8 Beauty Shortcuts to Try For Those Last-Minute Zoom Calls

So your boss or work colleague just dropped a last minute zoom meeting request that needs to happen NOW — or within the next hour.

The dilemma: you’re still in your PJ’s, hair un-brushed, and totally NOT ready for the upcoming call. The question: how do I look put together in a flash? The solution: beauty shortcuts!

Next time an out of the blue Zoom call or FaceTime request pops up, make sure you’re camera-ready with these savvy little beauty hacks.

#1: Dull, Tired Skin?

Shortcut: Brightening Serum

Don’t have time to do a full skincare routine before your video call? No worries. Reach for an exfoliating serum instead! If there’s one fool proof step that always works to turn a dull complexion around, it’s exfoliation. Exfoliation works by removing dead skin cells from the skin’s surface, revealing fresh, glowing skin underneath.

Next time you have a last-minute video chat, reach for a bottle of Rainbow’s GLOW Serum. This brightening treatment contains a resurfacing blend of glycolic acid and bakuchiol to illuminate skin tone, improve skin texture, and leave you looking dewy.

Simply pat several drops onto your face and neck, and let the formula work its radiance-boosting magic. You’ll be glowing in two! Honest...

#2: Greasy Hair?

Shortcut: Dry Shampoo

If it’s been a few days since you last washed your hair, chances are you’re dealing with limp, greasy strands. Trouble is, you don’t have the time to wash, dry, and style your hair before the video meeting.

Reach for a bottle of dry shampoo instead. Dry shampoo is an ingenious beauty product that works by soaking up excess oil, and adding freshness and volume to flat, oily strands.

Spray it into problem areas, massage into your scalp with fingers, and brush the excess out a few minutes later. Hello, bombshell locks!

#3: Dark Circles?

Shortcut: Concealer

Whether you’re dealing with dark circles, uneven skin tone, or pimples, concealer is a quick fix for clearing up your blemishes — almost as quick as using your keyboard shortcuts! Dab a small amount of concealer under your eyes and over breakouts, then use your finger to pat it in. See, it takes almost the same amount of time as pressing the alt or spacebar on your Mac. Easy!

If you don’t have concealer on hand, reach for your foundation instead. Just make sure it matches your skin so that you have a seamless, natural blend.

#4: No Time for a Full Face of Makeup?

Shortcut: Mascara

If you only have 20 seconds to get ready, don’t rush through your makeup routine. It’ll only end up looking messy, blotchy, and rushed. Instead, focus on opening up your peepers and making them look more alert. Mascara is your go-to tool for making this happen. If you have more than 20 seconds, add in some peachy eyeshadow and your favorite eyeliner to instantly brighten up your eyes.

When it comes to video conferencing, it’s important to appear awake and alert. Mascara is a quick and speedy trick for reviving tired eyes.

#5: Dry and Crusty?

Shortcut: A Moisturizing Serum

No webcam can hide a dull, dry, and crusty face. If you don’t have time for a full beauty routine right now, speed things up by applying a hydrating facial serum. Unlike moisturizers, serums are lightweight and won’t leave your skin looking shiny on camera. Alongside this, serums are formulated with high concentrations of active ingredients to quickly and effective transform your skin.

Next time you’re dry, crusty, and stuck for time, reach for Rainbow’s HYDRATE Serum, a flash-absorbing moisturizer made with hyaluronic acid to leave skin plump and dewy.

#6: Mid-Day Smudged Makeup?

Shortcut: Touch Up

If the Zoom meeting request arrives in the middle of the day, you might be dealing with the mid-day makeup dilemma. It’s what happens when your makeup’s partially worn off and looks a little dry and patchy. No time to re-do it? No problemo! Try touching up your makeup look instead.

All the makeup artists swear by it for keeping your makeup looking fresh. One quick fix for turning mid-day makeup around is spritzing on a hydrating mist, which will make your foundation look fresh and dewy once more.

Alternatively, try dabbing on a little concealer and foundation, and swiping on a few extra layers of mascara to make your makeup look great again.

#7: Grown Out Roots?

Shortcut: Zigzag Your Parting

No time to get your roots done? We’ve all been there. The good news is, you can easily and quickly conceal the appearance of grown out roots by trying a zigzag parting, which breaks up the demarcation line. Another idea: try a deep side part and spray on some dry shampoo to give the appearance of full, voluminous hair.

Of course, you won’t be able to hide them completely, but it will make you look more put together — and perhaps even convince your colleagues that your grown out roots are intentional.

#8: Washed Out?

Shortcut: Blush

Is your skin looking a little pale and washed out? Dust on a little blush to add some warmth and dimension to your face. It’s a super quick and easy makeup tip for making skin appear healthy and vibrant on the screen, without relying on a seven step makeup routine.

Even if you’re a makeup beginner, you only need to dust your cheeks with blush and you’re good to go! No complicated techniques necessary!

Last-minute Zoom meetings can certainly be frustrating, especially if you’re not at all prepared — we’ve all been there at some point or another. With these eight beauty shortcuts, you can be ready in a flash while looking your best on camera. Once you’re done, select a bright and colorful virtual background (if your real one isn’t already!) to add even more warmth and vibrancy to your complexion. Great work, boss babe!