An eyelash curler might not be the most exciting beauty tool in your collection but don’t underestimate the power of a really good one. If you, like so many others, struggle to achieve the curled lash look of your dreams due to straight or droopy lashes, finding a lash curler that works for you can change your makeup game entirely. An eyelash curler helps temporarily elongate the lashes and points them up (rather than straight out), making them look longer, fuller, and more voluminous.
But with tons of options out there—many of which look almost identical—it can be difficult to figure out which one will work best for you. Or, perhaps you assume that they’re all the same? They’re not—we promise (some less traditional ones heat up!). To take the guesswork out of it, we put 29 eyelash curlers to the test, and chatted with Michael Brown, an Australia-based makeup artist, to help us understand what makes a good eyelash curler. The list below reflects all that—time to get your lashes curling!
Pain-free lash-curling
Eyelashes appeared wider and more lifted
Comfortable every step of the way
Slots for fingers are a bit small
Material: Metal frame, hypoallergenic silicone pads
This classic eyelash curler is designed for people with almond-shaped or deep-set eyes, but the extra wide opening makes it a great option for people with hooded eyes, too. During testing, we were seriously impressed —it made our eyes appear wider and more awake. The difference was truly remarkable when looking at our newly-curled lashes and regular ‘ol lashes side by side. The curler offers a nice lift, giving our eyelashes a puffed-up, fanned-out effect.
Using this tool was a breeze from start to finish—from how comfortably the grip sat in our hands to how gently the clamp curled our lashes. If we could change anything it we would make the slots where the fingers grip the curler a bit larger to accommodate people with larger hands.
Curls lashes quickly
Comes with replacement silicone pads
Feels comfortable close to the roots
Might be too small for those with larger eyes
Material: Metal frame, silicone pads
Looking to snag a great eyelash curler for a bargain? This option is affordable and effective, making it great for beginners. It helps curl and volumize pin-straight lashes with ease, even on those with small or narrow-set eyes. It also comes with replacement pads, so you won’t have to purchase those separately. In addition to helping us achieve lifted lashes, we appreciated that the tool never caught our lashes or caused discomfort while using it repeatedly during testing.
Curls the lashes quickly
Wide enough to capture all lashes
Design prevents user from being too forceful
The angle can be tricky to master
Material: Metal frame, silicone pads
Laura Mercier is arguably most known for its iconic loose-setting powders, but don’t sleep on this lash curler. The classic design is enhanced by a double-handled grip that steadies your hands as you curl your lashes. The brand claims that just one squeeze is all it takes to form a curl—and we have to agree. During testing, we achieved a lifted, curled look with just one pump. We especially love this one if you tend to be a bit aggressive when curling your lashes. When we clamped our lashes pretty hard (per usual...), the tool prevented us from applying too much force. The only thing we weren’t thrilled with was the angle of the curler. It took a couple of tries to master the grip so we wouldn’t accidentally nip our eyelids, but once we got the hang of it, we loved the results.
Standard curler that's easy to use
Effectively curls short lashes
Can access the base of the lashes
Can be too narrow for some eye shapes
Material: Metal frame, silicone pads
If Chanel ballet flats aren’t in your budget at this time (because same), this is the next best thing to add a little luxury to your everyday life for just $30. A slightly more elevated version of the classic eyelash curler, this one works to lift every lash with minimal effort on your end. It gently cradles lashes and lifts them from the root to the tip, offering a subtle curl that lasts for several hours without a smidge of pain or discomfort. It's also perfect for short or thin lashes—it creates a beautiful, elongating effect. The only thing we wish we could change is that this curler can be a bit narrow for some eye shapes. While we didn’t have any issues with it, some reviewers online pointed out that the curler didn’t reach the outer lashes on their larger-sized eyes.
Weighted, luxe feel
Doesn't cause pinching
Thin pad allows for precise curl
Might not work as well on smaller or almond-shaped eyes
Material: Matte black metal, silicone rubber pads
This incredibly popular, award-winning eyelash curler is excellent for wide-set or round eyes because it will grip even the outermost lashes. The curler has a weighted and luxurious feeling and a sleek matte black finish to match. Its ergonomic design and bouncy silicone pads ensure you don’t need too much force to yield results—and pinching, lash breakage, and discomfort are virtually non-existent. During testing, we found that the thin silicone pad allowed for precise clamping, leaving us with beautifully curled lashes in no time.
