7 Best Eyelash Curlers

The eyelash curler’s almost-magical ability to instantly open up the eyes is a real game-changer. This handy tool looks unassuming—intimidating, even—at first, but it makes a huge difference in your overall look. If you want to look fresher, more awake, and more bright-eyed than ever before, the eyelash curler is an essential weapon.

In spite of being an absolute must-have in everyone’s beauty arsenal, a lot of women still find the idea of using eyelash curlers daunting. Not a few of us have experienced accidentally pinching our eyelids with this tool (ouch!). But clumsy accidents aside, mastering the art of perfectly-curled lashes is actually very attainable.

In this guide, we’ll share our top tips on how to find the best eyelash curler for you. Having the right tool will certainly make perky eyes easier to achieve. We’ve also thrown in a few techniques to help you get the most out of this dandy little tool.

Let’s dive right in!

Factors to consider when shopping for an eyelash curler

Your eye shape

You might think that eyelash curlers are one-size-fits-all, but they’re not! Different eye shapes will work better with different eyelash curlers. Are your eyes narrow or wide? Are your lids rounded or flat? Do you have hooded eyelids? These are some of the questions you can ask yourself before you make a purchasing decision. Check the user reviews of the products you’re eyeing to see if they work well for people with similar eye shape and size as you.

Accessories

Eyelash curlers use rubber pads to curl your lashes. Because these rubber pads are the specific components that come into direct contact with your eyelashes, they will eventually wear off and/or become dirty. Although you can probably buy replacement pads individually, some eyelash curlers come with complimentary replacement pads so you don’t have to purchase them yourself.

Warranty

The eyelash curler is not a complicated machine by any means, but having a warranty that comes with your purchase is a great plus. Some eyelash curlers even come with free lifetime replacements for the rubber pads, which will save you a lot of money in the long run.

User reviews

As with any other cosmetic product, doing your research will help a lot. We know that not everyone has the time to look up every single product in-depth, which is why we’ve created the above-shown list of the best eyelash curlers.

But if you do have some time to spare, here are a few questions you can look into while you’re reading user reviews: Is the eyelash curler ergonomic? Does it accidentally rip off a few lashes way too often? Does it feel sturdy?

Price

Unless you’re a millionaire, budget is probably a pretty big deal for you. For instance, we absolutely adore the Preo Curl Up eyelash curler (which is why we’ve included it in our list above)—but it’s not something that everyone can comfortably afford.

That said, there are plenty of affordable options out there. But before you go on a full-on scrimping mode, remember that eyelash curlers will last a lot longer than your favorite concealer or powder. In short, buying a lash curler can very well be a long-term investment!

Which should go first, eyelash curler or mascara?

Up to this day, this matter is still the subject of constant debate. Should you apply mascara before using the eyelash curler? Or is it the other way around?

While some ladies would insist that a mascara-first approach is better, curling your eyelashes before applying mascara is generally the more recommendable method. Doing it the other way around can be quite risky. If you curl after applying mascara, your lashes can stick to the curler, which can then pull out your precious lashes.

What about other eye makeup?

Applying your eyeshadow and eyeliner before curling your lashes, on the other hand, isn’t a problem. In fact, we recommend that you finish your eyeshadow application before moving on to lash work. That way, you can brush off any shadow pigments that may have fallen and settled on your lashes before you apply your mascara.

How to curl eyelashes the best way

1. Holding the curler with your thumb and middle finger, carefully bring it toward the eyelid. Look in the mirror to make sure that all of your lashes are situated between the upper and lower rubber pads of the curler.
2. Get as close to your lash line as possible, but make sure that the curler isn’t so close that it’ll pinch your eyelids. Positioning your eyelash curler at the perfect distance may take some getting used to—but trust us, you’ll get there! As with all things makeup-related, practice makes perfect.
3. Gently and carefully press the handles of the curler together. Decide how much pressure you want to put on the handles. As a general rule, the harder you press, the more dramatic the resulting curl will be.
4. During your first few tries, we recommend that you come as close to your lash line as possible. Make sure that you’re pressing the handles of the curler extra slowly, though, so you have time to readjust the curler should you start to feel a pinch on your eyelids.
5. Once you press the handles to the pressure you want, hold the curler in place for about 15 seconds. Do not move the curler around as this might lead to eyelash fallout. We also do not recommend doing any pulsing motions with your fingers, as you might accidentally pull out an eyelash or two with it.
6. Love how your lashes turned out? Great! It’s time to move on to the next step. But if you’re not satisfied with your curl, go ahead and repeat the process until you like what you see.
7. Apply a coat or two of your favorite mascara immediately. You want to do this while your eyelashes are freshly curled so you can maintain their shape.

