Giving in to the hype, I bought one for myself and a friend for Christmas. I'm going back to Maybelline. Yes, the brush is luxurious, the best. And the waterproof version didn't irritate my sensitive eyes and eyelids at all. But this mascara doesn't have the all-day lasting power, can smudge in rainy weather,and does not take kindly to having an extra layer or two applied later in the day. Perhaps it's too heavy? I'll miss using the brush, but I won't order again.