Guess what: science says we’ve been taking selfies all wrong.

You look in a mirror and you’re like: I look amazing! You take a selfie, and suddenly you’re noticing things you didn’t see before: your nose looks big, your cheeks look wide, it’s almost like looking at yourself through a funhouse mirror.

A study published in the JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery journal shows that most people take selfies with the camera about 12 inches from their faces — an arm’s length when holding a phone.

This closeness creates a forced perspective, resulting in a distortion of your face that can make your nose look 30% larger than its actual size.

The solution? Selfies taken from 5 feet away showed almost no distortion in nasal size. So here’s how to take the most accurate selfie:

• Prop your phone up on a shelf or table 5 feet away, and use your phone’s self timer
• Invest in a selfie stick (like this one for under $10 – it can even be set up like a tripod so it’s totally hands free!)
• Have a friend take a solo shot of you (I’m counting this as a selfie if it’s just of yourself!)

Happy posing,
Alyssa