While many of you love wearing makeup and search your couch cushions and the bottom of all your purses for loose money so you can buy new products, there are a lot of you out there who actually hate wearing makeup. Trust me when I say that I get it; I used to be one of those girls!

Makeup can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you don’t know what products to use or how to use them. Plus, sometimes you just don’t want to stand in front of a mirror and put on your face, dammit. But the honest truth: you don’t have to! Having a polished face doesn’t have to mean 35 products and 30 minutes putting them on.

Contrary to popular belief, I don’t step out of my house looking like I’m headed to a photo shoot every day. I often wear just four products or some variation of them (plus Aquaphor!). These products are a simple way to enhance your features and are perfect for people who want to give makeup a chance or who are just starting out. And while I do recommend investing in higher end versions of these products for quality reasons, you certainly don’t have to! There are plenty of budget-friendly alternatives to all products; just make sure you are aware of what you’re getting.

Got something you want me to cover? Post it in the comments below. And don’t forget to follow us on YouTube and check out my other videos right here! And for more beauty related tips, check out my websiteand follow me on Twitter!

[Disclaimer: This product was provided to me for review purposes.]

What It Is:
BECCA Bombora Palette

Why This Should Be in Your Bag:
I don’t know about you, but in the dead of winter, I always appreciate a pick-me-up. Whether it’s a cup of hot chocolate, a warm bath or even a colorful makeup look, something bright and warm is a sure-fire way to light up your day. And that’s where the BECCA Bombora Palette comes in.

This palette features 5 products that together create an entire makeup look. Two punchy eyeliners (in Raffia and Sunburst), a highlighting creme (Mazu), lip and cheek creme (Bougainvillea) and lipgloss (Mai Tai), all in bright, summery shades, are sure to brighten your darkest winter day.

How To Use It:
For a total look using the palette, start by applying the eyeliners in whatever combination you like! I like to use them wet, with the turquoise on top and the golden green on the lower lashline. Next, smudge the lip and cheek creme on the apples of your cheeks and your lips. Add some highlighting creme along your cheekbones and under your brow for definition and top off your lips with the sheer, sparkly gloss! All done!

L to R: Lipgloss, Lip and Cheek Creme, Highlighting Creme, Two Eyeliners

Bougainvillea & Mai Tai on my lips

CC Rating: B+
Overall, I like the colors included in this palette and the quality, as always with BECCA, is top-notch. The shades go well together and almost create a total look.

This palette would be PERFECT for travel, as it’s super slim and easy to pack into a carry-on bag. I think the colors would go well on most skin-tones, although the eyeliners are fairly sheer when used dry and may be near invisible on darker beauties.

Also, the $65 price tag is a bit steep. BECCA definitely isn’t a budget-friendly brand, but the quality is on par with similarly priced items from brands like Chanel and Guerlain. This is one of those items that is nice to get as a gift, but not totally practical for a college student barely making rent.

This palette has sparked my curiosity about the rest of these BECCA palettes with 5 products. Rarely does a company aim to create a small palette with everything you need for a look! I’m excited about what I see from BECCA and if you have the money to spare, you should try out the Bombora Palette.

[Need some new makeup but not sure what to buy? Check out Alex's other beauty reviews here.]

Follow the steps in the video and you’ll have a hot look in no time! All you need is a little eyeliner and you’re good to go.

So how can you know which product – among the sea of thousands – is the best? Which does what you need it to do? Which ones are worth the extra money? Let me help. I don’t know every beauty product out there, but I’ve tested a lot of them and I’ll let you know which are worth the money and which are not.

(Disclaimer: This product provided to me for review purposes.)

What it is: Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams in #1, #6, #15 & #21

Why this should be in your bag: Waterproof makeup is a summer essential! Hot temperatures + humidity = makeup running down your face and disappearing in a matter of minutes! However, if you’re like me, I still like to sport a little bit of makeup in the summer and this is where Aqua Creams come in. They’re invincible and require quite a bit of scrubbing to remove at the end of a long day. They’re also seriously crease-resistant and require no base or primer. You can even take a dip in the pool or partake in that neighborhood water-fight with these suckers on!

(Left to right: #1, #15, #21 & #6)

How to use it: MUFE (Make Up For Ever) designed these Aqua Creams originally for the French Federation of Synchronized Swimming, as a way to create a whole-face look that is totally waterproof. Each shade is designated as either an eye or lip shade, but the formula in them is identical, so feel free to change it up! I was immediately drawn to #15 as an all-over eyelid color, or a base for other shadows. #1 & #21 were liners for me and #6 was a lip-color. However, I’ve seen girls rock #6 on their lids and it looks grand! I like to use my finger for broader eye and lip application. Despite warnings of contamination, I prefer to use my fingers and always make sure they are squeaky clean before dipping in. For #21, I used a slanted eyeliner brush and it worked wonderfully. However, I apply liquid liner in this fashion every day, so it make take some practice for newbies!

