Meetings, lunches, paint nights, parties… there’s so much happening on Zoom these days. And while it’s wonderful to be able to connect with friends and family virtually, there are drawbacks too. Honestly, who enjoys staring at themselves during a Zoom meeting? (That’s right, no one.)

Feel like it’s hard to look your best on screen? You’re not alone. Achieving a confident look is challenging enough when you’re not also dealing with the technical aspects of a video chat. But don’t give up! With a little effort, you can look elegant on every Zoom call.

Little Details, Big Difference

Since Zoom calls happen at home, it can be hard to motivate yourself to dress up. Why not just stay in your pajamas? Or just throw a jacket over whatever house clothes you have on?

Here’s why: you will feel so much better about your appearance and radiate elegance just by adding a few fashionable touches to your on-screen look. Here are some little details that are worth putting bit of effort into:

• A colorful necklace and bracelet combo.
• An understated gold necklace and pendant.
• A patterned scarf or headband.

These are the simple touches that step your outfit up from “acceptable” to “wow.” Think it’s silly to accessorize on Zoom? No way! You’ll elevate your look and impress in all the right ways.

Stand Out with a Splash of Color

When you’re at home, you can get into a style rut. The same colors. The same silhouettes. The same old everything. But when you add a splash of color to your look – especially on screen – you stand out and feel great.

This doesn’t have to be a major overhaul of your wardrobe. If you generally stick to neutrals and understated hues, no problem. But adding hints and flourishes of color still gives you an elegant pop in your little Zoom box. Here’s how to do it:

Creative Patterns

A top, cardigan, or cover-up featuring a unique pattern will draw in the eye when you’re chatting with friends, family, or colleagues on a video call.

Black, but Bold

You can stick to neutrals while adding a bold touch that complements your look. This jacket is a great example – it’s black, but the purple trim and jewel-toned flourishes take your attire from simple to standout.

Lighting and Camera Angles Matter

An elegant outfit can be ruined by bad lighting and camera shots. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a video production pro to get it right. A few simple rules of thumb will ensure you’re always looking your best when you log on to a video chat:

Light Source in Front of (Not Behind) You

Whether it’s an open window or a ring of light, placing your light source in front of you makes all the difference. When your lighting is behind you, it tends to darken your face and hide your features. You might have to rearrange your desk a little to achieve the right angle of light, but don’t worry what it looks like behind the scenes. All that matters is you look amazing on screen.

Natural or Artificial Light, Not Both

Clothing colors and skin tones look odd when you mix warm and cool light sources. It won’t look good if you’ve got an open window plus a light bulb on you. Stick to one or the other so your elegant attire (and winning smile) get all the right attention.

Camera at Eye Level or Just Above

Elevate your laptop, tablet or phone camera so it’s at eye level with you. That way you’re looking directly at the camera – not up towards it in an unflattering angle that also features your ceiling as the background.

Mind Your Surroundings

You put a lot of effort into your elegant Zoom event outfit. That’s where you want everyone’s attention to be – not on what’s going on in the background of your shot. So before you log on to your video call, make sure your surroundings are as elegant as your outfit.

This might mean straightening up the room a bit, organizing a shelf, or moving to a different place. Distractions like people walking around behind you or a view of half your house will detract from your otherwise splendid outfit.

Yes, Video Calls Can Be Elegant!

Don’t give up on looking posh when you get on a Zoom call. With a little preparation and effort, you’ll stand out for all the right reasons. You have a beautiful, elegant wardrobe just waiting to be shown off on the screen. Enjoy every call looking your best – you deserve it!

How do you make your outfits sparkle on Zoom meetings? Do you put extra effort or do you prefer to stay in your PJs? What extra do you do? Please share your tips with the community!

