Makeup tips for video conferences

Teleworking is here to stay, and with it, daily video calls. Although they provide flexibility, they also present us with the challenge of looking good on camera. How can you achieve a professional and natural look on screen? With these makeup tips for video calls, it's easier than you think.

Lighting and camera positioning

No makeup technique or concealer is effective enough to fix poor lighting. The wrong light will cast shadows that make us look tired, with dark circles under our eyes, or with strange facial angles.

When choosing your spot, let yourself be guided by the best light, not by the room's background, which should be as minimalist, neutral, tidy, and simple as possible. After all, we are the focus, not the surroundings.

The camera should be placed at a minimum distance of half a meter, either directly at eye level or, even better, slightly above. A high angle refines features and lifts shadows. With a lower angle, we risk the dreaded "double chin effect."

As much as possible, lighting should:

• Be abundant and natural; in an outdoor space or coming from a window.





• Come from the front, never from behind, and ideally from a slightly higher angle. A professional tip is to add a second light source focused on your most flattering profile. When in doubt, keep it simple.





• If using artificial light, white light is the most suitable. The screen's own light is fine. If there is a secondary light source, remember that golden tones soften features while bluish ones harden them.

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How to prep your skin before a video call

"What is essential is invisible to the eye," the fox tells the Little Prince. Indeed, what appears to be good makeup is usually healthy, luminous, and blemish-free skin. Balanced skin without makeup is objectively more beautiful. That is the goal.

• Cleanse. Remove traces of oil and bacteria accumulated during the night with a gentle cleanser suitable for your skin.





• Activate. A good massage, whether manual or with a specific tool, will promote drainage and stimulate circulation, facilitating the penetration of active ingredients. If massaging manually, a great trick is to use the second cleanse of your routine with an oil, so your hands glide easily. It is relaxing, pleasant, and when repeated frequently with a good technique, it is the most effective anti-wrinkle and anti-sagging method that exists.

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• Prep. Use a mist or toner adapted to your needs to complete the cleaning and prepare your complexion for the active ingredients you will use next. If you don't like using toners, try a facial mist to refresh, hydrate, and soothe your skin before applying other cosmetics; the Esthederm Cellular Water Mist also has a tightening effect and a comforting scent.





• Refresh your eyes. A few hours of sleep or a cold can make your eyes red, and nobody wants "hangover eyes" in a work meeting. A good massage with a specific tool to improve circulation and drainage would be ideal. If we are short on time, eye drops or, failing that, a spray of thermal water on the eyes, will help soothe the area by reducing the appearance of capillaries and providing moisture and brightness.





• Protect. Use antioxidants every morning, either alone or combined with hydration. Both Vitamin C + Vitamin E compounds and Hyaluronic Acid + Ferulic Acid are excellent options that provide a plump and fresh appearance.





• Avoid shine in the T-zone. Luminosity and shine are different concepts that offer very different results. Excess sebum is not acceptable.

Makeup for virtual meetings: keys to a professional image

Makeup is an art. A good makeup artist will always seek to accentuate and highlight our most flattering features; correction is secondary.

Before starting any makeup application, asking ourselves about the goal centers and positions us. What do we want to convey when getting ready for a work meeting? "A professional image" seems the obvious answer, but beyond the obvious, we want to project the image of someone attentive, interested, active, willing, cooperative... awake.

The "just woke up" and "haven't left the house in three days" looks are unlikely to convey that message. The good news is that, despite distance and technology, achieving it is not difficult at all.

• Foundation is neither mandatory nor a mask. The golden rule is: if you have beautiful skin, don't hide it; on the contrary, enhance the natural texture and structure. Where is it written that we must use foundation on the entire surface of the face and neck? If we have chosen the right shade and it is, therefore, the closest to our skin, we should only apply it where pigmentation varies and needs homogenization. Of course, some will need almost total coverage, but they are the minority. A tinted BB or CC Cream is usually more than enough to achieve uniformity without losing naturalness.

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• Curl your lashes and use mascara. If you only have time to do one thing, let it be this. Opening up the eyes conveys a predisposition to active listening; AIME Lash Care Tubing Mascara is your perfect ally.





• Concealer. Concealer is probably your most versatile tool, although choosing the right palette is not easy. For the lower eyelid and dark circles, look for a concealer one shade—or even two, if they are very dark and pronounced—lighter than your complexion with a yellow undertone to counteract the grayish tint of the dark circle. On dark skin, dark circles tend to be violet; here, an orange undertone will yield better results. Couperose or rosacea require a green undertone. For those suffering from local but extensive or generalized redness, there are repairing treatments like Medik8 Calmwise Serum, which provides immediate relief for all types of redness, treats sensitivity, and prevents the appearance of new outbreaks.

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• Blush. A light flush on the cheeks creates an immediate "healthy glow" effect and makes the whites of the eyes pop, increasing the sense of alertness we are looking for.





• Eyeshadow and eyeliner. Not overloading your brushes is, in general, good advice. Unless you work in the world of makeup, hairdressing, or fashion, avoid dramatic effects and last-minute experiments.





• In the inner corner of the eye, a touch of light pencil or shadow brightens the gaze. A rosy tone also softens the blue of veins that sometimes show through in that area.





• For lips, an imperceptible outline and a bit of gloss would suffice. However, it is proven that lipstick lifts the mood and conveys optimism. If you can't live without it, go ahead!

If we had to summarize our makeup tips for teleworking in one image, it would look very much like what Koreans call Glass Skin. Translucent skin that projects health and light from within, which is where true beauty comes from. To achieve this, in addition to good lifestyle habits, skincare must be specific and we must be consistent. A good foundation makes everything much easier, including makeup.

What about you? What makeup and lighting tips do you use for your video conferences? Tell us. We are looking forward to knowing them all!