The Best Zoom Makeup Tips From Incredibly Busy Women 

We all have those Instagram accounts we check daily, turn post notifications on for, and refer to in conversation as if they’re our actual friends. If you’ve ever scrolled onto one of these photos and wondered, How does she do it? you’re in luck. Welcome to our series Insta Stalking, in which we talk to the women behind the accounts we’re obsessing over about their beauty secrets. Next up, nine busy women on the Zoom makeup they swear by for video calls. 

To say this year has been full of changes would be an understatement. For many of us, one of the biggest among them is that we now spend up to nine hours a day staring at our coworkers (okay, let’s be real, ourselves) on tiny video screens. Like most things during this weird period of time, perfecting our Zoom faces has been an adjustment—looking camera-ready but not so much that it feels out of place with leggings is a delicate balance. 

Add in the fact that some women are applying lipstick with one hand and feeding a baby with another, or just trying to take some time for themselves as meetings get earlier and earlier, getting ready for the day is starting to feel more complicated than ever. Luckily, we tracked down nine busy women who have their Zoom makeup routines down pat. Scroll on for the best makeup for video calls, according to CEOs, authors, and activists. 

Alicia Garza, cocreator, Black Lives Matter; Director of Strategies, NDWA; Author, The Purpose of Power 

I wake up around 6 a.m. to pray and do an hourlong session on my Peloton bike. I stretch, shower, make coffee, and get ready for calls. They typically start at 8 a.m. and end around 5 p.m. I spend most of my calls walking around the house with AirPods in, but I also do video calls often, if reluctantly. Around noon I start to cook up some food. It’s a running joke that by the time I get on my staff meeting call, I’m whipping up something delicious in the kitchen. 

Now that my book is out, I’ve probably worn more makeup in the last two weeks than I’ve worn the entire pandemic. (It’s been a doozy; I really did forget how to put on makeup.) But if I don’t have a lot of events, I keep my makeup very simple—a little bit of concealer, a red lip, and a nicely moisturized face goes a long way. If I have more time or mostly desire, I’ll add some blush and mascara. My basic face is a Fenty or Pat McGrath concealer, Fabulous Face Oil from Aesop, and Dance With Me matte lipstick from MAC. If I have 10 minutes, I like to do a cat eye and lashes. If I have 15 minutes or more, I’ll contour and hit that blush and highlighter. 

As for my other Zoom essentials, I love my blue light glasses from DIFF. They’re a must when you stare at screens all day. I also swear by Sealed With a Kiss—a balm that helps keep your lipstick on all day long and saves you from being the one who’s left with only lip liner on at the end of the day. And Palmer’s Cocoa Butter keeps my skin moisturized. Also, I’m obsessed with mini diffusers. A drop or two of lavender oil keeps me from getting moody on conference calls, and a drop of citrus stimulates my brain.

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer

$26

Fenty Beauty

MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour

$22

MAC

Bozoma Saint John, global chief marketing officer, Netflix

A typical work-from-home day for me starts with a 6 a.m. early morning workout, then helping my 11-year-old daughter to get ready for online school and getting myself ready for a day of video calls. I gobble down breakfast, take back-to-back meetings—I’m in approximately 10 to 12 video meetings a day—with some brain breaks in between to stretch my limbs, grab a snack, and check on my daughter.  I’m usually done around 7 p.m. and can then make dinner before relaxing on the couch to watch Netflix (of course!).

Working from home hasn’t really changed my makeup routine because I still get dressed like I’m headed into the office. It gives me a feeling of normalcy to do so, and putting on makeup has always lifted my spirits, so I feel that it’s almost a requirement for me these days. I love a bold lip color, especially when we’re only seeing faces now. If you can’t see my pants or skirt, then at least you’re going to see this amazing color. And since I’m speaking so much in a day, I want my lips to stand out as much as the words that I say.

If I only have 10 minutes, I’ll put on my favorite matte red lipstick (a limited-edition shade from makeup artist Sir John’s Lion King–inspired collection for Luminess), Lancôme Teint Idole Foundation (it matches my melanin perfectly), and a good ol’ Ardell strip lash. And I have a blotter near my laptop to take care of the excess shine when I start to glow a little too much on the video conference. Although, no one ever said there’s too much glow. I just don’t want to blind anyone with my brilliance—literally or figuratively.

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear 24H Long Wear Foundation

$47

Lancôme

Ardell Baby Demi Wispies

$4

Ardell

Alicia Yoon, founder and CEO of Peach & Lily

I start each day with breakfast, tea, and some quiet time (no phones!) and put pen to paper to jot down my biggest priorities for the day. This way I’m being more intentional about the day rather than reacting to what comes up in my inbox. After this sacred morning time where I can really ground myself, I head over to my home office station and start the work day. Each day looks a little different beyond this point; some days I’m in meetings all day with my team going over everything from finance to sales to marketing to operations. Other days, it’s more heads-down work on new products and content. 

