Why does my face look different in selfies and the mirror?

Why can my nose look bigger in a selfie?

Camera distance changes the proportions in a photograph. A feature closer to the camera can look larger relative to features farther away.

A 2018 research letter in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery modeled this effect on nasal appearance. It compared a short selfie distance with a longer portrait distance. The model showed greater apparent nasal width in the close view. It did not test face-rating apps or establish a preferred nose shape.

For comparison photos, avoid switching between a close selfie and a photo taken across the room. Record a camera position you can repeat.

Source: Ward and colleagues, 2018: Nasal Distortion in Short-Distance Photographs

Why does my iPhone selfie flip after I take it?

A saved selfie can have a different orientation from the front-camera preview. Apple provides a Mirror Front Camera setting to save the preview's orientation.

On iPhone, open Settings, then Camera. Check Mirror Front Camera. Keep the setting consistent for photos you intend to compare. This controls orientation, not camera distance or lighting.

When comparing a mirror view with a saved photo, check which side is which. A part in your hair or another visible detail can help you spot a reversed image.

Source: Apple: take a selfie and mirror the front camera

Why does my jawline or skin look different?

A shadow can hide part of a cheek or make the edge of a jaw more visible. Overhead light and soft front light show different details. Expression also changes the positions of your lips, cheeks, and eyes.

Before comparing two results, check whether you used the same light and expression. Keep filters off. Choose a clear front view instead of a dramatic angle.

Use the face-analysis photo checklist

Which photo should I use for a face scan?

Use the clear photo that meets the app's capture instructions. Keep your full face visible and the camera near face height. Choose a setup that you can repeat.

For your own records, note the camera, position, light, and mirror setting. A simple note such as 'front camera, bedroom window, mirror setting on' gives a later comparison useful context.

Lookist keeps earlier reports in Scan. Compare the actual images before comparing the feature scores. A different result cannot, by itself, tell you whether the cause was the photo or a change in appearance.

Read what a changing face score means