More eyelash curling tips

Don’t wanna buy a new heated curler? Try this.

Once you’ve gotten the hang of using your regular eyelash curler, the idea of upgrading your lash game by switching to a heated curler is very, very appealing. Here at Faveable, we believe that heated curlers are well worth the investment. At the same time, however, we understand that some of you don’t always have the time or budget to make that upgrade happen—especially if you’ve just purchased your regular eyelash curler.

If this applies to you, fret not! Here’s a technique that will give you results that are comparable to that of using a heated curler:

1. Take your blow dryer and set it to warm. We recommend that you avoid using the hot setting even if you’re in a hurry since metal eyelash curlers can get really hot really fast.
2. Hold your eyelash curler under the blow dryer for 5 to 10 seconds until it warms up.
3. Test the curler on the back of your hand to check if the temperature is tolerable. Remember: your eye area is extremely delicate, so you should make sure that your eyelash curler isn’t too hot.
4. Once you’ve verified that the curler is warm enough to enhance the curl and hold of your lashes but tolerable enough not to irritate your eyes, proceed to your usual curling routine.

And ta-dah! Heat-curled lashes in an instant!

Try curling your lashes two times.

Thinking of upping your eyelash game even further? Try this expert-approved technique: curl your lashes in two separate steps.

First, curl your lashes near the base—that is, carry out your usual curling routine near the lash line. Here’s the upgrade: move the curler a bit closer to the end of your lashes, and then squeeze it again. The first time, you lift your eyelashes and open your eyes up by curling near the base. By curling one more time at a different section of your lashes, you really amp up their look and curl. We absolutely love doing this technique when we want our eyes to look a little flirtier.

Never underestimate the power of falsies.

If you want to make the most out of your eyelash curler, pair it with a flattering set of falsies. False eyelashes can give you that extra oomph, and wearing falsies really does compliment your perfectly-curled eyelashes.

Want to go for a look that’s more au naturel? No worries! Simply cut your falsies in thirds and keep them to the outer edges of your eyes. Trust us, it makes a world of difference!

Eyelash curler cleaning and maintenance

Learning how to properly apply mascara and curl your lashes will instantly elevate your look. But do you know what’s NOT a good look?

Eye infections.

Yup. Like any other makeup tool, your eyelash curler needs regular cleaning and a sprinkling of TLC to keep it in tiptop shape. Many of us ladies are guilty of neglecting our beauty tools, especially our precious makeup brushes and sponges.

But even if you constantly get away with washing your brushes less often than recommended, we strongly suggest that you treat your eyelash curler differently. After all, it’s constantly being used directly around the eyes. You wouldn’t want to transmit nasty pathogens to your pretty peepers, would you?

So, how exactly do you ensure that your eyelash curler is always in great condition? Simple: Clean it after every use. Each time you use your eyelash curler, it picks up a bunch of different products such as eyeshadow, concealer, eyeliner, and powder. That’s why it’s important to regularly clean it with an antibacterial wipe.

In addition, you should regularly replace the rubber pads on your eyelash curler. Over time, these rubber pads will wear out and as a result, they just won’t perform as excellently as they used to.

The dangers of dirty eyelash curlers

Failing to clean your eyelash curler properly would mean two things. First, makeup deposits would accumulate on the eyelash curler over time. That could make the tool crusty, and the makeup residue can even smear all over your eyelids the next time you use the curler. Not only will your curler look gross AF, but you risk ruining your freshly made-up face, as well!

Second, the accumulated makeup deposits become a prime spot for harboring bacteria and other potentially harmful microorganisms. And once they get into your eyes, you’re likely going to contract an infection of some sort. Did you know that many women suffer from eye infections due to old makeup every year? In fact, some of them are even temporarily or permanently blinded, according to the FDA.

Even if you’re lucky enough not to get your vision compromised, eye infections are better avoided through prevention. Think about the symptoms: red, itchy eyes, swollen lids, and overflowing gunk near your tear ducts… Not cute, right?