I have a love/hate relationship with mascara -- I love to wear it, but hate that it smudges, flakes, doesn't do what it promises and stings my sensitive eyes. Over the last few years I've been a commitment-phobe with mascara, just when I think I'm on the brink of reaching salvation, something manages to disappoint me. My lashes are nothing special; fair in colour, regular in length and have an okay curl to them. Most days I don't take issue with skipping mascara, but it's nice having the option.

During a recent trip to my local Mecca, I randomly happened upon Kevyn Aucoin's The Mascara Volume.

Kevyn Aucoin's forumla is categorized as a tubing mascara. Instead of simply painting mascara on, the petite brush encapsulates each lash with fibre -- think of it like a sword being placed in its sheath. Once dry, The Mascara Volume stays in place, refuses to flake, smudge or smear.

Another bonus feature of the brush is its ability to really get in there. With a gentle wriggle of the wand, the lashes separate while getting hugged by black mascara.

Removal is easy. I place a cotton round soaked with Bioderma's Solution Micellaire (warm water works well too) over my eye and hold it in place for 10 seconds or so and gently wipe downwards in order to pull the mascara off. It comes off in threads -- it's a bit freaky and reminds me of spider legs.

The only downside to this particular mascara is that it molts off while I exercise. The sweat trickles down my face and takes the mascara with it. Sometimes I have to do a quick check in the mirror to make sure I don't have raccoon eyes.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Kevyn Aucoin's The Mascara Volume:

$40.00 AUS / $25.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

8 out of 10 bags — despite it melting off at the gym, I love the natural lash effect I get whenever I wear it.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

More than anything, I'd love to buy one of his books.

Mascara is a very personal choice and at the end of the day we all long for:

Long and hypnotising
Curled and voluminous
Or, a combination of all of the above

My lashes are short (at least I think so), have a bit of a natural curl to them and are also fairly thick. Intermingled amongst my modest lashes are fair and wispy strands; instead of separating the wheat from the chaff, I like to paint my lashes with mascara as a way to make them look fuller and longer. I've never really settled on one brand of mascara, it's probably the only thing I have yet to lockdown as tried, tested and here to stay.

YSL's Volume Effets Faux Cils came highly recommended to me by one of my co-workers -- if it can accentuate her insanely beautiful lashes, then it wouldn't hurt if I gave it a spin, right?

The applicator is the key to glomming onto and dispensing mascara; YSL's Volume Effet applicator has insane spidey senses. Each bristle has a way of detecting and coating each lash as I gently wriggle the wand about. With every positive point, a negative will surely follow suit -- I hate how much product gets stuck between the bristles; it's similar to a honey trap gone wrong. Before each application I have to wipe off loads of excess product, it's annoying and Tammy Faye, I am not.

While YSL's formula sticks around on my lashes for the better part of an eight hour work day, panda bear eyes are imminent. Before lunch time I'm having to conduct a post-fallout clean up session, which is never fun because I often wonder how long I've been walking around in that particular state. I wear concealer to cover my under eye circles; I don't want to have to worry about my mascara creeping into an already volatile territory too!

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for YSL's Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara: