5 Eyelash Curlers Pros Swear By For Wide-Awake Eyes
Like primers, setting sprays, or clear mascara, eyelash curlers don’t get a lot of love. They offer no pigment or colour payoff and they’re scarily clinical, thus usually hidden in the bottom corner of our makeup bags. But pros tell us that the eyelash curler is one of the most overlooked makeup tools in our arsenal. Curlers can actually make a huge difference in the look of our lashes, drawing the eye upward and creating length and volume, without adding six coats of mascara — that is, if we use the right one.
So we consulted the industry pros and asked them to share which ones they swear by — that never pinch the lids, leave lashes limp and flat, or break after a few uses.
Read on to find the best eyelash curlers on the market. Because if you’re going to buy a not-so-sexy product, it sure as hell better work.
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“One of the most painful sensations on earth is when you use an eyelash curler and accidentally clamp down on your eyelid. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, consider yourself blessed. That’s why I take investing in a nice eyelash curler seriously, and this one from Maybelline does the trick. Cheap and simple to use, this was actually one of the first beauty products I ever bought as a young tween. I’m still using the exact same one today which… may not be that hygienic? But whatever.” — Rachel Lubitz, Senior Beauty Writer
Maybelline Expert Tools Eyelash Curler, $, available at Amazon
“This lash curler can work with any shape of eye. It curls the lashes perfectly with no crimp — just a beautiful, natural curl along the full length of the lash. Plus, it’s comfortable to use. It doesn’t ‘ouch’ the user.” — Rebecca Restrepo, Makeup Artist
Surratt Relevée Lash Curler, $, available at Net-A-Porter
“I dread putting mascara on my lower lashes because of the mess it makes on my under-eye area. I always have to go back over the smudges with my concealer. Never fails. This tiny eyelash curler lets me get into those lashes with precision and delicacy and leaves them curled, so that I can skip out on the mascara mess. It also helps me reach the inner corners that a traditional curler might miss. If you struggle with lash curlers — or find them to be scary — this is the perfect option because you’re in total control.” — Thatiana Diaz, Beauty Writer
Lash Star Beauty Individual Lash Curler, $, available at ModeSens
“Your eye shape should really determine the curler you’re using [so] take the time to figure out which one is great for you. This one by Shiseido is flatter, so it works for wide eyes but it also lifts and fans out lashes like no other. Oddly enough, the flat shape lets me reach for the shortest, most stubborn lashes and gives them a solid curl. If you have rounder eyes, this one [might] miss your corner lashes, but can adjust and curl again.” — Andre Sarmiento, Makeup Artist.
Shiseido Eyelash Curler, $, available at Ulta Beauty
Sarmiento also swears by Sonia Kashuk’s eyelash curler, which is a great Target buy. “Some eyes are quite round and not deep set at all, so this curler really wraps around the eye and grabs all the lashes that sometimes flatter curlers can miss,” Sarmiento explained to Teen Vogue. The geometry makes sense, sure, but our favorite part is the price tag.“I also have to give love to my Chella heated lash curler. I love to use it when people are too afraid of the ‘medieval torture device’ that are lash curlers — their words not mine. [There’s] no clamping but [it’s] just enough lift to brighten eyes. I [use] it throughout the day to pep up wilting lashes. It’s also amazing when I’m using fake lashes to give them that extra lift that they can sometimes lose because of their weight.” — Sarmiento“I’ve heard the legend of the Kevyn Aucoin curler for years, but I always wondered how different it could really be. After using it, though, I have to say: It really is exceptional. With others, I’ve had to clamp down a handful of times before all my lashes were curling in the same direction, at the same height. But this gets the job done in one clamp. It really does live up to the hype.” — Sam Sasso, Beauty Writer
Kevyn Aucoin The Eye Lash Curler, $, available at Cult Beauty
“This tiny curler is almost completely flat, making it easy to grab short eyelashes or hard-to-reach areas, like the inner and outer corners, without pinching your lid in the process. Curlers like this are best suited for flatter eyelids.” — Elisa Flowers, Makeup Artist
MAC Cosmetics Half Lash Curler, $, available at MAC Cosmetics
“This eyelash curler from Tweezerman is gentle and easy to use. It comes with extra rubber cushion padding replacements, so you don’t need to throw away the whole thing after a few months. And as far as eyelash curlers go, the rose gold colour makes it a little less boring… for an eyelash curler.” —Megan Decker, Beauty Assistant
Tweezerman ProCurl Lash Curler, $, available at LookFantastic
“This curler from Tarte has the perfect amount of ‘spring,’ so it doesn’t clamp too tightly, and the ideal curvature for my almond shaped eyes. It also comes with a mini mascara, which is a great bonus.” — Mi-Anne Chan, Beauty Writer & Host“There’s a reason this tool is the cult curler among L.A. makeup artists; it just works. There are never awkward bends, it never pinches, and it’s no more expensive than the others. I have had mine for years and prefer it over any other I’ve tried.
“The biggest problem, of course, is that it got pulled from U.S. shelves a while back. Luckily, you can still order it online on the Shu Uemura site. Oh, and there’s one more issue: The brand doesn’t sell replacement pads, however Shiseido’s fit perfectly. Yes, this isn’t the easiest way to a killer curl, but it’s worth it.” — Lexy Lebsack, Senior Beauty Editor
“I am genuinely terrified of accidentally sneezing mid-curl and simultaneously ripping out all of my eyelashes (is that dramatic?) during the process, so I’ve shied away from using the tool for years. Then I stumbled across this option from Japonesque, which comes equipped with matte silicone padding at the base so I can get a good grip… and some nice lashes while I’m at it.” — Kelsey Castañon, beauty news editor
Japonesque Ergo-Grip Eyelash Curler, $18, available at Dermstore.
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No7 Lift & Curve Eyelash Curler, $7.99, available at Walgreens.
One of the best-selling eyelash curlers on Sephora right now is this bedazzled tool from Tarte. Not only does it look good on display, it also comes with a mini mascara.
Tarte Limited-Edition Lash Delights Eye Essentials, $20, available at Sephora.
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