Best eyelash curler for most eye shapes: Shiseido Eyelash Curler
Top pick
Every time we’ve tested eyelash curlers, the Shiseido Eyelash Curler has come out on top. Testers with all different eye shapes and lid types (including round, deep-set eyes, almond-shaped eyes, hooded lids, and monolids) appreciated the comfortable fit of this curler’s wide, shallow curved opening. Panelists also loved how effectively it worked, leaving lashes fully fanned out.
It easily fits many different eye shapes. So many eyelash curlers look nearly indistinguishable — their merits are truly separated by a hair. But as much as this model’s double-barrel design resembles that of the Tweezerman and the more-affordable Revlon curlers, when testers used the Shiseido curler, they noted a significant improvement in the Shiseido’s fit and performance: “This is very effective and the most comfortable due to the shallow depth,” said one panelist with monolids and short, straight lashes. The opening has a flatter curve, so testers were able to get close to lash roots without pinching skin or yanking out hairs. Plus, the top edge of the upper part of the clamp is slightly fluted, so it rests gently against the brow bone. (Meanwhile, the budget-pick Kaasage curler has a blunt edge.)
With a juicy pad and smooth motion, it amps up the curl. The Shiseido curler opens and closes effortlessly and noiselessly. (Some cheaper models, like the Sally Hansen and the Trim curlers, clacked like castanets.) A panelist with round, hooded eyes was an eyelash-curler skeptic until she tried the Shiseido model: “I’m shocked because it made an actual difference with my lashes,” she said. Another tester loved the high-quality squeeze mechanism and the “juicy soft” pad that facilitated fine-tuned results: “I could clamp down hard for a dramatic bend,” she noted. “When I wanted a gentler curve, I used less pressure.”
The design is durable. The Shiseido curler costs almost $30, so it was on the higher end of all the tools we tried, but it lasts a long time. Several staffers have owned and loved this model for multiple years, and they said they’ve had no complaints or problems — despite the day-to-day jangling their Shiseido curlers have endured in cosmetic cases and vanity drawers. That said, one tester noted that “mine doesn’t feel quite as good as this brand-spankin’-new one, since I’ve never changed the pads.” The Shiseido curler comes with a single replacement pad, and new pads are sold separately for about $7. Professional makeup artists may swap out pads every few weeks (after using the tool many times a day, every single day), but you can probably get away with less-frequent replacement: When a pad stiffens, flattens, or simply doesn’t curl lashes as much as it used to, change it out.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
It has a small opening. Compared with many other options we tested, the Shisiedo Eyelash Curler doesn’t have an especially big mouth: The opening is about 7 millimeters (3 millimeters smaller than the opening of our budget pick, the Kaasage curler). Some testers found it easier to position and maneuver eyelash curlers that had wider openings.
Budget pick: Kaasage Eyelash Curler
Budget pick
The Kaasage Eyelash Curler has finger loops that are lined with soft silicone, and panelists unanimously appreciated the upgraded handle and bang-for-your-buck extras, such as the included five replacement pads. Still, this curler’s performance was polarizing: Testers either adored the slight resistance they felt while squeezing it or were nervous about the springy sensation.
A springed hinge provides oomph. Where the Kaasage curler’s handles hinge, there’s a flexible wire spring that facilitates an easy squeeze: Several testers pointed out that it helped deliver superior curling results. “That gave me a much more dramatic look than the Shiseido,” one tester noted. Another tester said that switching from the Kaasage model to non-spring options, such as the Shiseido, Surratt, and Revlon curlers, reminded her of transitioning from a trampoline to the ground: “Movement feels blunt, heavy, and graceless,” she explained. Granted, getting a controlled and gentle — not jerky — movement requires practice. Many other contenders (the Tarte, E.L.F., Sally Hansen, and Tower 28 curlers) also have spring-loaded hinges, but they were overwhelmingly deemed too snappy and pinchy.
The plump pad feels luxe. The Kaasage curler’s 1-centimeter mouth is nice and wide, and the thick, juicy silicone pad creates gentle curves, as opposed to the angled crimps some other models leave on lashes. At about 6 millimeters, the silicone crescent is roughly twice as thick as the Shu Uemura pad, and it’s about 50% wider than pads in the Shiseido and Kevyn Aucoin curlers.
