The 3 Instagram Filters Celebrities Love for Selfies

When you have well over a million followers—we're looking at you, Alexa Chung and Lily Aldridge—you're probably going to put a little extra effort into choosing your filters for selfies (no pressure). Sure, many among us use photo-editing apps like Vsco, Snapseed, and Facetune (no judgment from us!), but sometimes all you need is a good old-fashioned Instagram filter, and many celebs agree.

Wanting to know the secret picture-snapping formula to jaw-dropping selfies, we did a little detective work and started to notice a pattern among the most striking photos: The same filters appear over and over. While lighting, makeup, and wardrobe certainly play a factor, these "special effects" ensure that your selfies show you at your best. Get ready to induce a little Insta envy of your own if you choose to follow the lead of these It girls.

Read on to find out which ultra-flattering Instagram filters celebrities love.

VALENCIA

It's hard to replicate the flattering, sun-kissed glow that Valencia gives to a photo, especially on an already-sunny day. 

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(Image credit: @rosiehw)

WHO: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

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(Image credit: @jessicaalba)

WHO: Jessica Alba

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(Image credit: @poppydelevingne)

WHO: Poppy Delevingne

MAYFAIR

To sum Mayfair up, it's like you but better! It enhances color with a soft pink cast and focuses light at the center of the photo. In fact, studies show that Mayfair-enhanced photos get the most likes.

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(Image credit: @taylorswift)

WHO: Taylor Swift

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(Image credit: @smashleybell)

WHO: Ashley Madekwe

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(Image credit: @lilyaldridge)

WHO: Lily Aldridge

WALDEN

The washed-out effect of the under-the-radar Walden filter gets an A+ for blurring imperfections. It's perfect for sunny-day selfies.

Update: The Walden filter has been discontinued, but try Hudson for a similar effect.

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(Image credit: @chungalexa)

WHO: Alexa Chung

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(Image credit: @jamiejchung)

WHO: Jamie Chung

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(Image credit: @jaime_king)

WHO: Jaime King

This post was originally published in 2015 and has been updated.

Allyson Payer
Senior Editor

Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.