I’ve always been focused on my skin and never really wore too much foundation, so now in the days of Zoom, I love spritzing on the Peach & Lily Glass Skin Veil Mist right before I hop on a video call for that extra glassy, dewy, hydrated look. This mist will get you compliments—even on video, the difference in perking up your skin is noticeable. Eye makeup gets a bit more washed out for me on Zoom, so I barely spend any time on that now. Instead I’ve been focusing on a striking lip color, like Chanel Lipstick in Pirate, for a classic red lip paired with glass skin. 

Before COVID, I used to get lash extensions religiously, and now I barely even wear mascara. I also don’t spend as much time shaping and filling in my sparse brows like I used to. I’ll just do some quick draw-in and spoolie-brush action with my Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil, and then I’m done. I also reapply SPF throughout the day because UVA rays (the silent rays that don’t burn) come in through windows and can still cause a lot of damage. Meeting-prep time is a good time to remind myself to reapply. I love the Rootree UV Sun Shield, since it’s zero cast, invisible, weightless, and leaves my skin super soft. 

Peach and Lily Glass Skin Veil Mist

$29

Peach and Lily

Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour

$38

Nordstrom

Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Pencil

$24

Benefit Cosmetics

Rootree Mobitherapy UV Sun Shield

$23

Peach and Lily

Tanya Taylor, fashion designer 

I usually wake up at 7 a.m., feed our newborn, shower, get dressed, and then have breakfast as a family with my husband and our three-year-old son—pancakes or waffles with chocolate chips are my specialty. After breakfast I jump into meetings. I’m on video calls four to five hours per day on average. I make sure to take a walk around the block at least once a day, stop for a quick lunch in the kitchen, and manage to fit in two feedings with our four-month-old. 

Before COVID, I would be rushing around the city and never hydrating enough, so I would rely on makeup to create a healthy glow. Now that I’m home full time, my daily routine is centered around making sure my skin is healthy and hydrated, and then applying minimal but effective makeup. I shape my brows and top it off with a light eyeliner and mascara. 

I usually have two minutes max ever to put on makeup, so I use a tinted moisturizer for my face, highlighter on my cheeks, and I focus on a light Charlotte Tilbury liquid liner, brow shaping, and concealer to brighten my under-eye circles—since on Zoom I feel like you see everything more magnified. I keep a little cup with some of my favorite products—like Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Lip Oil—right by my computer for touchups throughout the day. I also keep an array of hoop earrings on my desk so I can quickly grab a pair if I need to look more “dressed,” as well as a D.S. & Durga candle in Wild Brooklyn Lavender for an afternoon pick-me-up, and some water. 

For Zoom social catch ups from 5 p.m. onwards, I’ll throw on a red lip and a bit of eye shadow, and I’m set.

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir

$40

Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury Feline Flick Volume 2 Liquid Eyeliner

$30

Charlotte Tilbury

Sarah Gibson Tuttle, founder and CEO of Olive & June

I’m such an in-person people person that adjusting to WFH life has been a big shift. I spend a good part of my day on Google Hangouts working with the team, and the rest of the time anything can happen: More video meetings, phone calls, emails, product testing and development, and loads of time on the socials chatting with our incredible O&J community. 

I really only put on makeup if I’m going to do an Instagram Live or have a video meeting. We host multiple mani masterclasses and IG Lives to teach everyone how to paint their own nails at home every week. They’re really a bright spot in my day. I started Olive & June because manis have always been a mood booster for me, so I change my polish at least twice a week. For important meetings, I want to feel like my best self, and for me that means a bold mani. My current power mani color is Obsessed, a deep, dark ruby red from our new winter collection. 

If I have 10 minutes to get ready—which, in reality, is really more like three—I start with my trusty NARS Concealer to hide the signs of not enough sleep and too much Starbucks iced tea, then all I need is Pat McGrath Permagel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil in Xtreme Black and Kosas The Big Clean Mascara, and I’m ready to roll on some calls. I also always have our Cuticle Serum on hand. I always want my mani looking like I just walked out of a salon. 

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

$30

NARS

Kosas The Big Clean Mascara

$26

Kosas

Olive & June Obsessed

$8

Olive & June

Jess Morales Rocketto, executive director, Care in Action

The month leading up to Election Day is the busiest time for me. I usually work from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and have a mix of what I think of as camera-ready meetings—panels, conferences, media hits—and then “normal” Zoom calls—meetings with my team or partners that would have been in-person in normal times. Typically I try to group camera-ready meetings in one day so I’m not wasting good hair and makeup, and so I don’t have to get ready every day. 

One challenge I’ve experienced is that work attire is much more relaxed in the COVID era, so I want to look put together, but I don’t want to look too formal, which can be a little tricky. So I try to think about a “natural soft glam” look—optimized for HD but kept as fresh as possible. To do that, I’ll do a tinted moisturizer as my base but really focus on heavy concealer in the center of my face. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer is my favorite. Next I’ll sweep bronzer basically all over my face and neck to warm it up, which is a life-changing tip I learned from watching Bobbi Brown do makeup tutorials. I also love Live Tinted Huestick in Rise, which I use as blush and lipstick, and Smashbox Superfan Mascara. 

