The 10 Best Eyelash Curlers

For most eyes, the Tweezerman Classic is the safe first buy. Its wide frame reaches from the inner corner to the outer edge, and the thick, rounded silicone pads grip without leaving a sharp crease. The box holds three spare pads, and the maker suggests a fresh pad every few months with daily use. It can nip the lid on deep-set or very round eyes, and other brands' pads don't always fit.

Lashes that grow straight out or hide under a hooded lid are where the Shiseido Curler built its name. The frame has a broad, gentle curve that sits flatter against the lid, and its rounded edges keep skin out of the hinge. It's slim and light in the hand. Beauty editors and makeup forums have named it a favorite for monolid eyes for years. Only one spare pad comes with it, which is stingy for what it costs.

Backstage makeup artists made the Shu Uemura Iconic famous, and plenty still reach for it first. Its frame is shaped to hug the lash line right at the roots, so it can grab short, straight lashes that tend to slip away. One spare pad is included, and Shu Uemura says to change pads about twice a year. The hinge can loosen with long use, and refill pads can be hard to track down.

Tight budgets still get a full metal frame with the e.l.f. Pro, along with soft, grippy covers on the handles and a spare silicone pad. The curve is moderate, so it fits average almond-shaped eyes best. The brand is certified cruelty-free and vegan, which matters to many makeup shoppers. Very hooded or very round eyes may find it misses the corner lashes, and the handle covers make the tool a little bulky in a small bag.

Deep-set, almond and monolid eyes are the target of the Japonesque Pro Performance. A gentle arch and a pivoting top bar spread the pressure evenly across the lashes, and the opening is wide enough for long or false lashes. The black handles give a steady hold at awkward angles, and a refill pad is included. That shallow arch is a poor match for large, round eyes, which can end up with only the middle lashes curled.

Anyone who clamps down too hard may like the Surratt Relevee, from makeup artist Troy Surratt's brand. Its springy silicone pads are built to curl with a lighter squeeze, and the brand's method is three soft presses moving from root to tip. A fresh pad every three months is the advice. That's steep money for a simple metal clamp, and praise for it comes mostly from makeup fans, not formal reviews.

Big, round eyes need a deeper curve, and the Tweezerman Curl 60 is built for them. Its top bar is angled more steeply, so the pad follows a rounder lid without catching skin at the corners. The thick silicone pads resist creasing, and the opening leaves room for full lashes. Tweezerman also sells a flatter version for almond eyes, so pick by shape. On hooded or monolid eyes, the steep curve tends to skip the outer lashes.

As a gift, the Brilliant Beauty set is tidy: a rose gold steel frame, two refill pads and a satin pouch to keep it clean in a purse. The curve is moderate and the opening wide, so it suits most almond and average lids. Its contoured handles are meant to stay put when your fingers are slick with moisturizer. The design closely copies a long-running classic, and the brand offers no clear warranty.

If your hands tire or shake, the Kaasage KM02 helps with its padded finger-hole grips and a spring that opens the clamp again on its own. Five spare silicone pads come in the kit, enough for more than a year of daily use. A soft squeeze and a short hold are enough to set a gentle curl. The purple-and-black grips are plastic, and they can crack after long use. It's also bulky to carry.

The Muji Portable is a clear plastic clip no bigger than a matchbox, with no scissor handles at all. You push a slide with your thumb to press the pad onto the lashes, and the whole thing slips into a pocket or a tiny makeup pouch. A refill rubber pad is included. Without handles it's harder to steer around an angled or hooded lid, and the light plastic body flexes under pressure.