You already know about the Zoom shirt trend – the wonderful freedom of putting on a clean, well-pressed shirt to look dashing for that video call, all the while wearing whatever you damn well please below the waist. It’s practical, easy to prepare for, and you get the perfect excuse to upgrade your shirt collection during the pandemic. However, the pandemic altered the dress code in more ways than one, and it also takes into account your makeup and beauty routine.
Suddenly, you find more people caring about their complexion, since the not-so-lovely camera lighting might make you look washed out or disinterested. Then there are the invisible pimples that come to light as soon as your Zoom camera is on. So, naturally, we need to have a makeup strategy on par with the shirt trend. Here’s what you can do!
Use your skincare to your advantage
Your beauty steps play a big part in priming your skin for every video call. Start by refining your cleansing routine so that you can use a gentle cleansing lotion, a soap (if your skin likes soap), and an exfoliator a few times per week – it will bring out the blush naturally and boost your skin’s microcirculation.
TULA’s sugar scrub is a good choice especially if you don’t have sensitive skin, but you might consider something gentler for picky pores. Either way, a good scrub will wash off those dead skin cells and prep your skin for the heavenly impact of your moisturizer and other hydrating steps.
Hydrate in different ways
There’s no way your skin can retain that radiance and glow if you don’t nourish it before you put on your makeup. Start off with a good moisturizer that is both protective from any environmental damage, but also light enough not to make your skin appear greasy.
Don’t forget to drink plenty of water, since no amount of good cream can replace your healthy diet and hydration. If you’ve applied the sunscreen to beat the summer heat and the serum as well, you can move onto the actual makeup, having your skin so well cared for from step one.
Start with the basics – your foundation
The foundation you choose will set the tone for your overall Zoom-friendly look. It will even out your complexion, mask certain imperfections you might not be too happy about for the time being, and it will help with bringing out your finest features. You can try the nourishing La Prairie foundation that serves as a concealer, plus it grants your skin some sun protection, too.
Make sure you find the foundation that matches your skin tone, and don’t overapply. It’s meant to blend naturally with your complexion and then become the basis for the rest of your makeup choices for the day.
Brighten your gaze with mascara
On one hand, you want your eyes to give off that “I’m fully awake and ready for work” sense, but you also don’t want to have that fake lashes look that’s far from expected for your professional setting and a Zoom call. If you don’t already have extensions, but you’re struggling to make your lashes look full and lush, you can use a timeless Maybelline mascara that packs quite a color punch without making your eyes look and feel heavy.
The best thing about finding a good mascara is that it lends a natural look to your eyes, but it also doesn’t require too much maintenance, so that you can focus on your work. It takes mere moments to apply, so you’ll be ready to go even if you don’t have the time for any razzle-dazzle in the form of lipstick or eye shadow. Mascara alone will often do the trick.
Add some tint to your lips and cheeks
Going back to that washed-out look, if you’ve scrubbed your face beforehand, you’ve likely added some fresh pink to your cheeks naturally. More often than not, however, calls might happen on days when you don’t exfoliate, and not to mention that your camera isn’t always as flattering as it should be. Among so many quick beauty hacks to give your cheeks and lips some rosy freshness is to use a lip tint.
There are many that double as your cheek tint, too, so you can use one product for several purposes. Pro tip: take your mirror in front of your camera, and give your cheeks and lips some touch ups if needed so that you adapt your look based on how you look just before the call.
And you’re good to go! In fact, this quick and easy approach to Zoom makeup will help you even with in-person meetings where you don’t want to build up a glam look, but you still want to look and feel fresh and plump. Let these tips make your Zoom meetings easier to handle, and you’ll no longer want to turn off your camera, even on Monday mornings.