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10 best eyelash curlers for lift and length, tried and tested

Give your lashes a boost, with these simple beauty tools

Daisy Lester
Thursday 29 August 2024 12:34 EDT
Want to give your lashes a lift? We’ve rounded up the best ones to buy right now
Want to give your lashes a lift? We’ve rounded up the best ones to buy right now (The Independent/iStock)
Our Top Picks

While eyelash curlers might all look the same, they aren’t all made equal (trust us, we’ve tried a lot). From heated styles (think hair curlers for your lashes) to classic stainless steel designs, achieving sky-high lashes for an awakened eye look is all down to finding the best beauty tool for the job.

While some think it’s a superfluous step in a make-up routine, eyelash curlers have firm endorsement from make-up artists and A-listers alike. Alexa Chung, Kim Kardashian and Jodi Comer all have the tool in their beauty arsenal, while MUAs rely on curlers to help their clients’ lashes hold mascara and give extra fullness.

“If you curl your lashes with eyelashes curlers, it can help secure a lift that mascara can’t,” confirms top make-up artist Caroline Barnes, who has worked with the likes of Kiera Knightly, Aimee Lou Wood, Nicola Coughlan and Emma Raducanu.

Classic curlers have two plates which, when squeezed together via the tool’s handles, work to curl, lengthen and separate lashes. As for application, keep the lashes in place with an eyelash curler for around 10 seconds before releasing.

“Squeeze the curlers at the root of your lash, then in the centre of your lash. This will create a subtle curve to your lashes rather than just bending them in one place,” Barnes adds. Then, add a layer of mascara (Barnes suggests a waterproof formula, to really lock in the curl) and you’ve got doll-like lashes in less than a minute.

If you want to give your lashes a lift, keep scrolling, as we’ve rounded up the best eyelash curlers available right now.

How we tested

(Daisy Lester/The Independent)

We tested around 20 eyelash curlers before selecting our top 10, based on which ones gave us the best results. Some we’ve used for years, others we’ve tested especially for this review but all left us seriously impressed. Considering ease of use and curling prowess, these are the tools that took our lashes to new heights.

The best eyelash curlers for 2024 are:

  • Best overall – Shiseido eyelash curler: £20.80, Boots.com
  • Best budget buy – Elf pro eyelash curler: £5, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best for lengthening – Charlotte Tilbury life changing eyelash curler: £20, Charlottetilbury.com
  • Best for round eyes – Tweezerman deluxe eyelash curler: £17, Lookfantastic.com
  • Best heated eyelash curler – StylePro heated eyelash curler: £14.99, Lookfantastic.com

Shiseido eyelash curler

Shiseido best eyelash curlers review indybest
  • Best: Overall
  • Designed for: All eye shapes
  • Replacement pad included: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Doesn’t pinch or pull
    • Comfortable contoured frame
    • Grabs every lash
    • Long-lasting curl

Shiseido has been the gold standard for eyelash curlers for years. Its tool boasts an edge-free design that prevents pinching and nipping, with the contoured frame feeling comfortable and sturdy in hand. Featuring a silicone pad (and a replacement), the curved design grabs every last lash from the inner to the outer corner.

Our lashes were lifted instantly and dramatically after use, with the tool curling, defining and volumising with just one quick squeeze. While mascara goes on far more smoothly and evenly, and with less clumping, after using this tool, the Shiseido curler is so good you can easily go for a bare lashes look (the lifted effect lasts all day). It’s pricier than some other eyelash curlers, but well worth investing in if you’re after flawless application and a naturally lifted look.

  1.  £20 from Boot.com
Prices may vary
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Elf pro eyelash curler

ELF best eyelash curlers review indybest
  • Best: Budget buy
  • Designed for: All eye shapes
  • Replacement pad included: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Comfortable handles
    • Snug curved head
    • Flattering curl
  • Take note
    • Can pinch if yousqueeze too hard

Elf impresses us time after time with its budget beauty buys, including this £5 eyelash curler. Easily rivalling more-premium brands, the curler features a contoured frame and large, padded handles that fit comfortably in your hand. Though it’s quite small and compact overall, the larger handles help with precise application. The curved head fits the shape of your eyes but be careful not to squeeze too hard, as it can pull skin. A light squeeze for around 30 seconds creates nicely curled, lengthened and defined lashes that last for most of the day. A reliable tool to throw in your make-up travel bag, it also comes with an additional rubber pad.

