Make me up for Zoom.....please!!

[Imperfect10]

I am in my 50s and work face to face all the time.....but next week I have a VERY important interview, which I expected to be face to face but, woe is me, it is on zoom.
I have done a trial zoom...............I look awful, washed out and grey.
Please help me do something to brighten me up so I don't look 100 years old and like I haven't slept for 50 of them....and yet not so made up I look unprofessional.

I have dark brown hair streaked with grey, mid length
blue green eyes and will probably have to wear glasses
round face
I'll try to angle the camera for the double chin........

Blusher?
Lipstick.

Any good company won't be judging you on how you appear on zoom as long as you're smart. Unless it is for a role advertising via zoom.

I assume you're familiar with the 'enhance my appearance' function on zoom?
That, and good natural light take 20 years off me!

Um no....it is a foreign land to me .......but I will seek the button/tab/function.

It really shouldn't matter, I know and I don;t normally think that much about my appearance, it's just that little selfie down in the corner...it's very distracting!!

You need a ring light, and play around with room lights, curtains, and where you are in the room. Prop your laptop up on books so that you are looking up slightly into the camera, and use an inoffensive virtual background.
Then think about bringing colour up to your neckline- I wear bright jewel tones on camera and a cheap scarf works perfectly to do this.
On makeup, I would never usually use contour, but it does make a difference plus false eyelashes when I'm really pushing the boat out but as I wear glasses they make a big difference to seeing my eyes properly

There’s a setting you can click (the three dots in top right hand corner of your screen) with an option called hide self view. You can also ‘blur’ or diffuse your appearance a bit. Decent lighting and more make up than I’d normally wear avoid me looking washed out.

thanks, all helpful

Seeing yourself in the corner can be really distracting and while it shouldn’t matter to the people interviewing you, I find it helps my confidence if I feel good about how I look on the screen. Absolutely agree with @CMOTDibbler that good lighting works wonders and can’t recommend a ring light highly enough. For clothing I try to avoid stripes and spots as they don’t always show well on the screen. My go-to makeup is subtle eyeliner, mascara and blush (plus good base).

Light diffusing primer is a godsend on zoom I use this dermalogica one
https://www.dermalogica.co.uk/products/skinperfect-primer-spf30?variant=36242191679641&gclid=Cj0KCQiAofieBhDXARIsAHTTldq50u6bc2vevG6z85veiwZXLbBXf5lDsmDcYI48CD3-NjnqhYmdcKwaAlbMEALwwcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&sellingg_plan=792723648

Then a bit of blusher, subtle eyeliner and a neutral lipstick. It's worth having a play with the enhance my appearance settings too, to make sure you are familiar with them and like the effect. I've found it tends to bring out any pinks in your complexion quite strongly.

Good luck!

thank you

I think another practice will help!
I tend to "colour up" when nervous so scarf in a cooler colour might help? And I'll do some glasses friendly eyes (not sure I could carry off the eyelashes!)

OK Where's this appearance Enhancer zoom feature please, I can't find it...

Lighting is the key factor. You need the light to be behind the camera, so directly in your face (not so bright that you squint). You can actually buy lights from amazon for this purpose.

Also in the zoom settings you can to a little degree - beautify yourself. Can't remember what it's called but it's in the settings. You can have a play with that.

Wear a stronger colour and do your make-up with a slightly bolder lipstick.

You can also buy foundations specifically for photos - again don't know what they are but the make up artist at my wedding told me she uses one that diffuses the light, so that brides don't look washed out with the flashes from cameras.

Hope this helps!

:) TY

Oh last tip. Raise your laptop - put it on books - you want the camera to be at eye level or slightly higher. Not below eye level.

Have practice runs at the same time of day as your interview. I had a zoom interview, had sorted my set up the day before but at a different time of day. On the day itself, the light was completely different and I ended up having to move everything around again

Same age as you. During lockdown I was on zoom 8 hours a day. I thought I looked so awful I got fillers. Turns out using the built in touch up and getting a ring light were all I needed. Plenty of videos on YouTube to show you how. I use a desk top as I hate lap tops and it means it's set up perfectly all the time and there is no shake. Plenty of practice and you will look better on Zoom than you do irl. I know I do.

That's makes sense? Didn't meant to seem harsh in my response. Yes look at the enhance function but don't whack it up full as its obvious.

Yes

raise your laptop so that the camera is at your hairline level.

use really bright light behind the laptop (a desk lamp is fine but you can get special lights as well)

make up wise don't use anyting metallic or shiny. make sure your brows don't disapear, fill them in or comb thrm.

good luck!

Have some practice zoom calls first.
Wear a bright lightish colour top.
Wear make up, earrings etc.

Video button/ settings
Touch up my appearance

You can also fiddle with mirroring you image and adjusting for different light levels

Personally the other thing which makes a difference is getting a proper HD webcam, rather than using the laptop camera. About £20 off Amazon. Clips on top of my (separate) screen, which makes it about the right height for eye level.

I use an iPad for TEAMs calls, propped at face level and tilted slightly forward. The light from my PC monitor works well so I haven't bought a ring light.

Not to derail but does anyone know if TEAMs has an 'enhance my appearance' function ?

I'd agree with this.
The enhancer plus a cheap webcam had taken decades off me.

@TheDogsMother yes it does. Not as good as the Zoom one but at least it is there now.

Thanks @CMOTDibbler. Great name btw. Any idea where I find it on TEAMs ?