For many, seeing photos of ourselves that have been filtered or touched up before they are posted is the norm – but this year, things have been very different. More people than ever worked from home in 2020 – a trend that could continue well into the new year. Because of this, so many of us have become too familiar with seeing our unfiltered (and tired) faces on a laptop screen.

With hair salons closed down for the majority of the year and many people not having the energy to perform their daily beauty routines, it’s no wonder that cosmetic treatments have been on the rise. If you’ve started to become disheartened by the endless slew of online video calls making you feel like you’re not looking your best, here’s how you can turn it around.

Choose the Right Angle

Like with photography, when it comes to video, it’s all about the angles. You might find that rearranging where your webcam sits can have a massive impact on how you look.

When we look at ourselves in the mirror, we see our faces straight on, or sometimes with an upwards tilt which is known to give a more flattering angle. Tilting up the face tightens the jawline and lifts the cheeks, that’s why selfies are often taken from a high angle looking down on us to reflect this view.

When it comes to online meetings, laptops and computer screens are usually on a desk below us, forcing us to tilt our heads down to look at it. This downward tilt creates an unflattering angle that causes our skin to hang in rolls around the chin – double chin, anyone?

For a simple fix, simply elevate your screen or webcam so it’s angled down towards you rather than up. This change in angle will allow you to lift your head, better smoothing out your skin and alleviating the dreaded chin rolls.

Use Good Lighting

Lighting can play a huge part in how a video feed looks to viewers. Every photographer and filmmaker stress the importance of good lighting, and you’d be amazed by how subtle changes in the amount of light can drastically alter what’s on screen.

Lighting in a room where you work will typically come from a ceiling light. This overhead light can create shadows that will accentuate your eye bags and any facial creases. Where possible, lights should be behind the camera but not shining directly at you. You can try using a lamp or sit in front of a window for natural light.

A ring light is also a perfect solution, as it will generate plenty of light and really make your eyes pop.

Limit Your Online Hours

When not working, you should try to limit the amount of time you spend on your laptop or computer. Research suggests that the blue light from devices is bad for our skin, as it becomes the equivalent of being exposed to the midday sun.

Blue light has been shown to induce oxidative stress in the skin, which can contribute to ageing, leading to a loss of skin firmness and an increase in visible lines.

Of course, using our laptops while we work from home in non-negotiable. So, consider using a blue light filter on all your devices and limiting your time spent in front of a screen once you clock off.

Rejuvenating Facials

Once you’ve sorted out your lighting and your angles, you’ll be well on your way to more flattering Zoom calls. But if your skin is looking tired after so many months indoors, then consider some wonderfully hydrating and plumping facials from Aesthetic Skin Clinic to give your skin its radiance back.

Hydrafacial

The Hydrafacial is a sumptuous treatment that leaves the skin brighter and refreshed while also unclogging pores and removing dead skin and dirt. It combines cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, hydration, antioxidant protection and red LED light therapy all together to provide instant visible results that will revitalise your complexion.

Envy Facial

The Envy Facial is a non-invasive treatment that extracts and infuses the skin with specially formulated serums for an all-inclusive treatment. Thanks to the active ingredients, you will see an improvement in your skin’s plumpness, volume, hydration, tone and texture.

If you’ve been struggling with your skin this year and want to learn more about our vast range of non-surgical cosmetic treatments that can completely transform your skin and give you a healthier, brighter look, then contact Aesthetic Skin Clinic today. We have a cosmetic clinic in Guernsey, a cosmetic clinic in Jersey and a cosmetic clinic in Belfast.