TL;DR
Our favorite eyelash curler is the Kevyn Aucoin The Eyelash Curler thanks to how comfortable it is to use and how well it curls the lashes and gives them a natural-looking flutter. For a more wallet-friendly option, we recommend the Kaasage Eyelash Curler with silicone pad refills.
An eyelash curler may not be the most exciting beauty tool in your arsenal but don’t underestimate the power of a genuinely 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 one that works for your lashes 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 the various options around—many of which look almost identical—it can be tedious to figure out which will work best for you. Or, perhaps you assume they’re all the same? They’re not—we promise. To remove the guesswork, we put 29 eyelash curlers to the test—evaluating each on ease of use, curl performance, and comfort—and chatted with Australian makeup artist Michael Brown to help us understand what makes a good eyelash curler. The list below reflects all that—time to get your lashes curling!
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Best for Beginners:
Most Comfortable:
Best Lifting:
Best for Lefties:
Best for Thin Lashes:
Best Overall
Kevyn Aucoin The Eyelash Curler
What We Like
Comfortable, seamless design
Wide enough to capture all lashes
Provides a natural-looking curl
What to Consider
Doesn’t come with any replacement pads
Material: Stainless steel frame, rubber pads
The best eyelash curler enables such seamless curling that using it feels like muscle memory—not a painful chore during your makeup routine. After testing dozens, there’s no doubt that this curler from Kevyn Aucoin checked all of our boxes. First of all, comfort was clearly a top priority when constructing this curler, with large enough slots for your fingers, a soft rubber pad to prevent slippage without pulling out any lashes, and a wide enough surface for securing all of your lashes in one fell swoop. We were also pleased with its performance, of course, delivering a natural-looking curl and lift that lasted all day—even on straight lashes (the true test). Lastly, we love the sleek look with its stainless steel finish, engraved brand name, and bright red pad.
Karla, tester with straight lashes: “The eyelash curler performs beautifully, delivering a natural yet noticeable lift to my lashes. After consistent use, I noticed an improvement in the curl of my lashes, making them appear longer and more defined than when I use other eyelash curlers.”
What We Like
Curls lashes quickly
Comes with replacement silicone pads
Feels comfortable close to the roots
What to Consider
Might be too small for those with larger eyes
Material: Metal frame, silicone pads
Affordable yet just as effective as many high-end options we tried, this eyelash curler is perfect for those who don’t want to splurge on makeup tools or anyone new to curling their lashes. It curls and lifts pin-straight lashes with ease, even on those with small or narrow-set eyes. We also appreciate that the tool never caught our lashes or caused discomfort. This option even comes with replacement pads, so you won’t have to purchase those separately once yours wears down, making this option an even better bang for your buck.
Mandy, tester: “This did an excellent job curling my lashes. There was a very noticeable curl and volumizing effect compared to my pre-curled eyelashes. I also appreciate that the package includes silicone pad refills”
What We Like
Soft pads
Comes with a replacement pad
Wide enough to curl all lashes at once
What to Consider
Curls may be too subtle for those wanting a dramatic lift
Material: Metal frame, silicone pads
If you’re new to curling your lashes, we can understand how a tool like an eyelash curler can seem intimidating. Luckily, this option makes the process easy for beginners thanks to its unique handle shape that accommodates fingers of all sizes, wide opening to easily grip all lashes at once, and soft silicone pads that don’t pinch—a necessity when you’re first attempting to use a curler. We’re also fans of the gold design as it adds a luxe touch to your set of makeup tools, and the additional silicone pad it comes with as a replacement when the first (inevitably) wears out.
Bianca, tester with no eyelash curler experience: “Even with long nails, I found this super easy to use. My fingers fit comfortably through the slots, and the curler easily captured all of my lashes. As someone who's never used an eyelash curler, this one was easy to work with, even as I tried to get the hang of curling my lashes.”
What We Like
Ergonomic design
Thick pad for optimal curl
Strong spring for added lift
What to Consider
Not wide enough to gather all of our lashes
Material: Matte black metal, silicone pads
Comfort is key when it comes to eyelash curlers to prevent any pinching or pulling mishaps with your beloved lashes. This option from Surratt felt ergonomic and sturdy, getting the job done seamlessly and preventing any discomfort during the curling process. Its thick silicone pad didn’t budge when pressing down on our lashes, ensuring they would get the proper curl without a pinch. During testing, we found that this curler provided a natural look that lasted most of the day, thanks to its strong spring that left our lashes with the utmost volume.
Aamina, tester with tons of experience using eyelash curlers: “I think it's a great curler, and I do really appreciate the thickness and sturdiness of the silicone pad because I have had some that are flimsier. I also appreciate that it comes with a fabric pouch to safely take it places when I travel.”
What We Like
Gets close to roots without pinching
Wide enough to curl all lashes at once
Soft pad
What to Consider
Curl doesn’t last as long as we would like
Material: Metal frame, silicone pads
If lifting straight lashes is your main concern, the Shiseido Eyelash Curler will deliver your desired results. We succeeded in getting the curler super close to our lash line without pulling or pinching (a rare feat!) and captured all of our lashes in one go, allowing for a noticeable lift. Despite this extra oomph, our lashes still looked perfectly natural and lasted for the better part of the day. The pad was also softer, so there wasn’t a moment during the curling process where we feared our lashes would come out—an unfortunate instance we’ve experienced before.
