How To Do Your Makeup For A Skype Interview

In this day and age, fewer and fewer job interviews are happening in person. Which is fabulous when you live in Chicago and are able to Skype-interview for a job in New York City so you don't have to fly all the way there for an hour of conversation. What's not so great: trying to figure out what's going to translate as professional and put-together on a screen. Sure, you can delight in wearing pajama pants with an office-appropriate top. But, what do you do with your face? So, got an interview via Skype coming up? Don’t freak. We hit up YouTube beauty gurus Michelle Phan, Nicola Chapman (of Pixiwoo fame), and Deepica Mutyala for their freshest, most video-worthy tips — the ones that are most likely to help you get hired. And, since we know you’ve got your résumé and talking points on lock, all that’s left is to learn how to rep all that brain power on the outside, too.

Do Your Homework
“Cater your beauty routine to your audience,” says Mutyala. “Especially with the world of social media, it's not hard to understand the personality of your interviewer and their company. If you think they would appreciate a more fun look, go for it, but you have to make sure, more than anything, you feel comfortable with it.” Wise words, certainly, but most importantly? “Create a beauty look that makes you feel confident and empowered — it will show!” Set Up
Half of the effort of looking flawless during a Skype interview happens before you even turn on your screen. First step: lighting. “It's key,” advises Mutyala. “Your makeup can go from looking radiant to dull because of lighting. Make sure to set up the interview by natural light, so your beauty look can be showcased.” Chapman agrees that the way you set up your laptop can make a world of difference. “Check that the camera is at a good angle for you,” she says. “Normally, it’s best to have it pointing down on you rather than an up-nose shot.” And, one thing we always seem to forget: “Check that the background is interview-appropriate — no messy clothes on the floor!”

Prep Your Skin
A shiny T-zone can be oddly distracting. “Those with oily skin should make sure to use an oil blotter and powder the face before the interview,” says Mutyala. “Oil is heightened on camera because light reflects off of these areas. A little bit of shine can work in your favor, but make sure to test-run how you look on the camera in the natural light to ensure it's not exaggerated.” A couple of our favorites to shatter shine: It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Silk HD Anti-Aging Micro-Powder and Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers.

Get A Natural Glow
All of our YouTube stars advise a little effort on face makeup, but nothing too drastic. “Of course, this is dependent on the job, but don't go crazy on the contour,” says Mutyala. “Try to stick to a cleaner face with light accents of color. The shadows from a heavy contour can be distracting, especially if it's not blended in well.” So, after you blend, blend, blend, take a page out of Chapman’s book: “Wear enough makeup that it’s visible on camera, but not so much that you look overdone. I suggest Skyping a friend first, so they can tell you how you’re looking.”

Alima Pure Bronzer in Mauna Loa is insanely blendable and never looks orange, and RMS Living Luminizer is the most natural-looking highlighter out there.

The Eyes Have It
Some women don't like to glam up their eyes for interviews in fear of going overboard, but Phan advises otherwise. “Don’t be scared to use glitter — just a little under the eyes to brighten them up,” she says. “Light will reflect off of the glitter, giving your eyes a magical look.” After sweeping on a nude eyeshadow and black mascara, add a thin swipe of glitter liner on your bottom lashline, like NYX Liquid Crystal Liner in Crystal Hip.

Add A Pop Of Color
And, where better to do so than your pout? Draw attention to your mouth and, in turn, to the brilliant words coming out of it. “People may disagree with this, but I love to leave an impression with a pop of color — my go-to is a classic, bold, red lip,” says Mutyala. “When you're Skyping, rather than having an in-person interview, it's important to find ways to show bits of your personality, and for me, that's through my lip color. It's still professional while giving a sense of who I am.” Anastasia Beverly Hills' new Liquid Lipsticks come in a gorgeous range of bright, long-lasting shades, like bright orange-red and deep purple — try them for a kisser that’ll keep your interviewer transfixed. 

Pull Your Hair Back
Whether your hair is half-up or in a ballerina bun, you definitely want to pull some strands back to keep all eyes on your face. “My favorite Skype-interview hairdo is a top knot or sock bun,” says Mutyala. “It's clean, simple, and draws more attention to your makeup look. Again, fewer distractions in all ways are key to a smooth interview.”

Finally, Flash A Smile
“Sit up straight, shoulders back, and be confident,” advises Phan. “A smile is the best accessory you can wear, so wear it proudly. Happiness is true beauty.” We couldn’t agree more, Mish.