Wide design ensures all lashes are gripped
Results range from natural to ultra-curled
Reaches inner and outer corner lashes with ease
Some may find it too small for large or round eyes
Material: Metal frame, silicone pads
Another award-winning lash curler, this one is excellent for almond-shaped eyes—the exaggerated curvature targets every lash—even harder-to-reach lashes in the inner and outer corners of the eye. The curve of the rim is a bit more exaggerated than many other curlers on the market, which ensures that every eyelash is evenly curled (even those inner or outer corner ones that might be harder to reach). The firm finger grip adds to the appeal—it makes the whole lash-curling process feel sturdy and comfortable. When we tested for curling power, we were impressed with the results: we achieved a subtle lift by squeezing our lashes just once and a more dramatic curl by applying three squeezes and slightly more pressure. It may not be the best for those with rounder eyes due to the shape.
Read Full Review: Shiseido's Eyelash Curler Gave Me Next-Level Lift and Curl
Simple and comfortable to use
Doesn’t apply excessive tension
Comes with extra lash pad stored in the curler
The curl doesn’t last as long as we’d like
Material: Metal frame, Soft silicone pads
Eyelash curlers can be bulky, especially when traveling. While this compact design was made specifically with travel in mind, it gets the job done whether you’re on the go or not. Rather than featuring loops that put your fingers through to clamp the lashes, it’s powered by a small lever in the back of the tool—all you need to do is gently press down to create the curl. During testing, we loved how effortless using the tool was, as well as the beautiful, wide-eyed results it provided. Also nice: The soft padding protected our lashes from damage (i.e., in the form of too much tension and pressure on the downward clamp) while still garnering an effective curl. The curl doesn’t last quite as long as the curls we achieved from other options, but the travel-friendly design makes up for that.
Can customize results
Contains two different heat settings
Doesn’t pinch or cause discomfort
Takes longer to achieve results than with a regular curler
Material: Metal and plastic comb
Think of this pick as a curling iron for your eyelashes. Now, that might sound dangerous, but this heated lash curler boasts a design that protects the skin near your lashes from the heat. It features a comb-like mechanism that heats up before you brush it through your lashes. You use it by following the same motion you make when brushing your hair from root to tip—this creates a lifted effect.
During testing, it ironically earned a top score in the ease of use category. We loved that we could achieve a naturally lifted look rather than an ultra-defined crimp. Just beware that using this heated option will take a bit longer to yield results than a traditional curler—you have to heat the lashes for 20 seconds to get the desired effect.
Padded handles for comfort
Limited tension to prevent discomfort
Soft, bouncy curling pad
Some reviewers find it’s not forceful enough to create a dramatic curling effect
Material: Metal frame, silicone pads and grips
Using an eyelash curler can take some getting used to—which is understandable, considering it involves placing a hard tool so close to the eyes. So, finding one that ensures you have a good grip can be game-changing. Rather than having thin metal handles, this curler features padded handles that are wider than most to allow for a solid grip and prevent it from slipping out of your grasp.
The padded handles made us feel like we had complete control, while the squishy lash pad helped to ensure we didn’t damage our lashes. (This combination makes it another great option for beginners.) We achieved a curled effect in just a few pumps, but some online reviewers feel that the ultra-soft pad and limited tension prevented them from getting a pronounced curl.
What to Look For in an Eyelash Curler
- Shape: The shape of the actual curler is an important feature to consider as you want something that will work with the shape of your eye, explains Brown. Elongated eyes will see best results using a longer, more oval-shaped curler, like the Shiseido Eyelash Curler, whereas rounded or hooded eyes should look for something shorter and more circular, like the SURRATT Relevee Lash Curler.
- Curling mechanism: Most eyelash curlers use a clamping motion to mold a curvature into the lashes—but there are other options. If you find that clamping your eyelashes causes you discomfort or you struggle to maintain a steady hand, using a heated lash curler that works like a comb, like the Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH-LIFT Heated Lash Curler, could be a better option for you.
- Grip: If you want a steadier grip on the tool, look for a lash curler that has padded handles to guide you and support you while you clamp. We like the Dior Backstage Lash Curler for this reason, as it really ensured a sturdy grasp during testing.
Why Trust Byrdie
Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and a product tester specializing in cosmetics. She received a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied marketing and product development in the cosmetics industry. Alyssa has been a commerce writer at Byrdie since 2022, where she covers all things beauty.
Caitlyn Martyn is a commerce writer on staff at Byrdie, where she reports on beauty and style. She has short, stubby lashes and relies heavily on eyelash curlers to achieve the fluttery, flirty lashes she loves.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough eyelash curlers from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com, and we will evaluate the product ASAP.