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Dior backstage eyelash curler

Dior best eyelash curlers review indybest
  • Best: Cushioned design
  • Designed for: All eye shapes
  • Replacement pad included: No
  • Why we love it
    • Comfortable handles
    • Luxurious packaging
    • Cushioned rubber pad

Anything from Dior feels like a luxurious affair. Arriving in the brand’s signature silver box with black branding, this tool would make a lovely gift. The slick metal frame is complete with smooth, padded handles that feel extra snug in hand. The curved head gets you as close to the lash line as possible without any pinching, while the cushioned silicone pad prevents any breakage. The rubber pad feels extra cushioned and plush on Dior’s curler, leading to super-smooth application. Every lash is grabbed and curled, with the results lasting all day. A coating of mascara is the pièce de résistance.

  1.  £21 from Boots.com
Prices may vary
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Charlotte Tilbury life changing eyelash curler

Charlotte Tilbury best eyelash curlers review indybest
  • Best: For lengthening
  • Designed for: Wider eyes
  • Replacement pad included: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Glamorous design
    • Comfortable handles
    • Lengthened and fanned lashes

With its gleaming rose-gold finish, Charlotte Tilbury’s eyelash curler is in line with the brand’s signature glamorous style. A real showstopper in your make-up bag, it’s pretty and functional. The curved head and black silicone pad comfortably separate, lift and curl lashes without nipping skin. Just a couple of squeezes does the job, with the design best suited to those with wider eyes. We saw a satisfying curl and much longer length after use, with the fanned look staying in place throughout the day. To keep your tool in use for longer, the curler comes with a replacement pad.

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StylePro heated eyelash curler

Stylpro best eyelash curlers review indybest
  • Best: Heated eyelash curler
  • Designed for: Stubborn lashes
  • Replacement pad included: No
  • Why we love it
    • Sleek case makes it great for travelling
    • Creates a steep curve to lashes
  • Take note
    • Slightly tricky to get all lashes curled at once

Heated eyelash curlers may sound scary but, after trying this one from StylPro, we realised there is nothing to fear. Use the lever to press your lashes onto the heated pad. Hold for no more than 10 seconds, then release slowly for some seriously fluttery lashes.

We loved how the heating pad changed colour to indicate when it was at the perfect temperature, and the warmth from the pad was much more soothing and comforting than expected. Our lashes were left looking defined and elongated but we did find it a bit tricky to make sure all the hairs were getting clamped at once, due to the shape of the pad – it is very obvious when you miss a lash or two. We still think this is a great pick for those with particularly stubborn lashes, though, as the heat helps to loosen them up nicely.

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Kiko Milano eyelash curler

Kiko best eyelash curlers review indybest
  • Best: For smaller eyes
  • Designed for: Smaller eyes
  • Replacement pad included: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Good size for travelling
    • Flattering fanned effect
    • Easy to grip

Kiko’s bargain eyelash curler is made from sturdy stainless steel with silicone cushions. The tool is slightly more compact than other eyelash curlers we tested, so it’s a good one to fit in your travel make-up bag. The tool is easy to grip and tightly hugs lashes from root to tip, giving them definition and lift, as well as a flattering fanned effect. We found Kiko’s tool is best suited to smaller eyes, as it’s not as wide as other curlers. A quick and easy tool for a natural-looking flutter, the results aren’t as long-lasting as those generated by other tools, plus the lengthening was a little subtler.

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Tweezerman deluxe eyelash curler

Tweezerman best eyelash curlers review indybest
  • Best: For round eyes
  • Designed for: Rounder eyes
  • Replacement pad included: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Sturdy design
    • Precise
    • Lashes get more dramatic with repeated use

Just like the brand’s famous tweezers, Tweezerman’s eyelash curlers will be a sturdy addition to your beauty arsenal (there’s no risk of this tool falling apart any time soon). The ergonomic handles help with precise use, with the thick, rounded curler pad getting to the lash line without any pinching or pulling. Just a couple of seconds squeezing reveals beautifully curled and lengthened lashes, which can be made more dramatic with repeated use. Great for rounder and almond-shape eyes, it boasts a slightly more curved head than other curlers. Complete with three replacement pads, the sub-£20 eyelash curlers offer stellar value for money, too.