Taylore, tester with straight lashes: “This curler gave me a more lifted curve in my lashes that appeared naturally pretty yet still noticeable."
What We Like
Ergonomic
Keeps flat lashes lifted and curled all day
What to Consider
Specifically made for almond-shaped, deep-set eyes, rather than for all eye shapes
Material: Metal frame, hypoallergenic silicone pads
While eyelash curlers are not technically made exclusively for righties, we’ve found that most options are objectively more comfortable for them—leaving left-handed folks with (what feels like) fewer options. Luckily, Tweezerman’s curler was a win for our lefty testers, easily fitting between their fingers for a seamless curl that remained all day, even when working with thin lashes that typically fall flat. We’ll mention that it’s designed for almond-shaped, deep-set eyes, so keep that in mind if your eye shape falls into a different category.
Saleam, left-handed tester with almond-shaped eyes: “I love that this curler is designed specifically for my eye shape and works well for left-handed use. It gave a nice natural curl and the appearance of longer lashes, and held up throughout the day as well. It gave my usually almost invisible lashes a needed lift.”
Best for Almond-Shaped Eyes
Revlon Triple-Stepped Eyelash Curler
What We Like
Wide enough for almond-shaped eyes
One clamp is all you need for a curl
Three-tier pad construction for the ultimate lift
What to Consider
Top cushion is bulkier than we’d like
Material: Metal, silicone pads
Considering almond-shaped eyes usually have more surface area to cover, it’s crucial to find an eyelash curler wide enough to grab all your lashes at once and provide them with the utmost curl and lift. This wider option’s three-tiered curling method, complete with interlocking upper and lower pads, ensures that no lash gets left behind on those almond-shaped eyes. Despite this curler’s innovative design, using it is straightforward, requiring just one clamp to get your desired results.
Lauren, tester with almond-shaped eyes: “I really liked the C-shape curl it created, and I noticed it lasted longer and for more hours than the more expensive (similar) lash curler I had been using previously. I was happy with these results since my lashes typically fall flat after a few hours—this was definitely more long-wear.”
Best for Thin Lashes
Trish McEvoy Perfect Lift Eyelash Curler
What We Like
Prevents eyelashes from clumping together
The curl lasts all day
Compact size allows for easy storage
What to Consider
Clamping too hard leaves lashes with a kink rather than a curl
Material: Metal, pad material unknown
Curling thin eyelashes is not always the easiest task—or so we originally thought before using this Trish McEvoy curler. This option felt unique because it didn’t require too much of a squeeze to get results, leaving us with a perfect, evenly-spaced curl rather than a lackluster lift with clumped-together lashes. Those with thin lashes were left a more natural-looking curl, yet someone with thick lashes may discover more dramatic results, so keep this in mind if this is your lash type.
Ashley, tester with thin lashes: “Before this test, I never thought there was much difference in eyelash curler performance, but this one proved me wrong. When I squeezed with just a little bit of pressure it left my lashes looking beautiful. When I applied my mascara after using the curler, it looked so good, making my eyes look bigger and my lashes longer.”
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 the best results using a longer, more oval-shaped curler, whereas rounded or hooded eyes should look for something shorter and more circular.
- Comfortability: When using a tool that goes as close to your eyes as an eyelash curler does, the device must be comfortable in your hands to prevent accidentally poking your eye or pinching your lid. Look out for large enough finger slots and soft pads that promote comfort during the curling process—these will also ensure you’re using the product correctly, resulting in a perfectly lifted lash.
FAQ
How do you use an eyelash curler?
Brown explains that when it comes to using an eyelash curler, it’s all about technique. “Start with clean lashes and move the curler towards the base of the lash line, clamping slowly to not pinch or pull out any hairs,” he says. “Once it’s tight, use a gentle pumping motion to open and close the curler around the lashes while simultaneously moving the curler outwards. Once you get to the center of the lashes, stop and go straight in with mascara to lock in the curl.”
Are eyelash curlers safe?
Brown explains that if you use the curler correctly, it’s completely safe. “Just be sure not to pull or tug at the lash,” he adds. If you’re a beginner, go slowly on your first go-around to prevent any accidents.
Should you use an eyelash curler before or after mascara?
Brown suggests using an eyelash curler before applying mascara. If you use it after, the tool can stick to the mascara, increasing your chances of damaging or pulling out your lashes.
How do you clean an eyelash curler?
Regular cleaning of your eyelash curler is extremely important to avoid infections in the eye area. Some eyelash curlers have removable pads that can be replaced when they get grubby. Use a cotton bud soaked in micellar water or makeup remover and gently sweep it across each pad as a quick cleaning regimen, or remove the pads and wash them in warm, soapy water for a deeper clean.
Why Trust Byrdie
Madison Barber is a contributing shopping writer specializing in beauty and fashion. With over two years of commerce writing experience and a long-standing obsession with cosmetics, Madison brings a passion for beauty and a thorough knowledge of several categories in the space, from skincare to makeup to hair care. She scrutinized insights from a select group of testers who participated in a two-week-long test with the featured eyelash curlers to choose the top-performing picks and write this roundup.
Alyssa Kaplan contributed to a previous version of this article. She is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and has been on the Byrdie team since 2022. Alyssa received a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied marketing and product development in the cosmetics industry. The Byrdie team spoke with the following expert for additional insight:
- Michael Brown, an Australia-based makeup artist
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.