How to look better (and more professional) on Zoom and Facetime

You’re wondering how to look better (or even your best) on Zoom and FaceTime videoconferencing ?

Did you ever see your face on your device screen while on a Zoom or Facetime call and wonder why you look more weary or aged than you expected?

Does the thought of your friends, family or co-workers asking you to do a video chat make you shudder for this very reason?

As we now rely more on video communication apps to connect with others these feelings are more commonplace.

Does the way we look (or how we feel about how we look) truly matter ?

Yes, for some of us this really matters.

If you feel self-conscious about the way you present yourself through the filter of your phone (or tablet/computer) camera then the quality and frequency of your virtual connections with other people can be impaired. A lack of confidence influences how you project yourself and can reduce the effectiveness of the messages you aim to send over the internet waves.

This is not to say that you need to be concerned with how you look on Zoom. In fact, studies have shown that self-compassion (accepting yourself and your perceived flaws) is more important than self-image in determining what makes people happy. But if you do care about this (many of us do) then read on…

If you’re getting a fair amount of socialization or you’re conducting business dealings through virtual meetings then it’s reasonable to consider some adjustments to maximize the value of that time.

So what are the strategies to look better on your device screen ?

It turns out that the same techniques that make you look better in still photographs also make you look better on your front-facing camera or device screen.

The strategies you’ll want to know fall into 4 categories:

Lighting control
Camera angles
Facial expressions and positioning
Skin and eye preparation

Harsh overhead lighting casts shadows around my eyes and mouth

Strategy #1 – lighting control

The most important tool at your disposal is your ability to manipulate the way light falls on your face. Overhead lighting, especially harsh fluorescent or cold-tone LED’s can give you vampire-like shadows and dark under-eye circles.

The way to counteract harsh, unflattering lighting is to move away from direct overhead light or better yet give yourself some front-facing light.

An LED ring-light (looks like a glowing donut) can be purchased inexpensively online and will do wonders for your overall look on the screen. Even a soft desk lamp (preferable with some sort of light diffuser) will work for this, or you can sit facing a window to get some flattering natural light to wash away the shadows.

Diffuse light tends to brighten your face more evenly than direct beams. Think of how you look in a photo on a bright sunny day versus on an overcast day. The direct beams of sunlight cast more shadows on your face. A professional headshot photographer would light your face from several directions (sometimes including below or with light bounced from the ceiling).

Diffuse natural light from a window eliminates shadows and shows my face with an even tone

Strategy #2 – camera angles

The direction and vantage point of the camera will seriously affect the way you look on the screen. If you have a laptop with a low-positioned camera lens your audience is looking up your nose. Alternatively a slightly high camera can be flattering as it encourages you to slightly lift your chin (see strategy #3). Also, putting your face too close to the camera can induce a fish-eye effect which distorts your shape and not in a good way. It’s better to slightly distance yourself from the camera than to be too close.

The camera is positioned from too low of an angle (and the window light should not be behind me)

Strategy #3 – facial expressions and positioning

In a previous blog post about looking your best in photos I wrote about the squinch and the PT tilt. These are learned tricks that improve how you look when someone is taking your snapshot. These techniques work on video as well.

The “squinch” or “smize” means that when you smile you do so with both your mouth and eyes. It’s an indicator that your smile is warm and genuine which always plays well on camera, especially if you are really being genuine.

Smiling with your eyes makes her look warmer and more sincere

The PT or phototactic tilt refers to shifting the front plane of your face slightly towards light, especially when the light is above the level of your head. This also helps you to subtly jut your chin forward which extends your jawline in a favorable way and makes your under-chin area look more taut.

dr. brett kotlus looking younger in photos

By lifting her chin and facing the light source she brightened her face

Strategy #4 – skin and eye prep

Whereas the first 3 techniques were about controlling your environment, this group of techniques is more about self-care and skin “tricks”.

The way people read your state of fatigue is through your eyes. Dark circles and bags can make you look tired. You can alleviate these dark rings with a concealer or BB cream. They tend to work even better on a videochat than in person because it’s not as evident that you’re using them. The key is finding a tone that matches your skin or is slightly lighter. Many have reflective ingredients that make your under-eyes look slightly brilliant. You can apply the concealer with a few dabs using your fingertips and then blend in to the surrounding areas.

Temporary skin-tightening products are perfect for FaceTime. The Korean line Hanacure was popular over the last few years for it’s mask kit that almost over-tightens your skin. Our BKMD Lab line has 2 temporary tightening products, a gel mask that firms your face and neck and an eyelid tightening serum that firms the under-eyes for a period of nearly 6 hours. These types of products show immediate effects and should last long enough for several video chats at a time.

The BKMD Lab gel mask is applied for about 30 minutes and it makes the skin and jawline feel tight, perhaps even “pulled”. The mask is then washed off but the slightly firm feeling continues for the rest of the day.

The BKMD Lab tensate eye lift serum uses silicates to smooth out the under-eye skin. In some cases, it flattens down under-eye bags (the degree of improvement depends on the size of the fat pad and the pre-existing quality of your skin).

The temporary tightening effect of the eye serum makes the under-eye look smoother

Ultimately the most powerful under-eye dark circle and bag correction is the cannula eye lift (a filler injection done in my office) or a blepharoplasty (an outpatient procedure that removes bags). But these require you to leave your home and have a medical procedure. But if you want a long-lasting effect, almost like having a permanent concealer under your eyes then you should consider the office procedures.

And there are always eyeglasses.

You’re wondering how to look better (or even your best) on Zoom and FaceTime videoconferencing ?

Does the way we look (or how we feel about how we look) truly matter ?

So what are the strategies to look better on your device screen ?

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