The ergonomic handles are incredibly comfortable. Hands down, the Kaasage curler was the most enjoyable to wield, squeeze, and hold: While some metal curlers dug into our knuckles, the Kaasage curler perfectly accommodated a gentle, four-finger grip. Of all the curlers we tested, Sally Hansen’s was the only other model with a finger rest — and that one was tiny.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Some testers found the Kaasage Eyelash Curler tricky to use. “The springy action takes some getting used to,” one tester noted. Another tester added that “it’s scary at first.”
The design looks juvenile. Several testers disliked the high-contrast matte-black-and-hot-pink color scheme, with one noting that they found it to be “childish.”
Why you should trust us
I’ve been reporting stories about beauty and skin care for more than 25 years. While working for several lifestyle magazines, I’ve written many “best of beauty” roundups that reflected the real-life needs of readers. I consider myself an excellent judge of products and the experiences they offer.
When I was in seventh grade, an eyelash curler was my first foray into the world of beauty: Not allowed to wear mascara or other makeup, I would detour on the way to the bus stop and sneak into my older sister’s room to use her CoverGirl lash curler. Over the years, I graduated to wearing mascara, and I’ve cycled through a few lash curlers, most recently landing on a Tweezerman Classic Curl. Fun fact from the history-repeating department: That lash curler was the first thing my daughter ever nicked from my makeup kit — when she was a middle-schooler!
In recent years, as my lashes have thinned and my lids have drooped, my heart and discretionary budget have both belonged to eyelash extensions, which I get professionally applied at a local beauty parlor. Lash curlers are not recommended for use with extensions, so I skipped getting my big, beloved falsies during the three months that I was researching, conducting testing for, and rewriting this guide.
Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.
How does an eyelash curler work?
For many people, an eyelash curler is an indispensable tool, but it isn’t a miracle worker. It doesn’t add length or darken or thicken lashes the way mascara does. It will, however, bend and shape upper lashes so they look lifted, which can also make eyes look bigger (and less tired).
Lash curlers generally have two arms that operate a rounded, jaw-like aperture. This opening tends to have a metal top clamp that lowers onto a bouncy (replaceable) pad when you squeeze the finger loops together. The more pressure you apply, the deeper the bend and curl you get. (These tools work especially well on straight or spiky lashes.)
You can use a lash curler on naked lashes, but you will likely get the best results when you also use mascara: Some Wirecutter testers brushed on mascara and then curled, while others did the opposite. A few makeup artists we spoke with suggested curling first and then swiping on mascara: This process keeps the tool cleaner, so your lashes are less likely to stick to the clamp.
How we picked and tested
For the rewrite of this guide, I interviewed four makeup artists to get their insights on what separates good eyelash curlers from great ones. I browsed the aisles of Target, CVS, Sephora, and Ulta. I waded into subreddits and rabbit-holed on retail sites. For real-world insights on eyelash-curler options, I dove deep into online reviews, looking to find products that maintained high star ratings over hundreds — or, better yet, thousands — of reviews. I also consulted with dozens of colleagues (with various eye shapes and lid types) to find out which lash curlers they’ve been using reliably — often over a span of several years.
I researched 37 options and arrived at a group of 19 that I would personally test (my usual go-to product, the Tweezerman Classic Curl, was among them). After three weeks of testing on my deep-set, hooded, sparsely lashed round eyes, I further narrowed the list to six lash curlers, which were then tested by a panel of Wirecutter staffers with a range of eye shapes, lid types, and lash lengths. Nine testers cycled through those six options over the course of a day. I asked an additional group of three people with almond-shaped eyes and/or monolids to try two other models (see below). All told, 13 panelists put eight contenders to the test.
Testers did eye-to-eye comparisons with various curlers, and they also used the contenders with and without mascara.
While evaluating each curler, panelists considered the following criteria:
- Curl shape and lasting results: We expected eyelash curlers to actually curl our lashes, not just crimp or bend them unnaturally. We looked for tools that created a fanned-out look that lasted for hours, with or without mascara.
- Comfort and fit: We sought options that easily corralled all of our lashes without pinching our lids. We also prioritized tools that rested comfortably against our cheeks and brow bones, without poking or pressing.
- Hand feel: We ferreted out tools that fit our fingers and hands, without digging in (no matter how much pressure we applied).
