I like an essence mascara for the fun of it, but I do not think one tube can do everything, and there are days when I want something that leans harder in one direction. Here are the ones I rotate in.

Benefit's Roller Lash is a curling and lifting mascara, so it is the one for straight lashes that will not hold a curl. Lancôme's Monsieur Big is the volume one, and it earns the name. Tower 28's MakeWaves lengthens and volumizes together, and I use it when I want a softer, more natural lash. Fenty Beauty's Hella Thicc is exactly what it sounds like, dramatic, thick and made to be seen from across a room. Anastasia Beverly Hills' Lash Sculpt lengthens and volumizes with a shaping brush, while Dior's Diorshow Overcurl is the curling formula for lashes that need help holding their shape.

A helpful way to think about it is a job list. If your lashes are short, choose a lengthening formula. If they are sparse, choose volume. If they point straight down, choose curl, and use an eyelash curler first if you like. Applying two different formulas in layers, one for length and one for thickness, also works nicely, but let the first coat dry a little before you add the second.

A good mascara is only as good as the way you take it off at night, and I think this part of the shelf gets ignored. Rubbing at the lash line with a tissue is a fast way to lose lashes and irritate the lids, so let the product do the work.

Lancôme's Bi-Facil is a double-action remover, with two layers you shake together, and Clinique's Take The Day Off is made for lids, lashes and lips. Both are good if you like a liquid on a cotton pad that you hold against the eye for a few seconds before wiping. If you wear waterproof formulas, oils and balms melt them more gently. Dermalogica's PreCleanse is an oil that also works on waterproof makeup, Josie Maran's Argan Melt-Away is a cleansing oil for removing makeup, Glow Recipe's Papaya Sorbet is a balm with an enzyme feel, and Farmacy's Green Clean is a classic balm.

What I would skip: dragging a dry cotton pad across your eyes, and sleeping in mascara because you were tired. If the lashes feel stiff in the morning, it is a sign the remover was too weak or the pad was moved too fast. Press, wait, and wipe once in the direction of growth, then finish with a mild cleanser on the rest of the face.

I keep the routine simple. One essence mascara for daily wear, a bolder one for evenings, and a remover I actually like using, because that is what determines whether I bother.

Replace any tube that has started to dry out or smell odd, and do not pump the wand in and out, since it pushes air in and dries the formula faster. Roll it in the tube instead. I also like to keep a spare in a travel bag, so a bad morning never means a bare lash line. A spare tube also means you can retire an old one on time, instead of stretching it another month. Wipe the wand on a tissue before you begin, which removes the extra blob at the tip and makes the first coat far neater. A tiny clean spoolie is handy for breaking up any clumps while the formula is still wet. Do that within a few seconds, before it sets. If you get sore eyes, swelling or redness after using a new mascara, stop using it and see a doctor or eye specialist.