by Alexandra Nicole Nuralam

The Conference Call Makeup Look

Many of us are now working from home, and navigating our new normal means having to conduct important meetings via Zoom. In addition to figuring what to wear and how to stay active in your home, you need to figure out how to look put together enough to convince your boss you didn’t just wake up half an hour ago. Here, we break down the easiest ways to look presentable before your next video chat.

#1: Don’t skip skincare

Skincare is essential when you are starting out any look, whether you’re home or not. After cleansing, pick up a hydrating moisturizer that gives a glow to the skin.

#2: Conceal

Your eyes are often the first thing that people notice, and they often look bad on camera. Cover up dark under-eyes and any other problem areas with concealer. Alternatively, an easy way is to prep your skin with a face oil, and then buff in a few drops of foundation. The face oil gives your skin a glowing quality that isn’t shimmery or frosty, and you’ll need less foundation to achieve luminous skin.

#3: Swipe on mascara

Your camera can’t really pick up your sophisticated eye look, so why not just skip it and head straight to what really matters? Curl your lashes and grab a mascara; it adds definition to your eyes, helping them look brighter and wide awake on camera, which is exactly what we want.

#4: Don’t forget your brows

Your brows are probably the first thing you pay attention to when you sit down to do your makeup. They frame your face and bring together your whole look, so it’s important to clearly define your brows. Use a brow pencil to quickly draw on some hair-like strokes, and don’t forget to brush through with a spoolie. If your brows are on the fuller side—lucky you!—just fix them in place with a brow gel.

#5: Use cream products

Move on to the lips and cheeks using products in stick or pot form because they’re quicker to apply and blend. The camera can flush out any colour and make you look extra pale (read: tired and dead), so be a little more generous with your blush and do a soft contour to give some dimension back to your face.

#6: Keep lipstick natural

No one really sits at home in a bright red lip at 9 am casually replying emails—do they? If your signature look isn’t normally a bright lip, there’s no need to fake it. Bright lipstick can look rather awkward on camera, and a conference call is not really the time to get adventurous and try out an intense shade. Keep it natural and refined with soft, muted hues. Lip liners are also a great option for naturally tinted lips.