How to do your makeup for a video call

If you’re working from home, ‘business as usual’ means being camera-ready at the drop of a hat. The boardroom may have shifted into the cybersphere but that doesn’t mean you need to assume the skills of a makeup influencer; a few simple tricks are all it takes to make the right impression and ensure you look groomed, at least from the neck up.

‘In general, makeup for video conferencing needs to look natural but noticeable to convey a healthy, professional look,’ says makeup artist Sonia Deveney. ‘Too little and you’ll look washed out, too much and you’ll look like you've spent all day on it!’

As many celebrities will attest, when it comes to make-up, what looks great in person, doesn’t always translate to screen. What they've all grasped, though, is the power of good lighting. ‘My top tip is to assess your lighting,’ says Deveney. ‘You want light to be hitting your face evenly from the front to minimise shadows and de-emphasise prominent features so make sure your light source isn’t coming from just one side. 

‘Focus on reducing redness, blotchiness, shine and under-eye shadows as these are the problem areas that will be most noticeable on screen,’ advises Deveney. ‘Use an all-over sheer base suitable for your skin type. Keep the application light then use a creamy concealer to cover any stubborn areas including any redness around the sides of the nose and over any blemishes. For the eye area, mix the concealer with a light-reflective version and pat over the entire lid and underneath the eye. A good translucent loose powder is a must; what looks like a healthy glow in the mirror can show up as shiny hotspots on screen so use a large soft brush to sweep it on to forehead, nose and chin.’

‘You want your eyes to appear wide open and alert so always start with an eyelash curler and follow with lots of mascara top and bottom. Defining the lash line will also help with this as it makes lashes appear thicker. Using a soft pencil liner, trace along the lash line getting right into the roots and elongating just a touch past the outer corners of the eyes before blending with a similar coloured eyeshadow on top for added intensity. Sweeping a little taupe eyeshadow onto the lid as a base will also help to create subtle dimension.’ 

‘This is your chance to create a healthy glow so either use a touch of peachy pink cream blush on the apples of the cheeks or go for a matte bronzing cream or powder if rosy cheeks aren’t your thing. The aim is to add a subtle radiance and prevent you from looking flat on camera.’

‘Unless statement lips are part of your workwear repertoire, stick to pinks and nudes that won’t detract everyone’s focus,’ suggests Deveney. ‘Lips should appear healthy and hydrated so start by gently buffing off any dry skin with a muslin cloth. There are so many brands that offer sheer lipsticks or balms that combine colour with deep hydration, so this is the kind of texture you should be going for.’