type of light - indoor, i go to a room with a lot of light, it helps my camera to focus & use less of its flash.
time of day - noon is good but i rarely take pics of my makeup outside.
setting on camera - autoflash for me, if im in a really lit room it wont use so much of the flash.
self taken/tripod - Self taken
covered flash? - no.
& when im done i just crop the photo.