge on the cream-to-powder formula everywhere for thick, even coverage. It's not as light-catching as other HD foundations, but it covers imperfections like no other. We swear, this stuff won't budge all night!