When two innovative new vibrating mascaras, Lancome's Oscillation, and Estee Lauder's Turbo Lash, launched this time last year, the beauty industry was quite literally, abuzz. With both mascaras, priced around £30, battling it out in what was probably the toughest Christmas market of recent times, the buzz quickly became scotch mist and not many of us actually bothered trying them out.

Maybelline's newly launched Pulse Perfection Mascara, a far more reasonably priced (£14.95), high-street alternative, should please beauty-gadget hungry tight-arses. While I have had mixed experiences with high-street brand mascaras, from flaky residue (Rimmel), to impressively full lashes (L'Oreal), I have always been a big fan of Maybelline's products, finding them to deliver competitive results to premium brands for a much smaller cost, and decided to give Pulse Perfection a go.

My initial thoughts were that the packaging could have been more attractive. While the main tube was a standard mascara design, the vibrate-battery bit was clear and exposed, which made it look slightly tacky. For the same price as a MAC mascara, I expected slinkier packaging.

Tis naughty however, to judge a book by its cover, and in this case, would have been foolish. Reflecting the design of Oscillation, the wand featured a stiff comb, as opposed to a big hairy brush, meaning that the product was easily applied.

The purpose of the vibration is so that the product can be distributed easily between lashes, whilst pushing them apart and delivering a wide-eyed, clump free effect. Accordingly, the formula was loose and non-gloopy.The vibrations did cause a slight tickling sensation but was nontheless quick and easy to apply.

Indeed, the mascara did create a far more fanned out and voluptuous look to my lashes, resulting in a dramatic finish, even with very little eyeliner and eyeshadow applied.

As a natural blonde, I have very pale eyelashes, and was therefore also impressed with the strongly pigmented colour. With only one coat, the mascara lasted well all day and required a fair bit of eye make-up remover to get it off, so it would easily take you from day to night without the need to reapply.

Ultimately, for half the price of its premium counterparts, Maybelline's Pulse Perfection was very impressive indeed, and is definitely worth the few extra pounds it would cost than a standard Maybelline mascara.

Maybelline Pulse Perfection is available in-store and online from Boots stores, priced £14.95.