There are two types of mascara users: Those who do three swipes and call it good, and those who apply mascara like they're recreating the Mona Lisa.

If you're the "just a quick comb-through" type, use a wand that deposits a lot product so that those few swipes will completely coat your lashes. Vickery recommends a traditional wire brush (over the newer plastic ones), because it picks up a lot of mascara and delivers it to the base of the lash. You can use a plastic bristle, however. Just choose one with a wide core (the rod that the bristles poke out of). The fatter the core, the more product you get when you pull it out of the tube.

Because twisted wire wands aren't as good at keeping lashes clump-free, those who are more high-maintenance with their mascara application should go for a rubber brush &mdash: this will let you apply over and over again sans clumping.

According to Vickery, the CoverGirl Clump Crusher mascara was designed with these perfectionists in mind: "The precisely engineered tight spacing between bristles is smaller than the average clump size - so clumps are stopped before they even start forming on the brush."

A general rule of thumb when picking out a mascara wand: how the wand looks is how it's going to apply. A fat and fluffy brush will yield voluminous, fat and fluffy lashes. Getting larger-than-life volume and thickness is the most common look that women are after, says Vickery. So to pump up wimpy lashes, pick either a twisted wire brush or plastic bristle brush that is big and fat.

Try:
Marc Jacobs O!mega Lash, $26

Physician's Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Jumbo Lash Mascara, $9.99

Pixi Large Lash Mascara, $16

"For uniform, very defined separation and length, a comb may be your best tool," says Vickery. But you can also get length and definition with smaller brushes -- just look for ones that are plastic or rubber with closely spaced bristles. Ball shaped brushes also allow you to get extreme definition because the smaller shape allows you to get from root to tip, and to evenly coat each and every lash individually.

Try:
Make Up For Ever Smoky Stretch Mascara, $24

L'Oréal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara, $8.99

Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara, $30

For a winged lash look, choose a brush that mirrors the effect you're going for. "When people think about curl, curved brushes are what they think about," says Vickery. You can also try one that looks like an hourglass &mdash: the shape gives you the lift and curl of a curved brush while also getting to every last lash.

Try:
Benefit Roller Lash, $24

Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara, $28.50

Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara, $16

Okay, so you want it all. Why not create your own mascara cocktail (the process of layering two or more types of mascara to your lashes)? Apparently I am late to this party, as nearly everyone in the office has mixed and matched their mascaras at some point. CoverGirl's Bombshell Volume mascara was partially inspired by women who like to combine mascaras. One side of the mascara is a volumizing formula and brush, while the other side is a thinner topcoat that, through the use of a different brush, adds intensity and depth of color.

And Buxom Amplified Lash Mascara is expandable -- when it is extended the spaced out bristles will give you volume, and when you collapse it the bristles move closer together to lift and separate your lashes.

Of course, doubling up on mascara is always fun. Here are some of our editor-approved cocktails:

Lift and Separate:
1 part Urban Decay Perversion Mascara + 1 part L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara

The Falsie Effect:
1 part Maybelline XXL Extensions + 1 part CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion + 1 part CoverGirl Clump Crusher

Come-Hither Curl:
1 part Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara + 1 part Lancôme Definicils High Definition Mascara