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RevitaLash signature eyelash curler

Revitalash best eyelash curlers review indybest
  • Best: For precision
  • Designed for: Wider eyes
  • Replacement pad included: No
  • Why we love it
    • Sturdy design
    • Precise head
    • Quick and easy to use

A brand famous for its eyelash growth serums – as used by Meghan Markle and Kim Kardashian – RevitaLash’s eyelash curler gives your lashes even more length and definition. The carbon steel design feels sturdy and comfortable to grip, while the wide, curved head fits snugly along the lash line without any discomfort. Around seven seconds of light squeezing yielded impressive results, with the tool grabbing individual lashes to give the appearance of volume and fullness. Thanks to the tool’s precision, the final curl is flattering and fanned, which prevents mascara from clumping over the top. Owing to the curler’s open shape, it’s a nice fit for wide eyes, as it captures every lash without the need to go in at different angles.

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Mac full lash curler

MAC best eyelash curlers review indybest
  • Best: For a natural curl
  • Designer for: Smaller eyes
  • Replacement pad included: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Closest curl on test
    • Seperates lashes
    • No kinking
    • Ergonomically designed

This steel eyelash curler from Mac helps you get as close as possible to your lash line. Separating individual lashes, to achieve length and definition, the tool is curved to fit snugly around your eye, without any discomfort. Creating a flattering fanned effect, each lash is separated and defined without any kinking. The results are subtle and natural-looking, with the curl lasting all day. Best suited for smaller eyes, it can pinch a little on those with a wider shape. The frame itself is ergonomically designed, with our digits fitting comfortably in the handles. Lightweight and slimline with a robust feel, the curler also features a sleek dark finish.

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Eyeko eyelash curler

Eyeko best eyelash curlers review indybest
  • Best: Lightweight eyelash curlers
  • Designed for: All eye shapes
  • Replacement pad included: No
  • Why we love it
    • Lightweight frame
    • Smooth curl
    • Gentle on the eye area

Eyeko’s eyelash curler feels near weightless in hand, thanks to the lightweight frame. Suitable for all eye shapes, the curler does a stellar job of grabbing individual lashes for a smooth curl. Squeezing for around 10 seconds reveals a flattering fanned look. While the length isn’t dramatic, the large silicone pad means it’s quite gentle on the eye area and doesn’t pull or damage lashes, despite getting close enough to the lash line for a defined curl. At this price, you can’t go wrong.

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Eyelash curlers FAQs

How to use eyelash curlers

First things first: hold the eyelash curler up to your eye. Open the clamps and fit your lashes between them, getting as close to the base of your lash line as possible. Be careful you don’t pinch your skin, though.

Close the clamp on your eyelashes and hold for around 30 seconds – you can do this in sections, if you need to. Adjust this time depending on how curly or straight your lashes are naturally but no more than a minute’s hold should be needed.

What should I look for in an eyelash curler?

When purchasing an eyelash curler, you should take your eye shape and lash length into consideration. For example, if you have particularly long eyelashes, you should look for a curler with a longer plate, to ensure you don’t miss any of your lashes during the curling process.

The curve matters a lot, too, so, keep your eyes peeled for curlers that will suit your eye shape. Flatter curves work much better for flatter eyelids and smaller eyes, as they can fit from end to end of your lash line.

If you have more almond-shaped eyes, you’ll want an arch that is not too rounded but not too flat. Meanwhile, those with rounder, bigger eyes, should opt for a curler with a deeper curve, to make it easier to grab all those lashes.

Are metal or plastic eyelash curlers better?

Naturally, metal curlers are sturdier and more durable than their plastic counterparts but, if you are sensitive or allergic to some metals, plastic may be the way to go.

Are eyelash curlers bad for eyelashes?

When used correctly, there should be no damage to your eyelashes. To prevent any unnecessary lash loss, avoid applying any mascara before using your curlers.

The verdict: Eyelash curlers

Giving lashes instant length, lift and volume, Sisheido’s eyelash curler lives up to the hype. Quick and easy to use, the frame is comfortable to grip, while the curved head and silicone pad create the perfect fanned effect. If you’re on a budget, the Elf and Kiko tools create a flattering long-lasting curl, while Dior and Charlotte Tilbury’s offerings will add a touch of luxury to your make-up bag.

Want your make-up look to last longer? Read our guide to the best setting sprays for every skin type

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