Beauty report: the best mascaras are a real eye-opener

When I talk with women about products they consider essential, almost all of them will cite mascara as the one thing they’ll always wear. It makes sense. It opens up eyes, the dark pigment provides a contrast that makes them look brighter, and very little skill is involved in applying it. Mascara is an equal opportunities product. That said, it’s also divisive and very subjective. Some people want subtle definition, others want big, fluttery lashes that are black as priests’ socks. There are some qualities, though, that we all find completely intolerable in a mascara – flaking, wandering and wishy-washy pigment. If you’re going to invest in a product that only lasts a few months anyway, you don’t want to waste your time or money.

Mac Upward Lash Mascara (€25): The strange little rubber spoolie put me off at first, but this mascara is excellent. It offers brilliantly lengthened and volumised lashes, and forces a curl into even resistant hairs.

Rimmel Volume Colourist Mascara (€9.95): This claims to tint your lashes over a couple of weeks' use. It does boast deeply black pigment, but more length than volume. A lovely mascara for daytime wear.

Maybelline The Falsies Push-Up Drama Mascara (€12.30): If you like the full-on effect, look no further. I'd recommend combing through lashes after application with a clean mascara wand to separate, but this gives a truly dramatic finish.

Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara (€21.50): This is one of very few mascaras that improve with age. The formula is very wet when you first get it, but as it thickens over the weeks, the definition it gives actually improves. Just be sure to wipe most of the product off the big rubber brush before applying.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara (€23 from Debenhams, waterproof from May): The original formula was sensational – huge, defined lashes without clumping. Perfect.

Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara (€28.50): This is high-impact, buildable, and features an old-fashioned bristled brush, which I love. Deeply black, reliable, if a little on the pricey side.

Chanel le Volume de Chanel Mascara (€31.50): The most expensive mascara on the list, I hoped this would be bad, but it's wonderful. It gives a separated, fanned-out appearance to the lashes that is hard to replicate without falsies, and comes in various shades, including a rich and understated brown.

Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes Mascara (€29): A classic, beautifully packaged and very effective. On the expensive side, this is for those who love luxury and volume.

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Colour Lustre Dry Cleaner (€27 from April):

I have truly oily roots; the sort that would happily be washed every day while the rest of my hair dries out. Having tried every dry shampoo on the market, I can confidently say this is the best. No fragrance, no powdery texture or residue and instant, fantastic volume, it makes hair look and feel just- washed and gives you that extra day or two.