My love for having thick luscious eyebrows dates back to my first brow wax failure back when I was in middle school. Long story short, my brows came out super thin and sparse, and I vowed I would never take my relatively full eyebrows for granted again. Though it took a few years of horrible waxing jobs and plenty of razor bumps to discover threading (finally), it’s become my preferred method of brow grooming and has helped me on my quest to achieving the Zendaya-esque brows that I’ve always coveted. Luckily, thin brows are outdated, and my flourishing brows fall right in line with the beauty industry’s current obsession with thick brows and my current obsessions with the NYX Brow Glue Stick (more on that later).

With the rise of brow cosmetic enhancements like micro-blading and brow lamination, I couldn’t be happier that I finally have the brows I’ve always desired. The maintenance of these in-office, brow enhancing procedures doesn’t quite fit my budget, so I’m doing everything in my power to keep my brows flourishing from the comfort of my home. Lately, my brows have been thriving so much so that they’ve gotten to the point of being somewhat unruly, which has left me requiring some brow tamers. As this is a relatively new “issue” for me, I went ahead and googled hacks that may be able to help.

I’ve tried everything from hairspray to Elmers Glue Sticks to help my brows stay in place. Unfortunately, these unconventional methods usually make lead my brows to either break free of the hold almost instantly or develop white residue by the end of the day. Recently, though, NYX’s latest brow product swooped in to save my brows, as I’ll detail right here in this review.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Courtesy of NYX Professional Makeup.

NYX Professional Makeup The Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler

It’s a new holy grail (!!!).

At the moment, I’m between rounds of chemical peels, which means I can’t get my brows threaded and have been in desperate need of a product to maintain my brows between threadings. NYX The Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler is a non-sticky, stronghold (up to 16-hours) brow tamer that helps you achieve the feathery, laminated brow look in a fraction of the time and for a fraction of the cost. The brow tamer is equipped with a precision spoolie to help you apply the product and mold your brow hairs into place. In addition to being affordable (just $8 at your local drug store), it makes a huge noticeable difference in the look of your brows.

Courtesy of Mika Robinson.

My Brows without any product

My brow hairs grow rather long pretty quickly, so I have to brush them regularly to make them look put together and well-groomed. TBH, I actually think this helps with them staying healthy and full too, but I can’t prove it. My biggest pain point with my brows at the moment is that they don’t grow as thick on the tips as I’d like—I focus on this area when applying any product to fill in my brows.

Courtesy of Mika Robinson.

My Brows with the NYX The Brow Glue

As my photos show, NYX The Brow Glue goes on completely clear. Unlike some other products that I’ve used in the past, this brow tamer doesn’t ball up or leave a white cast residue on my long, pretty noticeable brow hairs. I apply 2- 3 layers using the precise spoolie, letting the brow glue get tacky between layers. This makes it easier to mold my brow hair as I like. As you can see, I brush mine upward for a feathery look similar to what’s results achieved when laminating brows.

Courtesy of Mika Robinson.

My final “everyday” brow look using NYX The Brow Glue and filling in my brows.

After molding my brows, I do hair-like strokes with the  Mented High Brow Pencil in the places where the hair is spare to fill in my brows. I finish with a concealer that is close to my complexion around my brows for definition. I don’t have a go-to concealer for my brows, but the one I reach for often is NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer in the shade “Amande.”

Minimalistic makeup has been my go-to these days. I see more people on video calls than I do in real life. Outside of the house, I’m wearing masks. On the daily, I’m reaching for products that help me spruce up a bit with minimal effort—NYX The Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler is that and so much more. I use it when I’m just around the house lounging but want to feel a bit more put together. On the flip side, it’s the perfect precursor for flawless brows when I’m doing my makeup for a socially distanced outing. It’s the best of both worlds—you’ll get good use out of it whether you’re a makeup minimalist or going for the full glam.

This is the best $8 that I’ve spent in a while, and I mean that wholeheartedly. I learned the hard way that brows (be it good or bad) can totally change your look in an instant. The NYX The Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler made elevating my brow game as easy as applying the tamer to fake a laminated brow look.

