Darker, longer, thicker, bolder and badder.

If, for some reason, I had to live out the rest of my life using only one beauty product, it would be mascara. If, for some reason, I had to live out the rest of my life using only two beauty products, they would be mascara... and eye make up remover.

For me, there is no single type of make up that makes a more dramatic impact than mascara. And as far as mascara and lashes go, I think the darker, longer, thicker, bolder and badder the better. I wear very little else on my face (a bit of under eye concealer, blush and a nude shadow), so I get by (I hope!) without looking like a clown... or a lady of the evening. I've long been devoted to a particular brand of mascara, so when the Shine Beauty Gurus were sent Estée Lauder's Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara, I worried it wouldn't stack up.

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I was pleasantly surprised.

Though the Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara (try saying that five times fast...) is a bit thicker and takes a bit longer to dry than my standby, the end result was quite perfect. It is long wearing, didn't smudge (even through a long day at the office and a long run... I know, I shouldn't wear makeup at the gym), and washed off easily before bed. There was virtually no clumping, which I find is usually the downfall of volumizing mascaras.

Estée Lauder's Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara retails for $24 at department stores and is also available online. It boasts a really glamorous gold and navy, over-sized tube. The brush is thicker than most, and easy to handle. I've been using their Extreme Black, but the mascara also comes in Extreme Brown and two limited edition shades, Indigo and Violet (both, you guessed it, Extreme).

Will I leave my favorite tube for
Estée Lauder? The jury's still out. For now, the two are living side-by-side in my make up bag, ready to multiply, lengthen, and volumize at a moment's notice.

What one beauty product can't you live without?