Q. Since my favourite waterproof mascara (Paul & Joe) is ‘currently unavailable’, I am having horrors about how to keep my eyelashes curled without them drooping during the day. I do use an eyelash curler.

A. Well, a bit of foraging online reveals that your top mascara does seem to be available at some sites – at a hugely inflated price, though. So up to you, but there are other curling mascaras to consider before splashing out.

Make up artist Armand Beasley’s favourite to hold a curl daylong is Urban Decay Perversion Mascara/£21 for full size but you could try the travel size for just £9. Armand says: ‘It has a thick creamy jet-black formula that’s neither too wet nor too dry. The full tapered wand gives great volume.’

Armand (armandinternationalltd.com) also likes Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara/ £19. ‘The hourglass-shaped wand hugs the lashes, helping to lift and separate. Plus it’s waterproof which seems to help maintain the curl’ - as well as doing the obvious...

Curl-seekers also name check Benefit Roller Lash, Super-Curling & Lifting Mascara/£22, reporting that it gives long-lasting curl and makes eyes look more wide open.

Sweep down the upper side of the lashes first to get rid of any make up that may have fallen on lashes, says Armand, then apply on the under side, going from root to tip in a zig-zag motion.

Armand adds one warning and a tip: ‘Don’t “pump” your mascara wand as you will trap air in the product and it will start to clump when you apply it. And always change your mascara every three months, both for hygiene and to get the best performance from the product.’

Two other thoughts from make up artist Jenny Jordan, whose salon in north London is a staple in beauty address books (jennyjordan.com). For eyelash curlers, Jenny recommends the Tweezerman range, which includes ProCurl Lash Curler/£22, and Classic Lash Curler/£16.

For longer-term results, Jenny recommends Lash Lift, a salon treatment that lifts lashes naturally and lasts for eight weeks. The hour-long process, which is best partnered with a lash tint, should last for eight weeks and can be done every three months (£40 for Lash Lift treatment/£60 including tint, jennyjordan.com).

Photo by CloudyPixel on Unsplash