We’ve been working at home for awhile now and if you’re anything like us, you’re spending a good portion of your day in video meetings on Zoom, FaceTime or other platforms. While working at home in sweats and a messy bun is comfy and totally appropriate most days, certain meetings with coworkers (or, ahem—your boss!) require a look that’s a little more put together.

The coronavirus pandemic has definitely turned our lives upside down, but that doesn’t mean you can’t regain a little “normalcy” in your daily routine. LovelySkin founder and CEO and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Joel Schlessinger says:

We are seeing quite a few patients and customers who are seeing a major challenge in their appearance on Zoom or Facetime as they are staring at themselves for hours on end and it is making them self-conscious. This is a huge challenge in this time and anything that can make folks feel just a little bit better about themselves is great.

We expect more cosmetic treatments to occur once the pandemic is improved or over, but in the meantime, there are some 'hacks' we can offer to improve your digital appearance. Also, use the "Touch Up My Appearance" button on Zoom if all else fails!

Re-introduce yourself to your makeup kit and look presentable during important video meetings with tips for a natural makeup look that can be completed in five minutes or less.

Simple Makeup Tips for Video Meetings

Smoky eyes, intricate contouring and expert highlighting all have their time and place, but quick, easy makeup for video calls isn’t one of them. We’re going for simple and natural, focusing on illuminating your skin and accentuating your eyes to make you look awake, alert and ready to tackle your workday.

Makeup for Video Tip #1 – Make sure your makeup lasts all day by starting with a primer.

For most of us, workdays are very busy. Some days seem like one video call after another, while we try to squeeze in meals, actual work and the necessary downtime to simply breathe. Add in helping our kids with their online schoolwork and that leaves little to no time for makeup touch-ups throughout the day. Start this simple makeup routine with a primer to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, correct discoloration, minimize pores and most importantly, help your foundation stay put for longer.

The jane iredale Smooth Affair Primer & Brightener creates a smooth base for additional makeup like foundation while promoting skin’s natural radiance. This primer is ideal in a makeup routine for video chats because it reduces any redness and inflammation (which tends to be amplified on video) with aloe and olive leaf extract.

Makeup for Video Tip #2 – Choose an illuminating foundation for a naturally dewy look.

This natural makeup look is all about dewy, hydrated skin, so this is not the time to reach for a matte finish formula. Choose a lightweight foundation that evens skin tone while imparting the complexion with a radiant glow that will read on video as a hydrated, healthy and fresh-faced.

Colorescience Sunforgettable Tint Du Soleil SPF 30 Whipped Foundation is packed with skin nourishing ingredients like peptides, ceramides and milk lipids to plump skin while creating a lusciously dewy finish. The featherlight, whipped formula further blurs imperfections for naturally perfect-looking skin.

Pro Tip: Just because you’re spending most of your time inside doesn’t mean you can skip the sunscreen. Choose a foundation with SPF to supplement your daily sun protection regimen to protect your skin when you do safely venture outside.

Makeup for Video Tip #3 – Accentuate and define your eyes with eyeliner.

It’s easy to stay up too late catching up on work or binge-watching Netflix, making those early video meetings tough. Tired eyes appear even more so on camera, so when you’re getting ready in the mornings, don’t forget the eye makeup. To appear put-together on video, use an eyeliner pencil to outline and define your eyes. Skip the dramatic liner looks (although, we do love a good winged eyeliner) and instead opt for a light swipe on your upper lash line and just the outer edge of your lower lash line. This opens up the eyes, helping you appear more awake.

theBalm Mr. Write Eyeliner Pencil - Seymour Diamonds features a satiny smooth texture that glides on the top and bottom lash lines easily. This eyeliner pencil is ideal for creating a simple look (or a smoky look when you want to up the drama).

Pro Tip: Avoid putting too much eyeliner on your lower lash line. It can appear heavy and weigh down a natural look. Also, don’t worry about applying eyeshadow for this simple makeup look, as natural or neutral shades don’t translate well over video.

Makeup for Video Tip #4 – Open up your eyes with a few swipes of mascara.

If there were just one step to creating a more “put together” look for online video calls, applying mascara would be it. Mascara opens your eyes, accentuates your lashes and overall, makes you appear more awake. If you have time, curl your lashes before applying mascara.

Makeup for Video Tip #5 – Combat looking “washed out” by defining your features.

Most of the video technology today is in high definition, but you can still look washed out on camera. While you shouldn’t worry about complex contouring, take a little time to add dimension to your features with a combination of blush, bronzer and highlighter. Apply blush to your cheeks as you normally would and then, add warmth to your high points (tops of forehead, tip of your nose, temples) with a bronzer. Basically, apply bronzer where the sunlight would naturally fall.

Next, take it up a notch and add a little highlight to your complexion. Sweep highlighter at the very tops of your cheekbones (above your blush) and down the bridge of your nose. If you have time, dot it on the inner corners of your eyes to further brighten your look.

Glo Skin Beauty Shimmer Brick – Luster is a multitasking palette that adds just the right touch of warmth and glow, right where you need it. Featuring a set of four radiance-inducing hues, this palette contains a mineral blush, bronzer and highlighter that can be used alone or swirled together for a quick pop of shimmery color.

Makeup for Video Tip #6 – Add a touch of color to your look with sheer lipstick.

Sometimes, a beautiful lip color is all you need to feel better about your day. Add a sheer wash of color on your lips with a natural-finish lipstick or a hydrating lip gloss. We’re going for simple, natural and fresh, so keep those bold matte shades for when you can hit the town again or actually go into theoffice.

The Perricone MD No Makeup Lipstick Broad Spectrum 15 – Rose is the perfect pick for a hydrated, healthy-looking lip. Featuring a soft pink shade that flatters any skin tone, this solid-to-serum lipstick moisturizes lips and plumps with hyaluronic acid and neuropeptides.

What have been your beauty must-haves during quarantine? Let us know in the comments below or on our Instagram or Facebook page!