It is not new news that Instagram has become a portal where we display our levels of narcissism. With every scroll, there is bound to be a selfie from someone we barely know, and worse still, we would follow suit and add on to the ever-growing number of #selfies that are already on the site (FYI, the number of “#selfie” hashtags is at over 200 million at the moment).
Thus, the question at hand is how many apps do we really need for that elusive perfect selfie, and is one really enough? Instagram already has an in-built function of filters, and the standard image adjustment settings such as brightness and cropping.
However, there is still an increasing amount of image editing apps being created by the minute, a testament to the fact that people still do desire the ability to edit their images prior to posting them onto the virtual world for everyone to see. Here are some apps that selfie-lovers would probably find familiar, and what they are good for.
VSCOCam
VSCOCam stands for Visual Supply Company and it is a classic favourite for its minimalistic interface and easy usability. This app also allows for users to explore other photography within the app, and double tapping to save an image which may come in handy for future pic-spiration purposes. VSCOCam is good for people who want a fuss-free editing process, and there is that added advantage of allowing users to score some inspiration from other photographers.
BeautyPlus
BeautyPlus is an app that has an expansive array of functions which definitely includes the perfect one for selfies in specific—the ability to fix unsightly blemishes and improve on skin condition. The app also allows users to change their lip and eye colour, just to name a few of the functions. A famous beauty tool widely used in Asian countries, the app gives selfies a little face-lift, if that is what you are looking for.
PicsArt
Those selfies with added captions like ‘Good Morning’ displayed on the image itself could be done via an app like PicsArt. What makes the app different from the rest is that it allows the addition of text to images, and there are plenty of fonts to choose from as well. The app is good for users who are looking to be creative with their selfies, and has the option of ‘bokeh’ to add some pizzazz to the selfie.
BlendPic
It is not common to see selfies that are the result of the blending of two images, and this app allows users to be creative with the way they display their face on the world of Instagram. BlendPic adds a whimsical flair to an otherwise ordinary selfie and allows one to test their creativity skills in producing their quirky selfies. The app is good for people who are used to taking “normal” selfies, and wish to try something fun for once.
Afterlight (Retails for RM3.50 on PlayStores)
It is fair to say that nobody wants to pay for anything, much less an app on our phone. However, one reason that makes this app worth the money that we pay, is the image quality it produces and the array of filters available to add a distinct, artistic touch to the selfie. AfterLight is good for users looking to customise their images, such as with geometrical shapes.