When you have dry skin—even if it’s only slightly dry—finding a setting powder that doesn’t make your skin look like a textured mess is next to impossible. In my experience, setting powders often mattify a bit too much for dry skin. Tatcha’s The Silk Powder is different. While it’s great for all skin types, those with normal-to-dry and aging skin will love the way it sets makeup without making skin look even drier. And it does a lot more than that.

Whether it’s my dry skin or the fact that I’m seeing more fine lines at 36 years old, setting powder has always been a bit of a struggle. But I still like to set my concealer under my eyes so it doesn’t crease and even add a little to the bottom half of my face to keep my makeup off masks. I want my skin to look smooth and radiant, too. Tatcha’s new setting powder is exactly what I was looking for.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Tatcha.

Taking one look at the ingredients, it’s not surprising my skin actually looks better after using it. Yes, better. Most importantly are the two proteins that comprise silk—sericin and fibroin— that are rich in amino acids. They help provide a protective veil of hydration without making skin look greasy. Amino acids and antioxidants actually help nourish dry skin so it’s like skincare and makeup in one.

Continuing the skincare benefits are anti-pollution and blue light-deflecting ingredients, which help protect the skin from environmental damage from your iPhone, laptop, TV, etc. This high-energy light has been known to cause premature wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. Finally, Japanese pearl powder helps make skin look glowy and multi-dimensional.

Now you know what’s in The Silk Powder but here’s what isn’t. It’s talc-free (if that’s something important to you!) and made without mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, sulfate detergents, parabens and phthalates. It’s also non-comedogenic so those with acne-prone skin don’t have to worry about it clogging pores.

Then, there’s the beautiful packaging. Tap a little powder into the lid and apply it with a fluffy brush like Tatcha’s The Powder Brush (it works better than a beauty sponge.) Start light and continue to build to your preference. According to the brand, the packaging was inspired by traditional Japanese natsume, the small, lacquered containers used to hold tea. It looks beautiful just sitting on your counter. Plus, the mono material polypropylene material it’s made out of is easily recyclable. Talk about a win-win.

Grab The Silk Powder on Tatcha’s website now.

Our American bulldog, Mango died of cancer this week. In my moments of grief, I am writing this blog to honor her memory. Mango came into my life nine years ago when I was retired after my son had adopted her as a puppy and realized he could not keep her in his apartment.

She was very cute in a bulldog sort of way. She had a big sad face and brindle coloring, white with big, brown and black patterned shapes on her body. She loved to loll around and slept in the funniest positions, legs splayed out in a glorious way.

Mango was best buddies with Pepe, our active black and white spotted pointer, her exact opposite, he is high energy and exuberant. We drove to Alaska with them for a month-long camping trip a few summers ago.

They loved riding in the truck, hanging their heads out the window to watch the forested mountains sail by and every so often bark at a bear or moose. Mango will be missed by Pepe, by my husband, Rito, and me, and her many fans.

Dogs Enrich the Lives of a Senior

Dogs are cheerful spirits, greeting you when you rise in the morning, welcoming you, tails wagging, when you return home. Over half the adults surveyed in a National Poll on Healthy Aging revealed that they owned a pet with over 85% reporting that their pets helped them feel loved and 78% reporting that having a pet reduced their stress.

During the pandemic, a constant loving companion eases the loneliness of many who live alone and fills the lives of empty nesters, like Rito and me.

Dogs Can Keep Us Active and Healthy

Having a dog can get you off the couch, even if you’re not in the mood. If I simply touched their collars and leashes, Pepe came running, followed by Mango. I am lucky to live at the foot of a beautiful regional park with many trails.

Even as Mango was getting weaker, we would take her out for short walks. The Gerontologist reported on a study that found seniors who regularly walked dogs had a lower BMI and fewer visits to the doctor. Researchers have found that even with visits by a therapy dog, seniors reported a reduction in pain.

