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If you’ve been active on social media the past couple of years, then you’ve probably noticed the increase in glowy, radiant selfies scattered throughout your feed. All our favorite celebrities and influencers have been taking their Instagram pages to the next level by capturing selfies during the infamous “golden hour.” Also known as “magic hour,” the last hour of sunlight casts an illuminating, soft glow, resulting in dream-like photos that can’t be replicated with just any light.

The magic hour offers the perfect lighting for taking all kinds of photos. It’s great for capturing breathtaking landscape shots, or any kind of outdoor portrait photography sessions, like family or senior year pictures. But where this special time of day really shines is in the selfie department, and we’ll tell you why!

Photographers typically refer to that soft, warm light that occurs during the last hour of daylight before the sun sets as the golden hour. It’s pretty easy to identify this time, even if you’re not a photographer. You’ll notice that the sky features a softer, more red-toned light during this hour as opposed to other times of the day. Technically, this magical lighting occurs twice a day: the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset. But when most people talk about the golden magic hour, they’re referring to the time right before sunset.

So what’s happening in the sky to create this ethereal atmosphere? In simple terms, the golden hour happens when the sun is low in the sky. When the sun is low, it causes the sunlight to move through the Earth’s atmosphere as it makes its way to the surface. This results in a decreased intensity of direct light. While the direct light is less intense, the indirect light is actually more prominent. The indirect light kind of bounces along on the Earth’s surface since it’s been scattered by the atmosphere. To get even more technical, blue light has a shorter wavelength and is scattered more than red light, which has a longer wavelength. That’s why you’ll sometimes notice very intense blue hues in the sky right before sunset, as well as a glowing red sun. This scattering of light is what creates that dreamy look that’s associated with the magic hour.

We don’t have to get too scientific, so here’s the gist of it: this time of day features a unique scattering of light that results in softer, warmer light. The shadows aren’t as dark, and the highlights aren’t as bright! When it comes to capturing the best pictures, this makes a huge difference!

Take Your Best Selfie Yet

Now that you’re more familiar with what the magic hour actually is, we can get into the fun part: taking the selfies! The magical lighting of this hour is truly a game-changer for anyone wanting to elevate their selfie game. It seems like everyone’s taking selfies like this these days, and some of your favorite celebrities (think Hailey Bieber, Zendaya, Addison Rae, and Selena Gomez) are hopping on the trend as well, which has only made its popularity spike. Everyone raves about the benefits of taking photos during the time of day, and for good reason. The golden light is extremely flattering because it works to effortlessly hide blemishes and soften any hard lines. The warm-toned color itself is also super healthy-looking, and it makes everyone look radiant and glowy. It’s basically like a natural filter, so you don’t even have to worry about editing your pics. It’s an easy way to make your photos pop, even if you aren’t a professional photographer. Anyone can do it; you just need the sun and your phone!

How To Get the Perfect Golden Hour Shot

There aren’t too many steps to follow when you’re using this technique because it’s relatively simple. But if you want the best results, we recommend following these three tips:

1. Timing Is Everything

It might seem obvious, but you’ll want to make sure you’re taking your selfie at the right time so you can get the optimal golden effect. This is super important because you won’t have a ton of time to work with if you’re trying to snag a shot at this hour. In general, you’ll want to shoot for taking your selfie sometime between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm, or before 10:00 am if you’re wanting a super bright photo. If you’re really serious about nailing the perfect selfie, there are apps out there that will tell you exactly what time golden hour is at your specific location.

2. Natural Light Is Your Best Friend

To get the most flattering results, you’ll want to make sure you have access to plenty of natural light. If you’re taking your selfie inside, make sure to position your camera near a window. This allows the sun to illuminate your complexion and get rid of any shadows that might be working against you when you’re trying to snap your pic. If you’re outside, then you’re in an even better position to get some great shots. Beach days are great opportunities for golden hour selfies. Next time you’re by the water, grab your phone and take advantage of those gorgeous golden hues!

3. Minimal Makeup is Best

The best part about using this magical hour to take pictures is the fact that it effortlessly enhances your natural beauty. So if you’re bare-faced at the beach this summer, you don’t have to worry about scrambling to apply makeup before taking your photo. This technique will definitely give you the perfect summer glow without any additional products. If you do want to wear makeup, highlighter and lip gloss will be your best bets. The shimmering highlight and glossy lip product will only be enhanced by the golden sun, giving you a truly radiant result. So the next time you’re at the beach (and sporting your favorite Lime Ricki suit!) or just want to up your Instagram game, consider these tips for taking your best selfie yet. We think you’ll love the results!

Sources:

The Golden Hour: Why it is the Best Time of Day for Photographs by James Thomas Long Photography 

How To Perfect A Glowing Golden Hour Selfie by Ira Nopuente for Cosmo

Everything You Need to Know About Golden Hour Selfies by Emily Derrick for Facetune

We are proud to be a size inclusive swimwear brand because we are all about body positivity at Lime Ricki! We know your worth has nothing to do with your weight. We also know beauty comes in all sizes. That's why we love to celebrate different looks and different bodies with all of our modest swimwear collections. 