And if I'm doing a true camera-ready event like a TV hit, I do a super-chunky, thick winged eye with Sweet Street Cosmetics Wing Queen, which is the best liquid eyeliner on the market. You’re going to feel like you look like Cleopatra, but on camera it’s a perfect, sharp wing. 

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment

$10

Maybelline

Smashbox Super Fan Lash Lengthening Mascara

$24

Smashbox

Rooshy Roy, cofounder & CEO, Aavrani 

A typical WFH day for me begins around 8 a.m., but I don’t schedule any calls or meetings until 10 a.m. I’m not a morning person (at all), so giving myself time to grab a coffee and set my intentions for the day has been an absolute game changer for me. I’m in video meetings for at least three or four hours a day, but I avoid having them back-to-back—it gives me time to collect my thoughts, get organized around follow-ups, and of course, touch up my face in between.

For calls I focus almost exclusively on my eyes and my skin overall. Healthy, glowing skin speaks for itself, and drawing a focus to my eyes feels important so I can establish trust and build connections through the screen. The three things I always have on, in order, are my Aavrani Hydra-Whip Moisturizer, Benefit Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil, and Lano 101 Multipurpose Superbalm. 

As we transition into winter, it’s increasingly important for me to hydrate my skin—great makeup only goes so far, and the Hydra-Whip ensures that my skin instantly appears plump, supple, and glowing, both on- and off-screen. I love the Goof Proof pencil because I can quickly enhance the natural shape of my brows and draw attention to my eyes in less than 60 seconds. And last, I’ve been loving this all-natural Superbalm lately because it instantly makes my lips appear fuller while actually providing lasting moisture. It’s done wonders for my cuticles too! If I have a little more time, I’ll use Mented Cosmetics’ bronzer and Live Tinted’s Hueglow to give my skin a warm, summery glow that shows up beautifully understated onscreen. 

Lano The Original 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm

$17

Lano

Aavrani Softening Hydra-Whip

$55

Aavrani

Mented Bronzer

$22

Mented

Live Tinted Hueglow

$34

Live Tinted

Dana Boulos, photographer, director, and founder of Brainfreeze Production

My typical workday varies, but it always starts with a shower followed by getting dressed in an oversized dress shirt with a pair of vintage Levi’s. As my hair dries, I make tea and fit in an hour of reading, then start with phone calls, emails, and Zooms. 

Working from home has changed my makeup routine, for sure. I definitely focus way more on my skin now and try to let it breathe. Since some of my clients live in different time zones than I do, my video meetings are usually extremely early. I always keep a jade roller in my freezer and use it all over my face—especially under my eyes—since I feel it helps wake me up. 

I use Le Teint Velvet by Chanel under my eyes to cover any dark circles, then Le Crayon eyeliner in nude on my waterline, which makes me feel more awake. I always dab a bit of Chanel blush on my cheeks to have a natural glow to my cheekbones, then for my lips I use a vegan tinted rose balm by Ralphie & Alice, which I’m obsessed with. I always end with Chanel eyebrow gel in brown.

Oh, and most importantly in these times, I always keep my Aesop hand sanitizer and Chanel hand cream near by. 

Chanel Ultra Le Teint Velvet

$50

Nordstrom

Chanel Le Crayon Khôl

$30

Nordstrom

Aesop Geranium Leaf Rinse-Free Hand Wash

$10

Aesop

Ralphie and Alice Pop Stix

$9.50

Ralphie and Alice

Nic Stone, author, Dear Justyce 

As a writer of fiction aimed at young readers—around ages 8 to 18—part of my day is spent on my couch weaving words together into stories, and the other part is made up of virtual visits with hundreds of said young people. Otherwise I’m doing book events where I’m talking into my computer screen at adults. And because I’m home and know the quality of my webcam is poor enough to blur any blemishes, I’ve been spending less time fixing my face. 

The good news is that means I’ve perfected a five-minute routine, which includes eyeliner (typically just on my waterline), shimmery eye shadow (with highlighted inner corners always), mascara, and a brightly colored lip to match or complement whatever I did with my eyes. Boom, bam, done. The bright lip (with a blue, green, or purple lipstick) is key for me, because it draws eyes to my mouth when I’m speaking, which means people are more prone to listening without getting distracted by other visual cues. The eye stuff is just to balance out the lips. But is wholly possible I just invented all of that and it makes no difference at all.

I also always keep big, dangly earrings handy. I have ones shaped like fruit (papayas, peaches, avocados), ones that are inspired by Wakanda and hang down to my collar bone, and ones that have little puffs on them. There are no less than 10 pairs of ridiculous earrings on the table where I set my computer for virtual stuff at any given time. I think they really make a Zoom look.

NYX Suede Matte Lipstick

$8

NYX

MAC Cosmetics Matte Lipstick

$19

MAC Cosmetics

Bella Cacciatore is the beauty associate at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @bellacacciatore_.