No matter where you work from, the office or your home, video calling has become the need of the hour. The first impression is often a lasting one, and you don’t want the webcam to mar your efforts at making a great one. Take our pointers to look professionally put-together in your online meetings.
To come across as credible and confident in virtual meetings, it’s not enough to run a comb through your hair and ensure the remnants of your last snack aren’t stuck between your teeth. Not only does the webcam give you less leeway to exploit your best angle, it could also amplify your skin’s imperfections and exaggerate your dark circles. Not something that you want colleagues and business associates to make a mental note of.
Control with Contour
A subtle powder contour can help take the attention off what may be your pet peeves – a wide forehead, a frumpy jawline or a chubby face. Apply along the outer half of your crease as you do your eyeshadow, and smudge slightly outward to elongate and define the eyes in a jiffy. On the lower lids, it can fill in for eye pencil without looking harsh. For the lips, dusting what’s left on your brush along the cupid’s bow and curve of the lower lip makes them look effortlessly fuller. They’ll be hanging on your every word.
Mascara in the Matrix
You may be low on time or inclination to blend seven shades of eyeshadow and manage symmetrical eyeliner application. If there’s only one thing you can do to your eyes before a video call, let it be mascara. A couple of coats will make you look bright-eyed and awake. If you take the trouble to curl your lashes before this, all eyes will be on you, trust us. And nobody will be able to guess you’re in pajamas under that fancy blouse.
Blush has Bandwidth
A little colour on your cheeks prevents that washed-out look. Dab on a salmon, peach or taupe shade to maintain the seriousness of your ‘office’ look while giving it a healthy, youthful element. Make it multitask as eyeshadow with a quick swipe on the mobile lid for added depth.
Lay The Ground Work
Taking the time to pat on a foundation, or at least a good BB cream, is important to have an even on-screen face. In this case, it’s not a beauty faux pas to go slightly over the top with coverage. But be sure to pull it down your neck too, for a flawlessly even look.
Keep Lips in the Loop
Even if bold, matte lips are your signature office style, stay away, unless you want your pucker to look patchy or narrow on video call. Gloss is another one to ditch; the camera usually relays it as too shiny, making it distracting. Stick with a tinted lip balm for a hint of colour without looking overdone, or, a nude demi-matte lipstick that doesn’t allow your lips to blend into your face.
