For me, a mascara never reaches its full potential until it hits that “sweet spot” in its life span. Generally occurring around the 3-week mark, the formula is no longer super-wet and thin, but not so thick that it’s dry and clumpy.

I’m at that point with Cover Girl Lash Blast mascara right now and we’re in orbit, baby!

Let me rewind. When I first tried Lash Blast, it was a crash landing. The wet formula wasn’t really volumizing, and the chubby brush was just splattering it all over the place. My Drew Barrymore-esque lashes were nowhere to be seen. I tossed it back into the sea of mascaras and forgot about it for a month.

Then, on a whim, I decided to try drying it out a bit by taking the wand out and leaving the tube and the wand exposed to air. This accelerated the mascara to that perfect equilibrium of the sweet spot.

And now? Plush, soft mega-lashes! My lashes look full and long, and I love how the formula dries with a healthy and conditioned effect, instead of looking dry, brittle or spidery like other mascaras. The formula is just the right volume-building thickness, and each lash is separated perfectly by the studded rubber brush.

If fatty brushes like Dior Show or Benefit Bad Gal are your bag, you might like Lash Blast as well. I have to admit that I usually don’t love over-sized mascara brushes, and it did take me a while to get used to this one. And if you have teensy, short lashes, the big brush could be a challenge to keep on your lashes and not on your lids.