Unlike some of my long-lashed friends, I wasn't blessed by the fringe fairy (she must've called in sick the day I was born). In fact, it usually takes me several crimps of the curler and a good three coats of mascara to fake the appearance of any length at all. With all that layering and curling, of course, there's usually a host of drawbacks--yucky clumps, flakes, and smears that turn a well-defined eye into a murky mess. So what's a fringe-challenged girl to do? I'm happy to report that there's a new formula that not only lengthens, but also thickens, bends, and separates without the dreaded downside: Chanel Inimitable Mascara ($26.50; nordstrom.com).

Now, I know what you're thinking: You've heard about enough supposed wonder mascaras to last a lifetime. Well, I had too. Nevertheless, with just one coat of Inimitable, I was immediately smitten. Its unique brush comes equipped with ultrasoft, superfine elastomer bristles that conform to coat each lash. What's more, figuring out whether there's enough product on the bristles is simple: If the brush is sufficiently coated, you won't spot any white from underneath; if there's still some of the pale color peeking through, you need to dip again and then apply.

The formula itself is the cosmetics equivalent of the porridge Goldilocks ate (not too thick, not too thin, just right). But most important, of course, is the final result: multidimensional lashes that stay long, bendy, and voluptuous all day. As you'd expect from Chanel, Inimitable comes in a sleek, squared-off black tube with a gold band around the middle. The color choices, however, are anything but basic: In addition to the black and brown available at some counters and websites, the mascara comes in violet and marine--two eye-popping colors that are sure to make an impact this fall. --Kai Alexis Smith

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