Foundation isn’t a good idea unless you’re rebuying a favourite, since finish matters a lot and you need to be sure they have their match which can be hard to get.

Mascara is a maybe, but mini sets which let you redeem for a full mascara is better than just gambling on one formula.

Lip gloss is one of the safest things to gift. Then eyeshadow. Highlighter or blush after that, but that’s not as easy to do without knowing undertones and being familiar with their existing collection closely.

Hannah Louise Poston has two videos on this subject. She really likes the shade “Gone Greige” by Maybelline and she was looking for a replacement because she thought it was discontinued. (It still might be, but she found one direct from the brand site.) The first is her attempt to dupe Gone Greige specifically and the second is testing out “weird” drugstore lip shades. These might help you. Also, in a recent video she tried on some Unearthly Cosmetics shades which are of the same ilk.

I think overall that perception is shifting, slowly. The reality is that skincare is hygiene. Men aren’t judged as much for having bad skin, and the joke is that men have better skin with no effort because it’s a little thicker, so many don’t think it matters. I’m sorry you’re feeling criticized for it. Taking care of your skin is normal.

I’m almost 33 and I literally never wore makeup to school, at any level. I enjoy makeup and liked to wear it for special occasions, but it’s not an expectation that you should start. In fact, not starting prevents the “you look tired. Are you okay?” type comments that people always complain about because people are used to what your face really looks like. It’s best if people know what real skin looks like.

Your mom needs to learn to lay off and let you be your own person. You’re not weird; you’re just not her.