Another eyelash curler worth considering
A small, packable option for people with almond-shaped eyes and/or monolids: A few panelists with almond-shaped eyes and/or monolids tried the Japonesque Go Curl Travel Lash Curler and the Muji Portable Eyelash Curler, in addition to our top pick, the Shiseido Eyelash Curler. These plastic mini curlers are flat, and they operate with a drop-down lever. (A few testers with deep-set eyes found they couldn’t get these tools to reach their lashes.) Although testers liked how the Muji curler worked, and they loved its tiny size for makeup bags, it was slightly edged out by the Japonesque curler: “Amazing results! This grabs my lashes right from the base and gets a good curl,” said a tester with almond-shaped, hooded eyes. “The Japonesque feels much nicer to use,” another panelist noted.
The competition
Priced at about five bucks, the E.L.F. Cosmetics Pro Eyelash Curler was among the most affordable tools we considered. Its metal body and comfortable silicone handles looked sturdy, but testers thought the opening was too rounded, and the spring mechanism was too hair-trigger-bouncy. (One tester kept accidentally pinching her cheek when she released her grip.)
We were doubtful (bordering on fearful) of the heated eyelash curlers, yet the Grande Lash Lift Heated Eyelash Curler was a pleasant surprise. It delivered noticeable results, but it also required a 30-second wiggling motion that felt like an eternity, so it did not become a pick.
The Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Eyelash Curler was a previous pick, and it still has fans among our testers, who appreciated that the red silicone pad allows you to see your lashes as you position the jaw and squeeze. Some panelists found it to be too narrow and rounded for their eyes, however, and they preferred the Shiseido curler, which cost about $5 less.
Among the more-budget-friendly options, the Revlon Extra Curl felt cheap and rickety. Testers lamented its weak hinge, and it kept pinching one round-eyed panelist. Worst of all, it simply didn’t curl lashes very well.
If Barbie had a curling iron, it would be the Riki Loves Riki Heated Eyelash Curler, with its adjustable temperature settings and cute little clamp. We appreciate the attention to detail, but this model — unlike the Grande curler — just felt too hot to use safely, especially considering the clamp was difficult to maneuver.
The Sally Hansen Sexy Curls Eyelash Curler springs open and clamps shut with gusto, but the finger holes are small, and the tool sounded creaky and tired after a few weeks of use. Plus, it got caked with mascara far more quickly than other options.
Tarte’s Picture Perfect Eyelash Curler has soft, loopless handles and a nice bouncy mechanism, but (with or without mascara) it didn’t bend or curl lashes as well as other options.
The Thrive Causemetics Instant Lash Lift Eyelash Curler seemed to crimp lashes more than curl them. The lash pad also kept popping out of place. For a curler that’s almost $25, we expected more.
We love the look of the cute and compact Tower 28 Make Waves Eyelash Curler, but our hands felt cramped while using it. What’s more, the spring was excessively bouncy. And, like the E.L.F. curler, this one tended to snap and pinch our cheeks.
As with our top pick, the Shiseido curler, the Shu Uemura Iconic Eyelash Curler has many long-time fans among our staffers. It was divisive during testing, however: Some panelists got great results, while others found it to be too short and curved.
The Surratt Beauty Relevée costs nearly $40, and it was an upgrade pick in the previous version of this guide. During this round of testing, we considered it to be okay but not great. We especially disliked that the matte-black metal makes it virtually impossible to see your lashes as you’re using the tool.
Our previous budget pick, the Trim Deluxe Eyelash Curler, now costs less than $3 — and we would have loved to still love it! Alas, testers deemed it to be too small, with a jaw that missed a lot of lashes. And it had an “anemic” pad that put lashes too close to the metal edges.
Testers tried three different models of Tweezerman lash curlers. One round-eyed tester thought the Tweezerman ProCurl fit her eye shape well, but it dug into her fingers as she clamped. A tester with almond-shaped eyes gave the Tweezerman ProMaster a spin, and she said it pinched her lids and didn’t capture all of her lashes. The Tweezerman Classic Curl was our favorite option from the brand. But even then it was just “mid,” as one tester put it, and it took a fair amount of maneuvering to actually curl lashes. Testers also wished this one had some kind of spring or bounce mechanism.
This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Jennifer G. Sullivan. Camille Chatterjee wrote an earlier version of this article.
Sources
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Daniel Martin, makeup artist, email interview, June 26, 2025
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Rachel Goodwin, makeup artist, phone interview, June 17, 2025
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Lauren D’Amelio Ventre, makeup artist, email interview, June 27, 2025
