For faces, the main problem is usually perspective from shooting too close, not the lens itself. In a close selfie, the nose is much nearer to the camera than the ears, so it appears disproportionately large. That effect becomes much less noticeable when you move farther away.

Lens distortion can also exist on phone cameras, typically barrel distortion with wide lenses, but it’s a separate issue and usually less important for facial shape than camera distance. Flat 2D subjects can still show lens distortion, but it may be subtle unless you photograph straight lines or a grid near the frame edges.

There isn’t a single “minimum distance” where facial distortion disappears; it gradually becomes more natural as you back up to a distance similar to how you’d normally view a person. For better-looking portraits, step back and crop if needed, or use a longer focal length/rear camera if available.

Software can correct lens distortion and some perspective issues, and testing with a grid can help determine how much correction is needed. However, software cannot fully undo the unnatural viewpoint of a face photographed from too close.