how can i tell my mom?

Question

my mom wears way too much makeup. her foundation is wayyy too dark. its like 3 shades darker than her skin. and her neck is really pale, while her face looks like she lives on the beach

and on top of that, her blush is too heavy.

i tried to tell her before... i was like, mom... why do you wear makeup?... you dont need it. it makes your face look really dark.
and she was like, i dont know.. i have alot of scars on my face... i look horrible without it


... but she looks horible with it!... how can i help her, without hurting her feelings?... i was thinking about buying her bareminerals or something, plus her birthday is coming up in march, so i can get her the whole set?.. i saw that it works really good on some women.....

help me pleaseeeee

Answer 1

why dont you wear a ton like her one night around the house. so she'll be like "omg u wear tons of makeup!!! take it off!!!" and u should be like "welcome to my world." and point towards a mirror. reverse psycholigy my friend...

Answer 2

I would be honest. If she is beautiful underneath, she deserves to know. If she looks bad the way her makeup looks now, she deserves to know that too.

Here is a plan, if you can get her to go along with it. Be NICE.

Let her do her own make up and get a picture that is as flattering as it can be. Good lighting, nice hair style, a pic she is happy with.

Then use HER products as much as possible to do her makeup for her, the way you think is better. If she needs a different foundation or whatever, pick up something that is better suited in advance. Spend YOUR money.

When you are happy with the way she looks, take a picture that, again, is as flattering as it can be.

Then go out to the mall with a cam buddy and the two pictures and film yourself asking strangers which photo looks better and why.

I have to say at this point that if you are in a small place, go out of town where you won't be asking her friends, etc or embarrassing her. That kind of thing in a tiny town can get all over fast. This isn't an exercise in humiliating your mother.

Then show the footage to your mother and tell her that it isn't just your opinion.

If she decides to change her look, support her and compliment her often! Also make sure she knows that you will always love her no matter what, and compliment her often about the things that make her beautiful inside. Maybe if she gets a little confidence about herself, she won't need to hide behind the makeup.

Answer 3

For her birthday, take her to a really nice department store like Nordstroms and let them give her a make-over at the counter. Tell her your gift to her is any make-up (or some of it...) that she wants after the makeover. Go to a good counter---like Laura Mercier or Bobbi Brown. They have wonderfully natural foundations and all sort of wonderful concealers. Once she sees how flawless and natural her face can look with the RIGHT makeup applyed PROPERLY, she'll never go back to her old stuff!

Also, she probably does "need" make up, so by you telling her she doesn't---that's not going to get through to her. She needs to understand that she needs a GOOD quality foundation that matches her skin tone--and THAT will cover up the inperfections on her skin. She is probably thinking that the "darker" the makeup is, the better the coverage is---and that is just flawed logic. Explain to her that the idea is to create a flawless looking face but without "seeing" the makeup.

Answer 4

I say go for Bareminerals. It works wonders! My mom uses it all the time, she looks like a model wearing it. It is so easy to put on, so lightweight and just comfortable. It makes your skin look flawless.

Take her to the mall and have the bareminerals cosmetic girls give her a makeover and let her see how wonderful she looks before and after the makeover. Or you can get her to go to Sephora and see if they have some makeup that she would like, because she may not actually like the really light makeup. I absoloutley HATE wearing makeup because I like myself to look natural and when I went there I was amazed! I looked so amazing. Not to mention I still use their products...


Oh by the by, try STILLA for you if you are interested. You sound somewhat young and you may acutally go through your "pimple stage" and then use their moisterizer. It works.

Answer 5

You should try and get your mother to go to a "girls day out". Make it part of her birthday plans. Do the girl thing - manicure, pedicure, and schedule for her to have a "make-up makeover". Not sure if you are in an area that sells MAC makeup, but if you are, (usually at Macys or at MAC stores) their makeup is very light and once she sees how she looks with a more natural look, (might even want to get hera fresh hair style) hopefully this will encourage her to "lighten up" on the make up. Some women don't understand that "less is better" when it comes to makeup, and moms sometime get caught up in being a "creature of habit". I hope it works out for you - I truly understand your pain.

Answer 6

Oh gosh, how bad you must feel!

Maybe you could take her to the mall. Go to the department store makeup counter and just start talking to the woman (usually an esthetician) about proper make up for yourself. When she's finished with you, ask her what her mom needs for an extra "oomph" to look sexy and young.

Maybe this will help - kinda like someone else telling her there's a problem without you having to do it. She will less likely have hurt feelings if someone else who is a professional tell her instead of you.

I hope this helps!

Answer 7

just flat out tell her.
shell apperciate more if you tell her then beign around the bush.
tell her to just use concealer and loose or pressed powder over the scars.
tell her to use self tanner. it tans you great and tans make acne seem less worse so i suposse itll do the same 2 scars.
but dont let her put too much on. orange isnt hot!
try getting her these for her bday:
a black or brown mascara
a pink pale gloss or subtle red lipstick
a light bronzer[cream]
concealer
loose powder
tinted moustizer
brown or black eyeliner
a beige colored eyeshadow[cream]
if your mothers worrying about ageing tell her this because in a makeup book i read less is more for ageing skin. use creams instead of powdered stuff.[ex:powdered eyeshadow etc. is a no no!!] powders settle into fine lines making them more noticable.
so use moisterizer and cream eyeshadow and cream blush.
hope this helps!!

Answer 8

I wouldn't try buying her makeup, but the idea of making her an appointment for a makeover somewhere is a good one. Perhaps at a spa?

If your mom is worried about facial scars, there are special foundations especially designed for that, and maybe they would be helpful for her. For example: http://www.dermablend.com/TipsForUsingDerma.aspx

Answer 9

i would tell her point blank. my mom doesnt actually wear makeup. but she says the less the better. you dont want makeup to be a mask but a intensifier. makeup is meant to accentuate your high points not cover up your true self.

i have no idea about bare minerals but it seems to really work. id buy her a couple products before you buy the whole set just to make sure it works with her skin.

Answer 10

For her birthday I think the bare minerals makeup would be a great gift. Those commercials make that makeup look very light. I thought about buying it for myself. Great luck with it all.

Answer 11

Buying her bare minerals is a good idea maybe she will try it. Or maybe if you know her girlfriends tell them to say something to her. sometimes coming from a peer is better than your kids. Show her a pic of herself when she is wearing too much and maybe she will realize how bad she looks! Good luck and i hope these ideas help a bit!