Description:
Seriously, some mornings I roll out of bed 5 mins before my first meeting and my camera self-view is TERRIFYING. Any quick personal care/style tips for looking presentable fast? Lighting tricks? Miracle products? Help a sleepy remote worker out! 🙏
10 Answers
Ring light..... Seriously, best $30 I ever spent. Clips onto my monitor. Makes a HUUUGE difference. Also, dry shampoo is your best friend. And a bit of tinted moisturizer. ✨
- Tammy Love: Thanks for the tip! Does the ring light work well with any kind of monitor?Report
- GlamCamGal: Hey Tammy! Yep, the clip-on ring lights I’ve used are pretty adjustable and fit most monitors, even the thinner ones. Just make sure your monitor isn’t too curved or super thick. They’re super lightweight anyway, so they stay put without wobbling. Hope that helps!Report
eyedrops for redness—seriously underrated!! Staring at screens all day dries your eyes out fast, and a quick drop can make you look way more alert on camera. Also, if you wear glasses, keep them clean — smudges, fingerprints, or glare can make you look sloppy or distracted, even if everything else is on point.Itis a tiny detail that weirdly stands out on video calls.
Look, if you’re rolling outta bed five minutes before the call, there's no magic potion here. But one thing people overlook: background noise and posture sell tired better than your face ever will. Sit up straight, tilt your chin slightly down—that hides the under-eye bags better than any concealer. And ditch that messy bedhead by just twisting hair into a quick bun or ponytail; it screams “I’m barely holding it together but I got this.” Lighting’s great but won’t save you from looking like a zombie if you don’t at least pretend to care with your body language.
Keep a small handheld mirror nearby and check your face right before the call. Sometimes just fixing one eyebrow or wiping away a tiny smudge can make you look way more awake. Also, chew gum or do some light facial stretches like opening your mouth wide or smiling big for 30 seconds to get blood flowing. It wakes up your face faster than coffee sometimes. And if you have time, put on clear lip balm—it makes lips look less dry and tired instantly.
Actually, the term "self-view" is more precise than just saying "camera," since it's what you see of yourself that often triggers panic. A subtle but effective trick is to slightly desaturate your screen's color temperature or use a soft blue light filter. This reduces redness and puffiness appearance without makeup. Also, angle your laptop so natural light hits from the side rather than front-on; it sculpts shadows gently instead of flattening features into an unflattering plane.
Prioritize camera angle and lighting: raise your laptop to eye level and face a soft, indirect light source to minimize shadows and puffiness. Avoid harsh overhead lights that exaggerate tiredness. Quickly splash cold water on your face to reduce puffiness and improve alertness. Brush hair or tame with dry shampoo for a neat look. Check for red eyes or smudges on glasses—small details can undermine professionalism fast.
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