Easy Makeup Tips For Looking Presentable On Conference Calls, According To An Expert

Conference calls. Easily the most haunting word RN.

For most of us, a conference call wasn’t even something we knew how to setup a month ago and now, they’re part and parcel of our everyday life, coming straight from the makeshift office we once called the sitting room.

But as we try to adjust to this (temporary) new normal, we’re picking up some tips on how we can make working from home (and those dreaded conference calls) a little easier.

“If your meetings are now taking place over Skype rather than in person and you will still want to look presentable but not overdone, defining the right areas while keeping colours neutral will keep your look effortless yet professional,” says makeup artist Ailbhe Lynch.

Speaking to STELLAR, Ailbhe shared some easy makeup tips that’ll have you feeling ready for action in less than 10 minutes.

Having worked across commercial, editorial and TV, Ailbhe knows a thing or two when it comes to looking effortless on camera.

 

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A post shared by Ailbhe Lynch – Makeup Artist (@ailbhelynch) on Feb 20, 2020 at 1:43pm PST

“The beauty about Skype is your makeup doesn’t have to be picture-perfect but placement is key”, she explained.

“Filling in your brows will instantly give your face lift and definition and make you look more expressive. Use a pencil or powder in feathery strokes to lightly fill and volumize the brow.”

Continuing, she added that excessive product isn’t needed on your skin to create a more “alert” look. Instead, it’s about evening out the skin tone and using concealer wisely.

“Skin should look healthy but not overly shiny. Use your usual base and apply powder down the t-zone to take down any distracting shine on camera. Don’t overdo highlighter but keep cheeks powder free for a natural glow. Even out skin tone and diminish dark shadows by using concealer under the eyes and on any blemishes that need additional coverage.”

The next step according to Ailbhe is then to warm up your complexion with bronzer, dusting your cheekbones before “adding a sweep across the eyes and down the neck.”

 

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A post shared by Ailbhe Lynch – Makeup Artist (@ailbhelynch) on Apr 24, 2019 at 1:29pm PDT

Then it’s on to the eyes.

It’s less is more again in this circumstance, with liner being your best friend, says Ailbhe.

“For a naturally defined eye use a brown kohl pencil to define the upper eye lids. Then soften and extend it to elongate the eye with a small brush or cotton bud.

“For a more defined eye apply a kohl pencil or shadow under the lower lashes and complete with plenty of mascara. Then use a nude pencil along the waterline to open up the eyes.”

And finally, to finish the look it’s all about adding a little bit of lip colour to lift the complexion.

“Wear a statement lipstick if that’s your usual signature,” Ailbhe recommends. “But if wearing lip balm is more your thing, mix it with some lipstick to make your own tinted balm for a little more pop. Then lastly, use a lip liner to create a slightly plumped effect so your lip shape isn’t lost on camera!”

And voila, there you have it – a look that requires nothing more than the bits in your makeup bag to have you feeling less quarantined and more quarapreened to prefection.

A major thank you to the makeup queen, Ailbhe Lynch. You can follow her on Insta here!

• Ailbhe Lynch
• Makeup