Welcome to Fetch Fits! In this month’s issue, we actually won’t be talking about fashion. Instead, we’ll be talking about navigating the world of makeup, so you can have great makeup to match your great outfits. With so many products and influencers available, learning how to do your makeup can feel intimidating as a beginner. But fear not! Fetch Fits is here to help.

Here are a few products you might need to start doing your makeup:

Foundation or concealer that matches your skin tone. If you need help finding your shade, ask an employee at any makeup store and they’ll help you find it.

Face powder. This makes your skin appear less shiny or oily. Powder comes in translucent, which blends out clear and works on all skin tones, or different skin tone shades, if you want more coverage.

Setting spray to make your makeup last longer. It comes in different “finishes” or different levels of shine, and ranges from matte (not shiny) to dewy (shiny)

Eyeshadow and eyeliner. Eyeshadow comes in plenty of colors and ranges from matte to metallic to glittery. Eyeliner comes in pencil or liquid form- try either and see what works for you.

Mascara: Emphasizes your eyelashes. Comes in black or shades of brown- the lighter your hair color, the lighter your shade of mascara.

Brow pencil or gel: Fills in sparse areas in your brows. Match to your natural eyebrow color or your hair color. If your brows are naturally thick, you can try out a clear brow gel to make sure they stay neat and in place.

Blush and Lipstick: Adds color to your lips and cheeks. Ranges from peach to pink to berry. Blush can be a cream or powder formula, and lip products can be matte crayon-like pencils, moisturizing tinted lip balms, or high-shine glosses.

Brushes and sponges: Necessary for applying makeup. Spray your sponge with setting spray before you apply your makeup for a more natural finish.

Moisturizer and SPF are essential steps before applying any foundation or concealer, so be sure to add them to your first-time makeup shopping list. Eye or skin primer can also be useful if you need your makeup to stay on for a really long time. Removing your makeup properly is also critical to keep your skin healthy. Don’t sleep in your makeup or keep it on for days- no matter how well you did your eyeliner. Makeup wipes may be tempting, but some micellar water on a cotton pad works even better. Some makeup removers are specialized for eye makeup, so if you pack on waterproof mascara or dark eyeshadow, they might be a good investment.

Now that you know what products you need to get- where do you get them? Luxury makeup goes viral all the time, but you don’t need to spend a fortune or even go to a makeup store to get some good stuff. NYX, e.l.f, Essence, and Maybelline are all great brands that you can pick up at your local drugstore or Target. Of course, there’s online shopping for makeup as well, but it’s always better to check out the product in person before you place an order.

When shopping, it’s okay to not buy one of every product. If you don’t feel the need to buy brow products or skip the highlighter in favor of a more matte look, that’s completely okay. And even though it’s fun to try out different colors, not every product will work on everyone, and that’s alright too. There’s more than one “right way” to do makeup, but here are a few general rules: if you’re doing any look with black eyeshadow, be sure to blend it out with a brown shadow around the edges; if you’re going to wear eyeliner, put on mascara, too; and “Match your lip color to the tones of your outfit- you’ll look more put together,” says Evelyn Tippett, a Sophomore Creative Writer and self-proclaimed Sephora addict.

Fetch Fits wishes you best of luck with your makeup adventures and a great Thanksgiving Break!