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Most items in your makeup collection are easily replaceable. Once you’ve used up an eyeshadow palette or a blush, there are myriad options in the market ready to fill up space in your bathroom cabinet. However, there is one item most makeup lovers will never change: their eyelash curler. Eyelash curlers are one of those unicorn products you’re fiercely loyal to and never replace unless it actually breaks. (We’re big fans of the Tweezerman Pro Master Lash Curler in particular.) If you’re still on the hunt for The One, shop some favorites from celebrity makeup artists who know best. Ahead, Patrick Ta, Mario Dedivanovic, Mary Phillips, and more experts share their top picks.
“Curling eyelashes is a non-negotiable step for me—it’s an intricate part of my routine when I’m working on clients,” says makeup artist Patrick Ta, a favorite of Gigi Hadid and Adriana Lima He loves this Kevyn Aucoin classic “because it has the perfect curve even on the roundest of eyes.”
Kevyn Aucoin’s curler is also the number one pick for Rommy Najor, who works with Martha Hunt and Doutzen Kroes. “It’s slightly wider than the [cult-favorite] Shu curler, which catches more lashes on the ends,” she says. “Also, it doesn’t require a strong pinch to the lash in order to curl the lashes, and it’s priced well, too!”
Best for a Long-Lasting Curl
Shu Uemura Iconic Eyelash Curler
The name says it all. This legendary lash enhancer is truly the G.O.A.T of curlers. Beloved by many, including celebrity makeup artist Dani Kimiko Vincent, who has worked with Sandra Oh, this tool is a surefire way to instantly look more awake.
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Best for Newbies
Japonesque Extreme Eyelash Curler
Mary Phillips, whose work you’ve seen on Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid, swears by this Japonesque curler, mainly due to its high arch in the center that gives a deeper curl in the middle of the lash line. The unique shape has two benefits: when lashes have the most length in the center, they really open up the eyes, and she finds that the curler is “less intimidating for clients, since it does not clamp down as close to the eyeball as a classic-shaped curler normally does.”
“It really hugs the lash line better than any other curler that I’ve tried,” says Katie Jane Hughes, a makeup artist who works with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Ashley Graham.” [It] seems wider than most other lash curlers, so therefore is the most universal.”
Kim Kardashian’s go-to Mario Dedivanovic is also a fan of this curler, adding that he counts to five on each eye so that the curl is perfectly symmetrical. He says the curler also helps protect the lashes from breakage.
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“It comes down to solid design: it doesn’t pinch, the curing pad hits the Goldilocks zone for firmness and roundness, it comes with an extra curling pad—all for a cheaper price than similar high-end models,” says makeup artist Vanessa Scali, whose clients include Anna Kendrick and Christina Hendricks. Patrick Ta is also a fan of this curler “because it can curl the smallest of lashes.”
Najor also likes this uniquely shaped curler. “I always have this on hand for stubborn lashes, or if I like to curl lashes in sections after applying false eyelashes,” he says. “It’s a tiny lash curler that you pinch the lashes with.”
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Best for Different Lash Colors
Tweezerman ProCurl Eyelash Curler
“I have it in rose gold, and I love how you can see the lashes against the color of the curler—you can gauge how much of a curl you’re getting,” says Vincent Oquendo, the makeup artist behind Lily Collins, Tessa Thompson, and Elsa Hosk.
Fiona Stiles recently used this curler on actress Mireille Enos for the 2022 SAG Awards to help achieve what she called an “intense curl.”
The lash hair at the edges of your eye can be tricky to grab with a curler, but this tool, which is a favorite of makeup artist Manuel Espinoza—who has worked with model and activist Ebonee Davis— curves deep enough to catch all hair along the inner and outer lash line.
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Tina Turnbow, who works with Taylor Schilling and Debra Messing, favors this Nars curler because “it gently curls so the lashes are not too bent.” Plus, it “fits most eye shapes really well.”
Nicole Faulkner, a makeup artist beloved by beauty influencers like Jaclyn Hill and Laura Lee, is a fan of this MAC curler because “it gives you a quick curl with no pinching and comes in a sleek all-black finish.”
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Faulkner is also a fan of this Tweezerman curler because it “is so durable and gives you a nice, tight curl.”
Additional reporting by Katie Dickens.
Kristin Corpuz
Kristin is a freelance beauty, travel, fashion, and lifestyle editor and writer based in Los Angeles, and she is a proud graduate of Berklee College of Music. You can read her work in a variety of other publications, including Elle, Elite Daily, Architectural Digest, Glamour, Billboard, and many more. Kristin previously worked as a lifestyle staff writer for Elite Daily, in the charts department at Billboard, and on the social media team at INSIDER. She loves jetsetting around the globe, her German Shepherd, Frankie, and a perfect pinky-brown nude lipstick. Keep in touch on Instagram @kristincorpuz_ and learn more at www.kristincorpuz.com
Nykia Spradley
Nykia Spradley is a beauty journalist with over 10 years of experience. She has served as the interim beauty director at Elle.com, commerce editor for Allure, and beauty editor at Essence. Nykia’s writing has also appeared in ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Coveteur, TZR, and more. She holds a master’s degree in digital journalism from Columbia University. Nykia is a red lipstick and hot sauce enthusiast (respectively) and forever lover of ’90s R&B. Keep in touch on Instagram @nyksprads and learn more at nykiaspradley.com.