We strive to create size inclusive options in every style for every body. Regardless of size and shape, we want to promote and encourage everyone to feel confident enough to get in the water! Check out our latest collection for your new favorite swim tops and bikini bottoms.

If you need a little boost of confidence or just appreciate a good body positivity quote, here are a few of our favorites:

"Every body is a swimsuit body!"

by Unknown

"Be kinder to yourself and celebrate the little wins."

by Charlotte - The Fringe of it.

"You define beauty yourself. Society doesn't define your beauty."

by Lady Gaga

"Speak to your body in a loving way. It's the only one you've got, it's your home, and it deserves your respect."

by Iskra Lawrence

"You are imperfect, permanently & inevitably flawed. AND you are Beautiful."

by Amy Bloom

We bet each of those told you something you already knew, right?

Still struggling to feel confident in your current swimsuit? Find your perfect fit! Take our Fit Finder quiz and find the right swimwear that works for you! Being covered and confident in your swimwear starts with finding the right tops, bottoms, or one-piece suits with size options that fit your body. Our sizes include up to 4X swimsuits in nearly all styles.

If you're up for challenging present-day beauty standards too, join the body positivity movement by sharing an inspirational quote or sharing a photo in your newest swimsuit from Lime Ricki. Tag us on Instagram or use #limericki for a chance to be featured on our page or in our stories.

No matter what you're doing on Independence Day, you'll need to look the part! We've got some inspiration for your 4th of July looks for every activity!

A week long vacation is in your future, but what should you pack? Find all our spring break essentials here along with a downloadable packing list!

What better way to set the mood for autumn that with the best fall candles?! Check out our list of our favorite cozy fall scented candles from around the web. 

Looking for a fun way to spice up your look just in time for spring and summer? Try pink hair!

If you’ve never dyed your hair a color that isn’t natural, pink might feel a bit intimidating, but there are a lot of different shades, styles, and ways you can wear pink hair without drawing too much attention to yourself. On the other hand, if you’re looking to turn a few heads, there are a lot of options for you too!

You might have noticed that a LOT of people are dying their hair pink lately. If you’re wondering why, it turns out there are a lot of reasons. Pink is the color of the breast cancer awareness ribbon, so some women dye their hair pink to show their support for survivors and current patients alike. Mostly, though, pink is a fun color that can brighten your mood, which is definitely something we all need with the state that the world is in right now! Because there are so many different shades of pink, pink hair looks good on everybody–you just have to find the right shade and style for you!

In this post, we’re going to break down different ways to wear your hair pink, ranging from subtle to NOT so subtle. Keep in mind that if you have dark hair, you’ll absolutely have to go lighter BEFORE making the pink transition. When in doubt, consult with a professional stylist so that you can get the absolute best results.

SUBTLE: Pink Underneath

Did you know there’s a hack for girls who want to dye their hair a crazy color without showing it off to the world? Keep your natural color visible by only dying the bottom layer of your hair pink. If you want to make sure it stays subtle, consider sticking to pale shades, like Rose Quartz, Dusty Rose, Pastel Pink. The dyed underneath style will only be noticeable if you decide to wear your hair up, so it’s perfectly acceptable in the workplace!

A LITTLE LESS SUBTLE: Pink Ombre/Pink Highlights

Another way you can (kind of) keep your natural hair color is to incorporate a pink ombre/highlights look, which will be most noticeable at the bottom of your strands and less so at the roots. You can stick to one of the subtle colors we mentioned above or get a little bolder with shades like Bubblegum, Copper Rose, or Metallic Pink.

NOT-SO-SUBTLE: Pink all over!

Are ombre and highlights not over-the-top enough for you? We hear you. Go all out and dye your whole head! (Again, consult a stylist to make any big changes so that you don’t have any post-dye regrets.) You can pick a bright, Hot Pink shade or even incorporate lots of different shades of pink into one look. Mermaid hair has become VERY popular, even among celebrities, and it’s a look we're sure you can pull off too!

No matter why or how you want to dye your hair pink, we fully support you and think you’re going to absolutely rock it! We hope our suggestions have given you some good ideas; we think you’re going to look incredible.

If you need more inspiration for fun style ideas and new looks to try, explore more with stylist Hannah Ruth in another post Style Notes: Mix and Match or check out our Pinterest!

We're constantly inspired by those spreading words of self confidence, and these TED talks about loving your body are no different.

The ladies of @OurCharmingBookshelf, are back with some great reads to get lost in this season. Here are their top book recommendations to add to your fall reading list!

The best thing you can do for your closet (and your wallet) is curate a collection of staple pieces you can mix and match and wear forever. Here at Lime Ricki, we’re all about colorful basics. It makes it easy to mix, match, and colorblock endless adorable combinations. 

Our stylist Hannah is back with all her favorite tips and tricks for styling our swim! Today she'll be talking about her favorite ways to transition her swimsuits into every day outfits!

With our high-quality construction, built-in shelf-bras, and quick-drying swim fabric, putting our suits on double duty as athletic wear is a no brainer!

Our stylist Hannah is back with all her favorite tips and tricks for styling our swim! Today she'll be talking about how she mixes and matches prints and colors from all three of our 2021 premium collections!