Reasons Why We Always Look Better In The Mirror
Women in the UK look in the mirror on average more than 70 times a day, according to a study. And it’s no surprise we’ve all done it — we prepare ourselves by making sure our hair and makeup are straight. And then someone takes a picture of you, and you look awful as if you were two different people! Relax, you’re not the only one who feels this way. In fact, there is a scientific explanation for this.
We will understand how our brains lie when we feel confused after looking at our picture. You will also learn why we always look better in the mirror.
1. The mirror turns us
What we see when we look at ourselves in the mirror is not reality — the reflection in the mirror is an inverted version of the way we actually look. And as we look around every day, we’re very used to this inverted version. So if you don’t see yourself too often in photos, you don’t really know what you look like, so it’s normal to be a little shocked.
2. Immediate control
When we look in the mirror, we have full and instant control. If we do not like the angle, we react immediately by changing our face and adjusting the posture and expression to give it a more satisfying look. When it comes to photos, we usually see each other after the picture is taken. Posing here can help. It’s also good to know your strengths and weaknesses and your best angles.
3. Lighting matters
Our brains work in a way that does not notice the differences in lighting when we look in the mirror, because it automatically aligns and shows us an expression on our face close to what we are used to seeing. The camera does not work this way and instead captures all the tones and shadows objectively and plays a massive role in taking a picture. As the photographers say, “Light can either make it or destroy it!”
4. Our faces are asymmetrical
No one has an absolutely symmetrical face. Try comparing parts of it — they are probably really different. We are used to seeing ourselves at one or more specific angles, and often think that one side of the face is the same as the other. This is why we feel like a completely different person when we see the final shot and probably perceive ourselves as less attractive.
5. The environment puts pressure on us
As researcher Nolan Finney explains, we usually look in the mirror when we are either at home or at least in a safe environment. When it comes to photos, we often look tense and tight. We widen our eyes so that we do not blink and stretch our lips in a fake smile or make duck lips. Because photos are often found on social networks, we feel a lot of pressure on ourselves to look a certain way. Try to feel more at ease with the camera, and you will always look better in the end.
6. In the mirror, we see only specific details
When looking in the mirror, we usually focus on a particular part of our face like lips, nose, eyes, etc., and don’t realize how it all looks together. When we look at a photo, on the other hand, we perceive everything at once and condemn it — the posture, the expression on the face, and everything else that we usually do not pay attention to. So again, self-exploration can help you feel more confident in front of the camera.
7. We think we are more attractive than we really are
A study by the University of Chicago reveals that people tend to think they look better than they really are. For this study, researchers selected participants’ photographs and processed them into better and worse looking versions. Participants are then asked to find their original photographs, and most of them fail by selecting the more attractive ones. We spend a lot more time staring at ourselves in the mirror than looking at pictures. The brain is misleading us, and the real pictures look weird. That doesn’t mean we look awful, we’re just not used to seeing each other. So the ultimate “cure” is to explore yourself both ways!
