As anyone who has played with Snapchat's numerous filters knows, there's a certain amount of facial distortion necessary to create a successful snap.
Our cameras have been subject to creepily raised eyebrows, way too wide open mouths, kissy faces, and more — all done for the sake of becoming a perfect flower-crown princess, alien, or ogre, of course.
The beauty of Snapchat is that it brings out the inner actor or improv star in all of us. It makes us feel silly, stupid, creative, and, above all, fun. If the platform started as a means of sending naked pictures that disappear in a second, it's turned into the perfect means of self-expression, whether you use it to show friends where you are with geotags, create a story of your daily adventures, or as a distraction at work.
With a little inspiration from Rob Kardashian, we decided to flip the camera around to see what Refinery29 staffers look like in the midst of creating their snaps.
World, these are the faces of Snapchat — in all their crazy filtered (and unfiltered) glory.
Jenna Rosenstein, Senior Beauty Editor, Brand Experiences
Favorite filter: "The one that superimposes a cat on your head. It's so strange and amazing."
Average number of snaps: "I usually post about 10 snaps per day, typically of beauty products, my cat, or random things around the office."
Photo: Tayler Smith.
A dog face created using a phone with a cat case.
Snap: Jenna Rosenstein.
Michael Brown, Social Innovation Editor
Favorite filter: "The pretty-color one (the wide-eyed face with blushed cheeks) and the new one that makes you look like a muppet with no nose."
Average number of snaps: "Around 30 per week."
Photo: Tayler Smith.
Eyes wide open.
Snap: Michael Brown.
Bethie Girmai, Associate Stylist
Favorite filter: "I rarely use filters. I prefer to go au naturel!"
Average number of snaps: "On a good day, probably 20 to 30. On a lazy day, 10 to 15."
Photo: Tayler Smith.
Mind. Blown.
Snap: Bethie Girmai.
Marshall Bright, Editorial Assistant, Living
Favorite filter: "FACE SWAP."
Average number of snaps: "Several times a day. A lot."
Photo: Tayler Smith.
Can we go back to Coachella?
Snap: Marshall Bright.
Emily Howe, Photo Research Assistant
Favorite filter: "Face swap. I like to see how far it can go."
Average number of snaps: "If I'm at work, it's pretty low. My friends aren't really entertained by me in front of a computer."
Photo: Tayler Smith.
Art? Real life? Who knows?!
Snap: Emily Howe.
Courtney Yates, Executive Assistant/First Impressionist
Favorite filter: "Face swap with the camera roll."
Average number of snaps: "I send at least 30 per week."
Photo: Tayler Smith.
Boxy faces work best with stripes and printed scarves. Just saying.
Snap: Courtney Yates.
Madeline Buxton, Associate Tech Editor
Favorite filter: "The dog gets me every time (tongue out)."
Average number of snaps: "Oy. Probably around six or seven a day, but it can be quite a bit more."
Photo: Tayler Smith.
Going all "E.T., phone home" up in here.
Snap: Madeline Buxton.
Lindsay Arakawa, Social Media Photo Editor
Favorite filter: "The one that puts those little white stars near your temple. It makes you look real kawaii."
Average number of snaps: "Too many."
Photo: Tayler Smith.
Rocking those Wild West vibes.
Snap: Lindsay Arakawa.
Landon Peoples, Editorial Assistant, Fashion
Favorite filter: "The guy with the frowned mouth and big eyes. I've created a character using it called Tony, and he posts on my story often. His mom is his best friend."
Average number of snaps: "I send upwards of 10 snaps a day. But sometimes, there are nights when I'm bored in bed and I spam my friends with funny videos using the filters. They like it."
Photo: Tayler Smith.
Tony greets the world.
Snap: Landon Peoples.
Morgan Baila, Entertainment Writer
Favorite filter: "The soft, pretty one (the wide-eyed face with blushed cheeks), because it makes you look like you just woke up from the best nap ever on top of a rainbow."
Average number of snaps: "Around two dozen [a day], but I only use Snapchat to make stories."
Photo: Tayler Smith.
So soft. So pretty. So ready to star in Bey's next video.
Snap: Morgan Baila.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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