Unless you were blessed with naturally curly eyelashes, you need an eyelash curler to get that game-changing lift to your lashes. That said, as as grateful as we are that these magical tools exist, it’s important to note that even the best eyelash curlers won't work on everyone's lashes. This, we figured out, can be tied to your eye shape — and whether the curler adapts to it or not. In some cases, if your curler doesn’t align with the structure of your eye, you could end up damaging your lovely lashes — and we are not about to let that happen to any of you. Thus, to break down which curlers are best for what eye shape, we tapped celebrity makeup artists Andre Sarmiento and Troy Surratt for their expert insight on this obviously very pressing matter.
"I definitely carry more than one curler in my kit, and it's simply because there are just so many eye shapes out in the world," Andre says. "It can be some work to find it, but there's a great lash curler out there for everyone." Without further ado, check out their expert opinions on the best eyelash curlers according to each eye shape.
Eyelash Curler for Round, Wide Eyes: Kevyn Aucoin
While Andre is quick to note that Kevyn Aucoin’s curler is as close to universally useable as it gets, he says it’s particularly ideal for wide, round peepers. “It's slightly rounded, but still has some flatness to it so that it works well on wider eyes, as well as rounder eyes,” he explains. While the price point may seem somewhat steep for a small metal tool, we can attest to this curler’s amazing lash-amping abilities.
Eyelash Curler for Almond Eyes: Tweezerman
If you have almond or deep-set eyes, then you know first-hand the struggle that is attempting to curl all your lashes at once — there’s always a few strays that escape, am I right? Well thanks to Tweezerman’s innovative ProMaster Lash Curler, which was specifically designed for almond and deep-set eye shapes, you can now seamlessly amp all your lashes at once with no issue. What makes it different? Its nifty thin top bar that creates an extra-wide opening to allow you to reach every last lash, sans any pinching.
Eyelash Curler for Big Eyes: Shiseido
“I love the Shiseido Eyelash Curlerso much — it's quite flat and wide and great for people with big eyes or long lash lines,” Andre says. “It also has amazing tension so the curl is strong with the first clamp,” he adds. It’s true: this curler uses a unique edgeless design that helps grab every single lash — even the baby ones — and provides optimum lift with one pinch.
Eyelash Curler for Round (but Not Deep-Set) Eyes: Sonia Kashuk
Andre explains that most high-end curlers tend to lean towards the Japanese tradition with wider and flatter shapes. Sonia Kashuk’s curler, on the other hand, is one of the few rounded curlers that live up to the high standards that people have for curlers, he added. “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,” he explains. In other words, if you have really round eyes, give this one a go. Bonus points for being under $10!
Eyelash Curler for Small, Deep-Set Eyes: Shu Uemura
When it comes to lash curlers, Shu Uemura is known for being the end-all-be-all, so it’s no surprise that the brands’ innovatively s-shaped curler made the list. “I think this curler is pretty genius [because] some eyes are very deep set and small, so it can be almost impossible to grab all the lashes with a traditional cage curler,” said Andre. “This one allows you to reach every lash, section by section, so even the smallest eyes can benefit from lifted lashes,” he explained. See: There’s an eyelash curler out there for everybody.
The Best Eyelash Curler that Fits Every Eye Shape: Troy Surratt
There are few curlers that truly work for every eye shape out there, but Troy Surratt’s is chief amongst them. When designing his Relevée curler — which has quickly achieved cult status — Troy’s main goal was to create a lash-plumping tool that would fit the arc of the eyelid seamlessly with absolutely no pinching or pulling of the lashes. “The arc of my eyelash curler is about one third less U-shaped than traditional curlers, so there's a softer curvature which fits across the eye more comfortably,” Troy says. Think perfectly-lifted lashes (that last for hours!) every single time.
How to Use an Eyelash Curler
Now that you've figured out what eyelash curler works best on your eyes, here's a simple four-step guide on how to use an eyelash curler (without pinching your eyelid or pulling your lashes!).
1. Start with Clean, Dry Eyelashes
Make sure your eyelashes are mascara-free and dry to get the best result.
2. Line Up the Curler and Gently Clamp
Carefully line up the eyelash curler with your upper lash line. Slowly and gently clamp down on your lashes. There's no need to press to hard. Slight pressure is enough to curl the lashes. If you press too hard, you risk breaking a lash!
3. Hold for Ten Seconds
Without changing the pressure or moving your hand, leave the curler pressed down while you count to ten.
4. Repeat as Necessary
Remove the curler and take a look at your lashes. If one spot is not to your liking, repeat until steps one and two until you've achieved a full curl.
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