Even the most minimalist, makeup-shy women tend to wear mascara - and for good reason. Lush, darkened lashes not only exude femininity, but also brighten and enlarge your eyes. Once you've found the right formulation for your lashes, applying mascara is practically foolproof. What's not to love? Whether worn as an accent on a bare face or as the crowning touch on sultry evening eyes, this low-effort makeup has high, high impact.

Three steps of applying mascara:

Step one: curl your lashes. Open the curler and position it around lashes and as close to your upper lid as possible without pinching the skin. Keep your eyes open and gently squeeze the curler closed. Pump the curler once, bending your wrist upward to curl lashes, and release.

Step two: pull the wand from the tube (don't pump it, which forces air into the tube, drying out the mascara). Wipe off excess mascara from the wand. Hold the wand horizontally at the case of your lashes and wiggle it back and forth from underneath them to create thickness before drawing it up and out to the tips.

Step three: wait a minute and repeat for a uniform finish. If you have naturally tick, long lashes, one coat is probably enough coverage for daytime. If your lashes are quite light, put a touch of mascara on the bottom lashes as well, so the upper lashes will not seem artificially colored.

How to remove your mascara?

Unless you use a gentle non-soap cleanser, your regular facial cleanser is probably too irritating to use on the delicate eye area. To clean off regular mascara, try a creamy or water-based makeup remover, which should dissolve it without scrubbing. To take off waterproof formulas, you'll need an oil-based remover. Massage it into your lashes and then press them with a damp cotton pad or (dark-colored) washcloth. Refrain from rubbing or using tissue, which can be abrasive and leave residue.