Thank you for your excitement and support for the research going into The Mascara Report. It was a true labor of love, and one I enjoy sharing with women from all over the world. I get a kick out of the emails and calls that come in from women on their way to go mascara shopping! That's when I know I have struck a chord.

I am pleased to announce that The Mascara Report has hit the news wires, in addition to being covered by a fellow mascara junkie, Stevie Wilson, of LA-Story. I hope you will continue to enjoy the report and use it as a reference for future mascara picks!

It's out! The Mascara Report® has spoken. And wouldn't you like to know the results.

Yours truly set out to uncover which brands and formulas of mascaras performed best - on both top and bottom lashes. Let's be honest, we all know how picky I am about mascara. I require a lot - volume and length, plus no smudging, smearing or flaking. I don't have time to fuss with my make-up ... it has to work as hard as I do.

The Mascara Report® is a compilation of 34 brands of mascaras, including 45 formulas within those brands. Who's on the list? AVON, Benefit, Bioelements, Blinc, Boots #7, CoverGirl, Dior, Dr. Hauschka, Fiberwig, Fresh, Girlactik, Givenchy, Jane Iredale, Kimiko, Lancome, Lash Control, Lavera, Maybelline, Motives, Noir, N.Y.C. New York Color, Prescriptives, Prestige, Rimmel London, Sephora, Smashbox, SpinLash, Stila, Styli-Style, Susan Posnick, Tarte, Too Faced, Youngblood and YSL. The report is provided in an easy-to-read format, giving honest opinions - with no marketing spin. There is even a guide to help quickly steer you toward the results you seek. Whether that be to lengthen or add volume to your lashes, those best for day or evening wear, mascaras that work best on top lashes, and the [my] style files pick.

Want a copy? Get it here.

I’ve been around the world and I, I, I…I can’t find my .... holy grail mascara. Why is it that there isn’t a perfect fit for me? Am I just too picky? Are my expectations set too high? I continue to buy two mascaras, yes two(!), every 3 months. Mascara has to accomplish a lot for me. For my top lashes, the mascara must lengthen and add volume - without being heavy - and absolutely cannot clump. For my bottom lashes, it simply cannot flake or smudge (honestly, is it that difficult a task?). I don’t feel like I am asking too much with regard to my bottom lashes, really. Yet still, there is only one mascara that - absolutely under no circumstances - does not flake or smudge, and that is Blinc, Kiss Me mascara. The bad news is, however, that it is too wimpy for my top lashes. So, I have fallen in love with several mascaras for my top lashes – DiorShow Blackout mascara and YSL Volume Effect mascara - and believe it or not, Cover Girl VolumeExact. Crazy but true, a drug store mascara is all it’s cracked up to be. Amazing. As my mom says, it's her day-time mascara now. But DiorShow (coincidentally my mom's night-time mascara) is the bomb! Be prepared, though...it only lasts 2 months. The super big brush is great. And the formula contains cashmere so it keeps your lashes soft and flexible (and you can really layer it), which is rare these days with all the amped up mascara formulations! When you apply mascara, make sure your first coat is applied slowly. Wiggle the brush back and forth - this will enable separation for long, clump-free lashes. Your second coat can be applied minutes later at a faster pace.

Let’s talk waterproof for a minute. Hands down (many hands down), for Shu Uemura Length and Waterproof mascara. Holy cow – how it lengthens! It stays on until you take it off. I can swim, shower or sweat and my lashes look the exact same. This is the only waterproof mascara I will buy. Period (unless you can change my mind, of course).

Keep in mind, if you get puffy under your eyes, you should avoid mascara on your lower lashes, as it tends to smudge. In general, to make your eyes look more open, keep your make-up to the top of the eye.

Update 9/1/08: The Mascara Report® is out! Learn which of the 45 formulas of mascaras tested performed best - on both top and bottom lashes. You will be amazed at how I have forever changed my mind in the world of mascara. Request your copy by email.