Every girl has a product they reach for in times of beauty crisis. It might be that foundation that makes your skin glow like a baby's after an all-nighter, it might be that lipgloss that gives you a pout to rival Laurel Baccall in the depths of chapped February. For me, it's black waterproof mascara - I feel naked and completely unpresentable without it.

Packaging

The mascara comes in a slightly curvy, plastic blue tube with gold text. It's classy and unobtrusive enough to pop inside your handbag or to leave out on your dressing table.

Consistency

Boots No 7 mascara does the job adequately, but it's not the best eyelash lengthener on the market, largely thanks to its consistency. When I first purchased it, I was quite happy with the very moist liquid that I was applying, but after a week or two, I found mine thickened up considerably, making it difficult to apply evenly.

Application

Though the shape of the tube makes it easy to hold, the brush is dreadful. It's straight and rather thick, and tends not to apply to the thin end of the lash very well. I ended up having to use a brush from another mascara to get it on properly, and even then, I wasn't very impressed with the lengthening effect.

Waterproofing and durability

I buy waterproof mascara not because I'm an emotional wreck liable to cry every too minutes, but because I work long days and I find that I need something extra-tough if I'm not going to look like a panda by about 15.00. Here, too, this product falls down - though it's reasonably resistant to water, it's not completely so, and it will run if your waterworks do suddenly switch on. What's worse, it tends to flake after a few hours, meaning that you're left with that annoying panda-effect.

Summary

Given that this product costs a tenner, its performance is disappointing. Max Factor and Revlon both make cheaper waterproof mascaras that blow this out of the water when it comes to quality. My personal favourite, however, remains Rubie and Millie's stylish silver mascara, costing just a pound more than this one, but in a different league when it comes to luscious lashes.