Easy, Camera-Ready Makeup for Zoom, Instagram Live or TikTok.

When I first began doing makeup on myself I followed the rules— highlight here, contour there; this brow product and that lipstick. Now that I’ve worked in a variety of different settings with different people, I understand what works for in-person versus on-camera; in studio or outdoors.

Of course there are an unlimited number of makeup styles, but for the sake of this blog post we are going to stick to a neutral, subtle makeup look for your Zoom meeting. The goal of this makeup is to be easy and natural—basically, we want you to look like you, but camera-ready.

When considering makeup for photography or video, we need to be conscious of the lighting. This is the first step in determining HOW MUCH makeup to apply. In this context, the brighter your lighting (i.e. if you use a ring light or lighting device) the stronger your makeup can be. Bright ring lights are great for things like Instagram live because they blur the texture of your skin, but unfortunately your face can also appear quite 1-dimensional. If you can, I recommend that you opt for natural lighting by facing a window with the sun shining in, which will give you a softer and more flattering look on-camera. On a scale from zero makeup-to-Kim Kardashian, the amount of makeup you can get away with for a neutral/natural makeup look with natural lighting sits at about a 4, while with a ring light it is a 6-7.

For a simple natural makeup look that sits at a 4 on our scale, start with these items (and leave the rest):

Opt for a lightweight foundation.

We want you to have great skin, or at least look like it, without doing too much. My favorite foundation for this type of makeup is Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation or IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation (I prefer the moisturizing one especially for more mature skin). Apply with your fingertips as if it’s a moisturizer for the most skin-like finish.

Use a bronzer that is right for your skin tone.

Applying your bronzer with a fluffy brush in the contours of your face (hollows of the cheeks, under your chin, on the edge of your hairline), and using a bronzer color that is right for your skin-tone, will bring your facial features to life while keeping you looking fresh, radiant and like yourself. Any harsh contouring will change the way your face looks, which is great if that is the goal of your makeup routine, but not what we are trying to do here. Our goal with bronzing is to add natural dimension back into the skin and emphasize your facial features that can disappear with foundation.

Blush is a must.

Blush keeps you looking healthy, fresh and youthful— if applied correctly. The challenge with blush is choosing one that is easy-to-apply (with the right amount of pigmentation) and in a shade that favors for your skin tone. An easy blush that goes on just right and adjusts to your PH is the Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush. It gives you a natural “flush” and can be adjusted to your liking. Another favorite of mine is the Glossier Cloud Paints.

Opt for a tinted lip-balm, or make your own.

Moisturized lips look juicy and fresh on-camera, while matte lips can look dry and too “makeup-ey”. My favorite tip is to use a super hydrating lip balm and mix it 50/50 with a lipstick that is flattering for you.

Keep eyeshadow simple— one or two shadows 2-3 shades deeper that your skin tone works just fine. If you look good in eyeliner, I recommend using your eyeshadow to line your top and bottom lashes to emphasize your eyes. And, don’t forget mascara.

Buying a palette with a range of eyeshadow tones (like this Patrick Ta Major Dimension Eyeshadow Palette) is a great option if you don’t know where to start. I recommend sticking with the matte shades for your everyday zoom meetings, and then layering with shimmer shades for a night out.

Anything shiny will appear extra shiny on-camera, so keep your highlight on the perimeters of the face and don’t be afraid of powdering the t-zone (trust me, it’s harder to look cakey on-camera).

Swiping a liquid or cream highlight lightly on the orbital bone and keeping the t-zone matte will give you that dewy, healthy look that is beautiful on-camera.

Hope you enjoyed these tips! If you have any questions, please leave a comment below or email me.