Mirror vs. Selfie

You are ugly in both OP.

I look awful in selfies unless I have good lighting and can get the right angle. I always take one on my laptop before getting on a video call to check lighting and angle.

I use webcamtests.com, R2! One of my most-visited pages, as you can imagine.

This will help, OP.

I have this problem too. I’m horrified by what I look like “in real life” versus the bathroom mirror.

My boyfriend looks better in the mirror, too.

I watched After Hours (Martin Scorsese, 1985) last night, and Griffin Dunne looked better in a shot in front of a mirror than he did in the rest of the film.

Some of us just aren’t symmetrical enough to live.

I look way better in the mirror than in real life. Wish the world could see my mirror face.

so you mean the selfie is the more accurate look, not the mirror?

Why does OP's link say "mirror/real life" vs selfie? Shouldn't it be "selfie/real life" vs mirror?

It should be wide angle shot versus telescopic shot, too. Dumb.

You are correct, R8. That is a nonsensical way of describing the issue.

Don't forget, your mirror face is NOT the face you show the world, because it's in reverse. To see the face you show the world you need one of these:

Cheaper one.

R8 is correct.

It's the distortion caused by the small, wide angle phone cam lens.

OP's pics are even labeled with the lens mm stating 200mm vs 25mm - with the 25 being the selfie cam.

Here's a link showing a face pic progression/example of lens distortion.

And here's an article with examples and more detailed explainers.