Looking Your Best on Skype, TV, YouTube & FaceTime
A picture says a thousand words. A video quadruples that. Looking your best means taking care with the way you move and gesture, the way your hair is cut and the manner in which you’re dressed. Make-up, too, is important, for both men and women, especially because of the widespread use of high-definition video.
As we often tell our clients, the kind of make-up used for video presentations is different from what actors use on stage or what you see used in the display and shopping aisles near the front door of most department stores. Instead, make-up for video presentations use different products (keep reading, guys…this is for you, too) and are applied in a much-more subtle manner.
One of our go-to people on this subject is Leslie Shayne Kohn, an expert in this field. Here’s what Leslie shared with us to share with you:
Skype (and, increasingly, FaceTime) is used not only for casual conversations and business meetings but also for job interviews, which is enough to make many want to “esSkype” the situation. It’s made many a bit crazed, nervous and overly insecure about themselves. Relax, help is on the way…forget about the camera, be yourself and with a little preparation, a pro will be born.
With 25 years of experience as a professional makeup artist/stylist, who specializes in improving the appearance of those individuals “in the spotlight,” my advice regarding Skype is to “keep it natural.”
Recently, I’ve read some absolutely ridiculous suggestions online regarding makeup application and the products that should be used when appearing on Skype, YouTube, Vimeo, other media platforms – and even local and network television. One “expert” suggested using high definition makeup, pore-minimizing products and high definition lip gloss for a high-shine plumping effect. I disagree.
Due to the lack of clarity (low resolution) of the Skype image, the picture quality is nothing like the hi-rez, digital picture on the TV in your living room. At best, the Skype image quality is less than that of a video on the videocassette recorder/player now gathering dust on in the closet. Therefore, high definition makeup is totally unnecessary and pore-minimizing products are useless. “Glossy lips with plumping effect look” for the ladies is definitely a no-no because lips that are very shiny reflect light and become extremely distracting to the viewer. Should your appearance on Skype be part of a job interview, glossy lips will definitely send very mixed messages to the interviewer. Glossy lips are sexy lips and have no place in a professional job interview. Keeping a professional look is your key to success.
When using Skype or, again, any of the other commonly used video platforms available today, my preference for males and females alike is to use high quality mineral makeup, which is available in both loose and pressed forms. Those products don’t contain talc, which makes the skin appear chalky and totally unnatural. When using Skype, my recommendations for a proper makeup application is as follows:
- A good under eye concealing product.
- A nice powder mineral based foundation to reduce shine.
- A mineral bronzer, or blush, to add a little “life” to the skin.
- For the ladies, cream based lipsticks (not glossy).
- Lighting is ultra-important. A little professional lighting can make a huge difference.
- Consider enlisting the assistance of a professional makeup artist/stylist who specializes in making individuals look their best.
Remember, whether you in front of a live audience, or in a television studio for a national program, or just at home in front of your computer appearing on Skype or FaceTime for that all important job interview, the “Art of Looking Good” is what separates the professional from the novice.
Leslie Shayne Kohn is a professional makeup artist and fashion consultant. She can be reached at 440-720-0097 or by email at LSKMakeUpArtist@aol.com.