CoverGirl Professional All-in-One Curved Brush Mascara

I cannot even pretend to be reasonable when it comes to this mascara. I love it so much. CoverGirl Professional All-in-One Curved Brush Mascara was the first beauty product I really fell in love with as a kid, not counting those horrible lip glosses that smelled like fermented candy. (And please, let's don't.)

It's cheap. It's durable. It darkens your lashes and gives them the illusion of length and volume. It doesn't flake off in the middle of the afternoon and settle into your wrinkles or give you the dreaded raccoon eye. It will even stand up to a good eye strain-induced eye rub.

If you have five bucks and can only buy one thing to make you look better, this is the product to get.

Sort of obviously from my rant in the previous section, yes. It does all the things mascara is supposed to do, and it does them for less money than most other brands.

Texture-wise, this is a slightly thicker-looking mascara, which is exactly what I love, but if you're someone who wants extra-spidery, sooty lashes, you might be happier with another brand or formulation. For me, the whole point of mascara is to look like I naturally grew false eyelashes overnight, but again, everyone has their own idea of a good time.

I have very sensitive eyes and skin and I've never had a problem with this product during the first four or five months of use. After that, sometimes I find that it dries out a bit and starts to irritate my eyes. But if you're a conservative type who throws out her mascara every three months, or made of sterner stuff than your humble narrator, you'll be all set.

One of my favorite things about this product is that it's super easy to use. I'm one of those terrifying folks who put on eye makeup while waiting at a stop light. (Note: Do not do this.) Because I'm always putting on makeup and doing six things at once, I often find that my application technique is more about mopping up mistakes than doing things right the first time. I've smeared this mascara on my cheekbone and eyelid and rubbed it off right away with very little residue. It then dries quickly and once it does, stays put even through a long afternoon at the computer.

That said, this particular formulation isn't waterproof, so pick something else if you're planning on spending the day at the pool.

There's a good amount of product in each tube -- too much for me. I always wind up pitching it out in the name of being sanitary before I use up the last little bit. Still, if you have to have a problem with your mascara, too much product is a nice problem to have.

Price: Under $5.

Is it worth it? Yes, absolutely. There is almost nothing I love more than a beauty product that works better than an expensive, department store alternative, and CoverGirl Professional All-in-One is that beauty product. I've tried hundreds (yipe) of mascaras over the years, some so expensive they should probably be banned from sale, and I always come back to CoverGirl Pro.

I should also mention that the All-in-One Mascara is available with a straight brush. Which product you buy is entirely a matter of personal preference. It's worth noting, though, that curved brushes do not curl your eyelashes. You need an eyelash curler for that. I do find it easier to apply mascara evenly to all my lashes with the curved brush, but you may find that the other shape suits your needs better.

CoverGirl Professional All-in-One Mascara is available in Very Black, Brown, Black Brown, and Black. I like Very Black, because subtlety is not my strong point.