Please make me look human on Zoom calls?

[MissPettigrewIsWFH]

45, dark hair, grey eyes, combination skin. I spend a LOT of time on Zoom and look awful. Ruddy, uneven skin, tired eyes, no "glow" at all. I feel old. What can I do?

Not interested in Botox/fillers etc and unlikely to find to time for a full face of makeup (start wok at between 0500 and 0630 to juggle child care) - are here magic tinted moisturisers etc I can use?

No big budget....

There's an 'enhance my appearance' feature on Zoom. Might be worth tinkering with that. Just don't go overboard!

I use Teams, not Zoom - it has a 'soft focus' option for the camera which is essentially a filter and it makes me look much better.

A little make up might 'pull your face together' if you don't have time for a full face - it would take 2 mins to put on lipstick and mascara, for instance.

Is your skin ruddy and uneven in real life as well? If so then maybe the priority should be tackling that with a calming moisturiser first. I like the No 7 illuminating day cream, it gives a tiny shimmer to my skin.

Normally I’d suggest blusher as a quick Zoom win but if you’re already contending with redness that might not help…

I could have written this, except I’m 49! I use a cc cream from no. 7 which makes me look a bit more human and bit of blusher. I use ms teams and crack up the soft focus (not sure if zoom can do this?) I also turn the camera off (mainly blaming the Wi-Fi) whenever I can and particularly my view of me. Mainly because I find it distracting.

Came her to say use the "enhance" filter

I use the enhance filter too. I change my eyebrows and it gives me lipstick too.

Good lighting!

Or judging by colleagues judicious use of cats, puppies or toddlers to shift focus.

I've also heard that putting a strip of sellotape over your camera can serve as flattering filter but I haven't tested this!

Apart from the “make me pretty” filter, Erborian CC cream is a lightweight easy to use magical formula for evening tone.

Yup use the filter! I look awful without it, but passable with it.

Before you adjust yourself adapt your environment if you can. I prop my laptop up on a tissue box so that i can have better posture. I also don't sit with full on lighting. Then I wear foundation!

I have the brightness on my own laptop a little dimmed just as standard, but this means that when I do see myself it's a little kinder!

I’ve started using Skin+me, I’m one month in and already feel like it’s working better for my skin then my previous routine. I use clarins bb cream in the day time, and mascara, then a tinted lip balm if I can be bothered.

@MissPettigrewIsWFH I would suggest to bang on some tinted moisturiser- I use garner BB in medium- make sure you've got eyebrows- I pencil in as have blonde ones , you are probably ok if dark haired, bit of mascara and a quick blob of cream blusher (cream works better if older I think) - takes me 3 minutes.

Check the filters on Zoom.

Get a ring light
https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/gadgets-tech/best-ring-light-b1867935.html

I always wear a light colour if I can. If nothing else a bit of lippy and blush goes a long way.

I always put my laptop on a book/box or something so the camera is eye level or even slightly higher. When it is low down and at an angle you end up looking down giving yourself extra chins and droopy eyes.
Then use the filter. But don't go too far or or it will soft focus you into oblivion!

I was going to say ring light and some decent mascara and lipstick.

I find my features disappear on zoom so tend to put on a bit more eyeliner, brow gel and lipstick- otherwise I'm just a blob.

External webcam.
I did 2 years on Zoom (Italy-teacher) and looked like I'd been resurrected and not in a good way, until the internal camera conked out and I got a plug in.
JFC, took 20 years off me instantly.

I have an anglepoise type light behind the camera and don’t sit too near the camera. I dye or colour in my eyebrows and use a tinted moisturiser- this is nice

https://amzn.to/3ECMkEI

I also prop my laptop up to make it higher and a lamp on my desk that provides a warm glow. If you can find 5 mins then use come concealer and some powder - it will make your skin look better. Then just add some mascara and lipstick

A tiny bit of fake tan at night, use tanning drops and blend with your moisturiser and you will have a more healthy look to your face without looking overly made up.

Estée Lauder Doublewear foundation, magic in a bottle

Maybe a light tinted moisturiser on the face you can put on at night. Some of them are so subtle all you would notice is a slight glow. It will counteract grey too.

Just as an aside, no one will care what you look like on Zoom. They will be focusing on whatever the meeting is (or zoning out altogether if it's a boring one).

A ring light and right position of the camera makes the world of difference - I've had to deliver endless hours of presentations online since 2020 and I'm so glad I bought one early on. I do tend to go a bit heavier on the eyebrow and lip definition but really, it's the ring light with adjustable colours and brightness that does the heavy lifting. I got a big one from Home Bargains for about £25 - does the job brilliantly.