(Left to right: #6 on my lips, #15 on lids, #21 as liner)

Spend the cash or simply pass? I’ve heard lots of complaints about the prices of these ($22 a pop!), but I honestly think they are going to last me FOREVER and are so great for long-wear. Even if I wore #15 every day, I think it would last me at least 6 months. I think everyone should have a great go-to shadow color, and if you can find one that is completely waterproof and crease-resistant, then $22 is a steal! If you’re enticed, I would recommend checking them out at your local Sephora and picking up one that you can wear all by its lonesome on your lids and maybe another as a fun liner (#21 all the way!). I wasn’t crazy about the lip/cheek colors, as I like things a bit more matte on my cheeks and bit more shiny on my lips. However, I love these! I truly can’t wait to pick-up more and I’ve already got #17 (plum) waiting in my Sephora.com cart!

Is it just me or is there another “revolutionary” new makeup product introduced every freaking day?! Just walking into Ulta or Sephora (or even Walgreens!) sends many chicas into fits of hysteria, reaching for the nearest brown bag to regulate their breathing. It’s all so overwhelming.

So how can you know which product – among the sea of thousands – is the best? Which does what you need it to do? Which ones are worth the extra money? Let me help. I don’t know every beauty product out there, but I’ve tested a lot of them and I’ll let you know which are worth the money and which are not.

(Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me for review purposes. Because I can never have too much makeup!)

What it is: Sephora Collection Colorful Mono Eyeshadow

Why this should be in your bag: This is THE BEST wet/dry shadow I’ve ever tried! A versatile product like this is a necessity, especially for travel. You can bring a few of these and do completely different eye looks, mixing and matching which ones you use as liners, all-over washes and highlights. All you need is a little water to totally transform the product.

How to use it: Just like Sephora says – “apply your color dry for a natural vibe or dampen your brush and apply wet for an all-out sophisticated stare.” Personally, I use shade 06 Must Have for my daily liner. It’s a matte black (see swatches). First, get your eyeliner brush wet and rub it in the shadow, moistening it and getting some on your brush. Using a steady hand, apply to your upper lash line. If you’re feeling sassy, finish with a cat-eye by flicking your wrist up at the edge of your eyelid! (Learn how to do the perfect cat-eye right here.)

Tip: Dip a q-tip in makeup remover and use it to make the line perfectly straight. Trust me – it takes LOTS of practice to get good at wet shadow liner, but there is really nothing like it!

Left: Color Swatches! Left – Dry; Middle – Wet, 3 coats; Right – Wet, 1 coat.
Right: A sexy cat eye!

Spend the cash or simply pass? Spend, spend, spend. Sephora Collection is known for being high quality and cheaper than many other brands the store sells. I own a few of the darker shades (31 Red Wine, 41 Preppy Look) and they are perfect as liners or crease shadows for a more dramatic look. Good staying power, great pigmentation and again, versatility!

Do you own anyone Sephora shadows? What are your favorite shades?

Who or what inspires your style? Many of us use T.V characters (like Joan Holloway) or celebrities (like Courtney Love) as style inspiration, even though, most of the time, they are being dressed from head to toe by the best stylists. Which we don’t have. And sometimes it’s damn near impossible to work their Hollywood looks into our not-so-Hollywood lives. I’ve made it my mission to tap into the mind of a fashion stylist and show you how to take your style inspiration – whatever it may be – and make it more you!

The Royal Tenenbaums is one of Wes Anderson’s many dysfunctional-family masterpieces he is infamous for. Besides portraying one of the strangest and most awkward families known to humanity, the main characters in The Royal Tenenbaums each have an extremely specific style, much like cartoons, that they hardly ever drift from.

Exhibit A:  Margot Tenenbaum.

The adopted daughter of Royal Tenenbaum is a prodigy playwright at the tender age of 14… which happens to be two years AFTER she starts smoking cigarettes. She’s one messed up lady, but still, somehow, inspiring to me in more ways than one.

It wasn’t until meeting Margot that I wanted wear a slip-dress and sit on the edge of a tub, smoke a cigarette and paint my nails (but that can wait because I’m definitely not about to attempt in a dorm shower).  It wasn’t until Margot that I wanted to wear a striped shirt-dress with a fur-coat and Hermes bag.  It seems like a weird combo, yes, but Margot Tenenbaum’s style is the perfect combination of casual and luxury, innocence and glamour.  She combines pieces that no average person would ever put together to create her signature style and doesn’t give a sh*t what other people think.

And while I don’t want Margot’s family or lifestyle, I definitely love her look.

Product Info- Faux-fur jacket – Karmaloop, $156; Eyeliner – Rimmel, $3.49; Satchel – Karmaloop, $35.00; Shoes – Aldo, $54.98; Dress - Forever 21, $11.50

What I love most about Margot’s look is that it’s unique and totally stands out. What I hate about it is that it’s impossible to mimic without resembling a Halloween costume. So I went ahead and took a more real-world spin to make her style my own. I replaced the Polo dress with  a cute (…and short… and tight) striped dress and paired it with a leopard (faux) fur coat. It’s sexy, fun and unexpected. I mean, really, how many girls would wear a leopard jacket? But why not? It’s probably the most fun and chic way to stay warm. Plus, it sets you apart from everyone else in their black-top-dark-jeans-black-heels uniforms.

