I often treat my mascaras like flings. I’ll fall madly in love with one for a week or two, then quickly move on to the next best thing. But after years of dating around, I finally found the one in the form of Rare Beauty Mascara ($20).

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Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara — $20.00

Considering my history with mascara, it takes a really special formula to get me to clear my roster—and this one checks all the boxes. Its “it” factor comes from its specially-designed curved brush, which combines long and short bristles to deliver a one-two punch of length and volume. It’s weightless and easy to apply, which makes my lashes look naturally fluffy in a way that thicker formulas have never been able to. That, plus the curling and lifting benefits it offers, makes it everything I’ve ever wanted from a lifelong partner. Or at least, a lifelong mascara.

As someone who wears contacts at all hours of the day, one of the biggest issues I have with most mascaras is the fact that they irritate my eyes after a few hours. With this one, that’s not the case. It’s smudge-and-flake proof, which means that I never have to worry about it getting into my eyes—and I can avoid all of the rubbing and itching that tends to cause mascara to run and make me look like a raccoon. Speaking of “looking like a raccoon,” the formula also happens to be waterproof, which means that unlike a bad boyfriend (or a bad mascara) it sticks with me even through the most aggressive crying bouts. When it does come time to take it off, I’ve found that a gentle oil-based cleanser—like Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm ($34)—easily does the trick.

One other thing I love about this formula? My lashes look (almost) as good after I remove it as they do while I’m wearing it. That’s because it’s made with castor oil, an ingredient that’s known for its softening and conditioning properties. In the months since I’ve been using the Rare Beauty Mascara, my natural lashes have become noticeably softer and less spiky—so much so that I don’t even feel like I need mascara most days. Though, when I do, my one true love is there for me.  And if I have it my way, it will stay like that forever.

While we’re the subject of waterproof mascara, check out the video below for five others that got the W+G stamp of approval.

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