Unless you’ve been using the same shade of lipstick since your prom in the ’80s, chances are you’re no stranger to the process of makeup shopping. Alas, it’s no easy task, as colors aren’t always faithful in the fluorescent mall lighting, and it’s not always easy to tell what the long-term effects will be on your skin and your overall look.

To shop smarter, Allure.com recommends mimicking real-life wear and tear while sampling a product. Bending your wrist a few times can indicate whether an eyeshadow will crease, and gently smudging a liner on the back of your hand is usually good evidence of how it will last on your lids. Similarly, you can rub foundation on top of a moisturizer sample to see if it will flake on your face (something you definitely don’t want to shell out big bucks for).

Employing a few handy tricks is easy when you’re sampling makeup products in person, but if you’re more of an online shopper, you may be at a loss when it comes to ordering your favorite beauty products on the Web. Visiting a makeup counter to see which hues look best with your coloring will help inform your decisions when you don’t have a tangible point of reference.