Make your mascara application new and old again with the flick of a wand. Wait -- sorry, I mean a brush. Makeup pro Pat McGrath and her backstage team went the fan-brush route (read about it here on Vogue.com) for a delicate, feathery fringe. You might prefer the convenience and more dramatic finish you'd get with the new Avon Mega Effects Mascara and its nifty paintbrush design -- if it doesn't scare you off first.

Some of you might have spotted the preview shots of the Avon Mega Effects Mascara brush I posted on Instagram a couple of months ago.

After the initial should-I-be-frightened? thought, the paintbrush look of Avon's new mascara brush (they call it the "Wonderbrush") made me think of the toothbrush style applicators women used with cake mascara generations back, before the wand-as-we-know-it was invented.

Granted, the Avon Mega Effects Mascara brush looks a bit more daunting, certainly more spiky than the average paintbrush. The hinged, adjustable-angle handle is different too, designed to help get at every last lash.

The first time I tried Mega Effects, I got a bit on my lids -- good thing I wasn't in the back of a moving vehicle. I've only used it once -- yesterday -- but I like it so far. Despite a somewhat cautious application, and a little bit of globbing, my short, fine lashes looked fuller, longer and flirty, and my lids remained smear-free all day (that's rare). No photo yet, but stay tuned.

Oh, and I like the compact size of the Avon Mega Effects Mascara ($12, avon.ca). It takes up a little less room in my on-the-go kit -- that's valuable real estate.

What do you think? Scary? Nifty? Would you try it?

Image of vintage Maybelline pancake mascara via flickr.com.