Forget waterproof mascara - this is labour proof!

The perfect mascara is the holy grail most women strive to find. Whether it's lash lengthening, volume building or eye colour enhancing, mascara can make ANYONE look great. The eyes are the windows to the soul so enhancing these with some thicker, longer, curlier lashes can make such a difference.

Finding the right mascara for you can be really tricky, particularly when there's so much beauty jargon mumbo jumbo spouted out by advertisers. It's like the goldilocks of the make up world - this one's too wet, that brush is too big, that one clumps lashes together. I'm also a firm believer that you shouldn't have to go high end to meet your high expectations.

As you've probably already noticed, I'm a beauty product addict and cannot resist a new release on the shelves of Boots or a special offer - and don't even get me started on pretty packaging (Soap & Glory, you have a lot to answer for!).

So, in the past couple of months, I have tried no fewer than five different mascara a from high street brands. Despite concluding every time I try a new one that I should stick to my tried and trusted Maybelline One-By-One, I find myself drawn to the fancy new wands and exaggerated promises of new mascara s.

From the ones pictured above, there's only two I'd recommend. Give S&G Thick and Fast a go if you can handle a big, fat brush. And if you are looking for a waterproof mascara that actually works and doesn't fail at the first drop of rain or splash of sea water, you must go and buy Maybelline's Rocket Volum Express. This baby is not just waterproof - it's labour proof!

Promising 'the most explosive, beautiful lashes ever!', the 'Supersonic Brush and Fast Glide formula loads on big, sleek volume instantly', this is a must have if you're going on holiday this summer to sunnier climes.

On the morning of my labour day, being a little vain and wanting to perk myself up (seriously, I wear mascara every day because my lashes are so fair, people think I look unwell if I don't), I tried this mascara for the first time. And after 23 hours of labour, a day in hospital and our first night with baby at home later (I didn't remove my mascara all that time - naughty I know), this mascara still looked perfect. My lashes were long, defined, with a slight curl and there were no clumps or crumbly bits on my cheeks. Just take a look at the photo below if you don't believe me.