Dogs Are Smart

Have you heard about Bunny, the talking dog? She is part of a research study on comparative cognition from the University of California in San Diego. Bunny has been taught to press buttons to communicate “outside” or “walk,” combining words to communicate specific ideas.

For example, she asks for a walk now. When asked if she could wait, she says “no.” Even without augmented devices, dogs communicate their intentions.

Mango was good at getting her point across. She’d head to the specific spot in the kitchen below the counter where a treat is kept to indicate exactly which one she wanted.

When she wanted her back scratched, she’d come up to me at the computer and paw me – then turn her little body around to indicate where. If I stopped too soon, she’d paw me again. On a walk, she would stop and refuse to move, indicating that she was ready to go back.

Other times, when we walked near the street where their friend Mattie, a cattle dog, lived, she would force us to turn the corner, pulling us toward Mattie’s house. When my friend, Martha was bringing Mattie to visit us, I would ask “Is Mattie here yet?” and our two dogs would run to the window to check.

Dogs Wear Their Hearts on Their Sleeves

Mango was a flirt. Before the pandemic, she nuzzled up to all guests and won their hearts – adults and children alike. She made each one feel special when she wanted to sit with them, looking up with her big brown eyes and droopy face.

In one study, seniors reported that having a pet connected them with other people. In our case, walking Mango and Pepe has caused us to meet many people in our neighborhood.

Mango was jealous. If I gave Pepe a treat, she’d look up longingly as if to say, “And mine?” And she could be a bit devious, running on her stubby legs to get up on the couch to sit beside me before Pepe could get there.

Sometimes I found myself sandwiched, literally squished between the two of them, vying for love. Jealous or not, Mango and Pepe loved each other. Many mornings they had love fests, licking each other’s faces. This morning, I could see him sad, grieving, lethargic and clingy.

Dogs Bring Out Our Compassion

We care for them, they care for us. When I was receiving chemotherapy, Mango and Pepe would come over to snuggle during the days following treatment when I was not feeling well. And when Mango had her sudden decline with aggressive tumors that had metastasized, I was with her.

Rito and I would take turns getting up in the night to take her outside when she needed it. For us, it was a labor of love.

Dogs bring out our sense of compassion, our joy in life and our sadness that their lives are shorter than ours. I have noticed that men, as they are aging, in particular grow very attached to dogs, expressing love and caretaking in ways they had not done when they were younger.

I particularly saw this in my brother-in-law, my neighbor and my husband who all recently lost a beloved pet. Tears flowed in ways I had not seen before.

Getting the Right Match

If you have not had a dog before, it is never too late to get one. Be careful to get the right match. Some dogs are more energetic that we are. Others are yappers. Still others are not friendly to guests. Check out the breeds to be sure the dog is right for you and that you can afford their care and upkeep.

For seniors who find pet ownership is too demanding or costly, there are free pet therapy services that will bring a friendly, trained pooch to your house (Therapydogs.com, Therapy Dogs International). You will not be disappointed! While we miss Mango terribly, we also recall the years of joy and love we shared together.

Have you recently lost a pet? How long has it been? Does the loss get easier with time? What do you remember most clearly about your dog? Do you think no two dogs are alike? Please share with the community!

Marlo Hampton’s Black Pointed Shoulder Confessional Look

Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 13 Confessional Fashion

Swear on my kids lives that when I first saw this black pointed shoulder dress a few months ago, I messaged BBH’s Faryn and said “Which Housewife do you think we will see wear this?” And I tell ya what, Marlo Hampton would have been on my short list. So I almost died when I saw her pop up wearing it on tonight’s Real Housewives of Atlanta!

While this piece isn’t practical for a lot of us, I love me a shoulder pad. So though we love to see drama from our Bravolebs, I linked to some similar dress that are a bit less dramatic for the rest of us to scoop up.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to Shop her Balenciaga Pagoda Dress

Originally posted at: Marlo Hampton’s Black Pointed Shoulder Confessional Look