Once you have the perfect product (and I have to say that YSL’s Volume Effet takes a lot of beating), there are one or two techniques that may help.

1. Always start with clean lashes – make sure they are not clogged up with old make-up or mascara you couldn’t be bothered to remove days before.
2. Apply the mascara on the top lid with upward movements only – starting at the base of the lash underneath and sweeping up. Apply more mascara to the lashes at the outer edge of the eye, as this ‘opens’ the eye up.
3. Only put a delicate coating of mascara on lower lashes – unless you are very lucky, most of us only have a few lashes here anyway and they look odd if they stand out too much. Better to concentrate on adding definition at the outer corner of the bottom lid with a dark kohl pencil.
4. If you smudge – remove straight away with a cotton bud.
5. Always remove mascara at night. If you don’t, over time your lashes will become damaged and begin to fall out.

Some people swear by coating their lashes in Vaseline at night to moisturise and condition them. But in my experience, this irritates the eye and causes the mascara to smudge the next day.

If you do a lot of exercise or swimming, then waterproof mascara is an option, but this is hard to remove and does clog the lashes more then normal mascara. You could also try dying your lashes, but this does not add volume and is only an option for women with very pale lashes and an allergy to mascara.

Whatever you do, don’t give up. Experiment a little more and eventually, I am sure, you will find the perfect mascara, and discover the joy of fluttering lashes at last.

Good luck!

Debbie