Guest post:  Natasha Singh is a recent graduate of Ryerson University‘s journalism program. She spends her free time with her amazing family and friends, playing with the best dog ever (Charlie) and blogging about beauty. She has interned at Canadian Living in both the health and web departments and has her own style blog.   

High-end makeup is my guilty pleasure. Is it irrational to spend $30 on a lipstick? Maybe. Am I still going to do it? Probably. Having been obsessed with beauty for a long time, I have done my fair share of damage at high-end makeup retailers. But in the pursuit of my makeup happiness, I have also learned a lot. I thought I’d share some tips for getting the most out of your money at the beauty counter. Be patient It will be tempting to grab the lipstick or nail polish from the new collection that just came out but patience could be your friend. Often, if a collection doesn’t sell out, leftover items will go on clearance. Be sure to check if the items are limited edition though, because if they are you may have to bite the bullet and splurge. Similarly, if you’re looking to purchase some new makeup, wait for an upcoming holiday like Christmas or Mother’s Day. Usually brands will promote deals that could save you money on really great, inexpensive kits of mini-sized products including mascaras, blushes and bronzers and collections of their best sellers.

Lancome Hypnose Drama Spring Set, $34, thebay.com Go for palettes and large sets A lot of times these types of sets can be much more economical. You’ll get a lot of product and usually it’s far cheaper than if you bought all the products from that brand individually. Check out similar products from the brand and other brands to compare. It will help you figure out if the set or kit you’re considering is really a good deal. The best-selling Naked palette (mine is definitely well loved) from Urban Decay is a steal. When you do the math, you’re getting 12 eye shadows for about $5 a pop — that’s almost on par with some drugstore brands. Totally worth it. Urban Decay Naked palette, $60, sephora.ca Travel Sizes I don’t know about you, but I can’t remember the last time I actually finished a highlighter or blush. A little goes a long way with products like that, especially if they’re good quality, For example, I got a travel-size Benefit High Beam highlighter last year and since you only need a dab on each cheek for the intended effect, I still haven’t finished it. If you see travel sized blushes, bronzers, highlighters or anything else you use sparingly, definitely try them out! You’d be surprised how long they’ll last you. Plus it’s a great way to try new products without investing too much in them or having them expire before you're finished.

Benefit Goodtime Gals set, $18,  benefitcosmetics.com Impulse buys at the checkout Stuff near the cash register isn’t always a bad thing in the world of makeup! Companies will often put together kits of mini-sized versions of their best sellers for a really great price so that people will try the products and get familiar with the brand in general. The sizes are actually pretty decent, so you can use the product for a while and decide if you’d like to invest in the full size version.

Anastasia Go Brow Kit, $21, sephora.ca How do you save money on beauty products? Share your tip with Canadian Living on  Facebook and  Twitter!