Shu Uemura's $23 Cult-Favorite Eyelash Curler Will Make You Look Wide Awake ASAP (2024)

There are few beauty tools that are as immediately effective as an eyelash curler. Skin care is a long-term investment, and beauty products are hit or miss, but an eyelash curler makes a huge difference instantly. My long-but-poker-straight eyelashes are barely visible when I look head-on in the mirror, but an eyelash curler changes everything, lifting my lashes and making my eyes look so much wider and more awake than a solid eight hours ever could.

Not all eyelash curlers are created equally, however. Some will give you crimped lashes or an unflattering right-angle bend instead of the natural, glamorous-looking swoop we all crave. That's why the Good Housekeeping Institute rounded up the best eyelash curlers on the market that will effortlessly curl lashes and widen eyes, no matter your eye shape or lash length.

"There are few things I look for in the perfect eyelash curler," says Patrick Ta, celebrity makeup artist and creator of the eponymous makeup line. "A wide opening to reach every lash, a curler that sits comfortably on my almond shaped clients lash lines, and durability." Before we show you the amazing tools that fit the bill, here's everything you need to know about eyelash curlers:

Are eyelash curlers damaging?

"Lash curlers, when used correctly, aren’t damaging," says Katey Denno, celebrity makeup artist. "A slight tug feeling on your lash roots is normal; pain is not." Be sure to keep your hand still when curling as to not pull out lashes, and clean your curler with alcohol between uses. Our experts recommend using an eyelash curler before applying mascara, since mascara can stick to the tool, putting your eyelashes at a higher risk of getting stuck, pulled, or broken.

How often should you replace your eyelash curler?

"The pad must be changed after 6 months with daily use," says Denno. Otherwise, the pad can lose its density or gain a ridge from repeated use that will make the curler less effective.

How to use an eyelash curler

1. Make sure the curler is clean. "You must clean with alcohol and let it dry thoroughly," says Denno. Otherwise, bacteria or old mascara can build up on the tool.
2. Curl the entire length of your lashes. Don't just clamp in one spot and move on: "For extreme curl, I like starting at the root and continuing to curl upwards towards the tips of the lashes," says Ta. "It gives you the perfect lift!"
3. Give outer lashes some extra lift. Denno's IG-famous trick for perfectly-curled lashes? "I like to pull the lash curler out a little bit, turning my wrist and the curler towards my nose and clamping again making sure the outer edges of the lash line get a secondary curl to get them up higher."
4. Apply mascara. Like hairspray to a curling iron, mascara will lock in the curl. If you notice the curl falling after your mascara has fully dried, you can carefully, gently clamp the curler on your coated lashes: just be careful, since mascara will stick to the tool.

Below are the best eyelash curlers on the market, from editors' picks to reviewer favorites to top-tested tools from our Beauty Lab tests:

Thiscompact curler from Laura Mercierperformed well in Lab testsandis a hit with consumers. The nontraditional, ergonomicdesign and smaller sizemeans that there is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to usability, but our tests showed itincreased curl by 149%.Better yet,testers said this powerhouselifts and curls lashes quickly and made them appear fuller and more defined, and one tester raved, "my mom thought I was wearing false lashes!"

This budget-friendly curler boosted lashes by 135%in Lab testing. Testers saidthis e.l.f. curleris comfortable to use and easy to handle, though some said itwasn't able to squeeze all of their lashes at the same time andpinched their skin.

This industry favorite got a shout-out(from Gisele, no less) inThe Devil Wears Prada. The Shu Uemura curler has earned itscult favoritestatus: it captures every single lash to give a dramatic yet natural-looking curl in one pass (none of the 90º bends you might have encountered before). It comes with one refill pad included.

This much-loved beauty tool is great for a range of eye shapes, thanks to its longer-than-most clamp and super wide opening,which allows you to get right up to the lash linewithout clamping your eyelid (yes,even on notoriously difficult round eyes).The iconic red silicone pad is brilliantsince itactually lets you see your lashes, and reviewers say it curls eyelashes without crimping.

Heated lash curlers are perfect for those who want fluttery lashes and wide eyes, butget squeamish at the idea of locking their precious lashes in a metal clamp.In past Lab evaluations, testers love heated eyelash curlers for their ease of use, but warn that the lash curling powerisn't as dramatic as you might get with traditional clamp models, and that the curl might fall after a few hours. It's still great for beginners (orpeople who think eyelash curlers look like torture devices).

This top-rated eyelash curler on Amazon has nearly 4,500 five-star ratings, and reviewers swear by the design of the arc on this much-loved curler. One reviewer with stick-straight lashes swears"it feels completely different to use" than any other curler on the market.Most agree that this curler"really holds a curl — even without mascara."

"My all-time favorite is the Surratt Beauty Relevée LashCurler," saysPaige Stables, assistant beauty editor at GH."It's easy to use and it gives my lashes a pretty curve that instantly makes my eyes look open." The best tip for a natural-looking and long-lasting curl?"Gently clamp yourcurlerfor a few seconds at the base of lashes, then in the middle, and once more near the ends."

The innovative design of this little lash curler is precise enough to fan out lashes on justouter corners for the perfect cat eye, or nab hard-to-reach (a.k.a. impossible-to-curl) eyelashes.The petite size makes it perfect to curl even short, tinylashes, and as an added bonus, it's great to apply false lashes with, too!