Adding a hot pair of pumps (instead of Margot’s loafers – who do you think I am? Definitely not someone who would recommend loafers.) will elongate those legs and go splendidly with the dress when you ditch the coat. Now add Margot’s signature structured bag (the juxtaposition of the fun leopard and the refined bag makes the look even more interesting), smudge on a little eyeliner and, if you really wanna channel Margot, start making out with every guy you meet (but I’m sure that’s what most of our college weekends consist of under certain drunken circumstances anyways).

If there’s one question I get asked (as the resident beauty expert in my group of friends) it’s, “What colors can I wear during the day?” I’ve heard this question A LOT and my answer is always the same:

Wear any color you want!

If you feel like wearing green, do it! Blue, do it (carefully – you don’t want to channel the 80s here)! Honestly, whatever color you want to use during the day, you can. As long as you do it right. And with my help, doing it right and looking good will be easy.

In this video, I’ve outlined some ways to incorporate color into your daytime makeup without looking like you’re going out (or coming home…..). I definitely encourage the use of fun colors to spice up your look, so don’t be afraid to try it!

[Got some beauty questions? Want to try something new but don't know how to do it? Need help taming that mane? Let me know in the comments section and I can help you out in a future video!]

Usually I hate when things happen ahead of season, like when Halloween stuff starts popping up in August, or when Christmas decorations are everywhere in September.  In general it is just plain wrong.  I don’t need a blow up outdoor Santa snow globe before Halloween has even passed.  Actually, I don’t need one of those at all.  Ever.

However, there’s one thing that I don’t mind arriving a wee bit early, and that’s next season’s makeup trends (or any fashion for that matter); it’s never too early to look into/play around with the new fall colors.

Now’s the time to get your makeup bag ready for fall and I’m here to help. You should be glad I’m not actually there with you, because I’d be trying on every lip gloss you got and curling my eyelashes instead of really helping. But I digress. I’ll tell you what to keep, what to toss, and what to buy for Back To School season.

You don’t have to do it right now (obviously), but just keep your eye out for the colors of fall and prepare yourself to part with the makeup of the summer.

First of all, it’s a good idea to clean out your makeup bag every season.  Check things for expiration dates and think back to the last time you used a product.  Check out these tips to find out how long you should keep mascaras, shadows, and lip glosses.

Once you’ve cleared out the cakey makeup you bought for the 7th grade play or the chunky glitter you used for a middle school dance, you can take a look at more recent cosmetics.  This summer was big on blue hues and light tones, but these are inappropriate for the fall.  Put those puppies somewhere safe (and cool – you don’t want them growing any bacteria), and take your nude tones while you’re at it. The fall is all about dark colors.

Don’t have any dark tones? It’s time to get some in hues like purple, berry tones, and black. To start incorporating these colors into your collection, check out some of these products:

Purple: Pick a deep plum color and use as a liner for a subtle effect, or sweep over your whole lid for a more dramatic effect.  If you choose a powder shade, like this one from Bare Escentuals in Legit, you can use it now for light color layers and then pile it on wet in the fall for a darker, more dramatic look.

Berry: Gone are the nude lips of summer, and deep berry colors are in.  This is a pretty big switch from the natural look of the summer so don’t test this out too early.  When the summer fades away, keep the rest of your look light and try out a bright berry like this one from NARS in Russian Doll.

Black: Thick black eyes are going to be in style for an intense night look.  Try this cream eyeliner pot from Smashbox and use it as a thick eyeliner by sweeping it over your upper and lower lash line.  Fall is going to be especially dramatic with bold black being used on lids – not just lash lines – so don’t be afraid to use black as a shadow.

If only everything else were so simple.

Powder Liner – Best for: daytime use/work.  Use a soft eyeliner brush like this one from Bare Escentuals and swipe a powder liner as close to the upper and lower lash lines as you can get.   Only apply one coat so that the liner is soft. The good thing about applying a daytime powder is that you can use regular powder eye shadows, mineral makeup, or specific eyeliner colors.  Try this liner powder in Coffee Bean.

Liquid Liner – Best for: nights out.  Apply a more dramatic color to your lids and add extra color to the outer corners.  Try Urban Decay’s  liquid liner in Crash, a cool metallic purple.  Then use a smudge-stick like this one from Smashbox, to blend the corners while they are still wet.  This will make the line less harsh and more smokey.  Another option is to liquefy your favorite loose powder shadow with this liner sealer and a fine tipped brush.

Glitter Liner – Best for: special occasions like New Years or your birthday.  Keep the rest of your makeup simple when you apply a dramatic glitter liner like this one from Victoria’s Secret in gold or silver lining.  You can put this glitter liner over a simple black for a more dramatic look or apply alone for subtle sparkle.

Cream Liner Stick – Best for makeup that you want to last from day to night. Sometimes cream shadow can crease, but it’s not an issue with liner. These sticks from Make Up For Ever are waterproof and long lasting.  This kit comes with five different colors and, because they are blendable when just applied, they can be subtle or vibrant.  Once set the color will stay throughout your day.