We Tested the "Best" Eyelash Curlers on the Market: 7 That Truly Transformed Our Lashes

Welcome to Deep Reviews—your one-stop destination to discover the absolute best products and brands the beauty industry has to offer. The Who What Wear staffers you already know and trust will research, test, and review the market's most sought-after and buzzed-about products to see which formulas (of the hundreds up for consideration) are truly worth your hard-earned money and attention. You can expect honest, completely uncensored feedback and no-BS recommendations our hard-to-please testers endorse without reservations.

Make no mistake—an eyelash curler can make or break your makeup routine. Take it from a stubborn beauty editor who once thought eyelash curlers were useless. Back then, I was convinced that they couldn't dramatically curl my lashes, and even if they did, they couldn't create an effect that would last. As it turns out, I was letting a few bad trials create a bad rap for an entire category of products. Once I started using the *right* eyelash curlers, I was shocked. My lashes looked longer, fuller, and more fluttery. What's more, they boosted my mascara's ability to define and accentuate my eyes. I went from just-alright lashes to bold, look-at-me lashes.

This experience sent me on a journey to find the best eyelash curlers out there. Luckily, I was able to recruit my fellow editors to rigorously test the top curlers (but not before researching, recording, and color-coding hundreds). After weeks of reading reviews, taking editor experience into account, and, of course, actual testing, we did it. We found the best eyelash curlers in the game. Ahead, see the seven best ones, as well as accompanying before-and-after proof.

Best Overall Option: Tweezerman ProMaster Eyelash Curler

Average rating: 5/5

What we liked:

Extra-wide opening

Uniform pressure creates a natural-looking curl

Comes with an extra set of pads

Long-lasting effect

What we didn't:

Nothing!

Editor review: "Oh, wow, this lash curler! It's technically made for almond-shaped or deep-set eyes, whereas mine are round and slightly downturned. Still, I appreciated the extra-wide opening to grab every last lash. My lashes at the outer corners can be especially droopy (again, my eyes are slightly downturned), and this curler helped them perk right up. I even noticed a difference without mascara! Bonus points for the extra set of pads (because, yes, you should replace your lash curler every three months or so)." — Jamie Schneider, senior beauty editor

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Best Affordable Option: Covergirl Makeup Masters Eyelash Curler

Average rating: 3.5/5

What we liked:

Affordable price point

Visible curl

Long-lasting effect

What we didn't:

Didn't evenly grip all the lashes

Editor review: "I loved this lash curler. For such an affordable price, it worked better for me than some more expensive options I've bought on the market! The curl it offered was great and really enhanced my mascara once I applied that on top." — Shawna Hudson, associate beauty editor

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Shiseido Eyelash Curler

Average rating: 4.5/5

What we liked:

Thin edges and ergonomic design curl lashes from end to end

Visible curl

Long-lasting effect

What we didn't:

More intense pressure can pinch lashes if not careful

Editor review: "I had high hopes for this lash curler. It's a classic! And I'm happy to report that it delivers: I even noticed a curl without mascara, which is very impressive given my blonde lash hairs. With mascara on, the transformation was even more apparent—my eyes looked wide-awake and fluttery with cute, curly tips. The thin, edge-free design also allows me to grab the lashes from the base of my lid and encourage a curl from root to tip, which I don't get from most lash curlers that pile on the padding." — Schneider

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Shu Uemura

Average rating: 4.5/5

What we liked:

Uniform pressure

Visible curl

Long-lasting effect

What we didn't:

The slimmer shape is better suited to almond-shaped eyes rather than round eyes.

Editor review:

"Not to spoil it, but I already know and love this lash curler. If I had to pick, it’s my all-time favorite. I’m able to get super close to my lash line and get a full, fluttery curl—with no pinching. You can see a clear difference in my lashes, which is emphasized even more when I apply mascara. This curler will help your lashes reach their full potential." — Emma Walsh, associate beauty editor, branded content

Personally, I love that the pressure was uniform and didn’t crimp my lashes or give them an unnatural look. I also love that the pressure wasn’t severe enough to cause damage or breakage to my lashes. It’s really high-quality. But my eyes are very round and hooded, so the shape of the curler didn’t grasp the tiny lashes in my inner corners. I think it’s better suited to almond-shaped eyes.

Surratt Beauty Relevée Eyelash Curler

Average rating: 4/5

What we liked:

Uniform pressure

Gentle for sensitive eyes and lashes

Fluttery, natural-looking effect

What we didn't:

Didn't offer as strong or as visible of a curl as the others

Editor review: "This lash curler definitely feels sturdy and well-made, and it looks super sleek and chic in my makeup bag! I also didn’t experience any pinching on the outer lashes, which I’ve experienced with some lash curlers!" — Emma Hughes, associate social media editor, beauty & wellness

Since this curler didn't curl my lashes as visibly as others I've tried, I don't think I'd reach for this one before big events or nights on the town. That said, it's lovely if you like a natural-looking curl—nothing too crazy, just long, fluttery lashes.

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Kevyn Aucoin

Average rating: 4/5

What we liked:

Uniform pressure

Visible curl

Long-lasting effect

Red padding that aids in lash placement

What we didn't:

Doesn't feel as sturdy as other curlers

Editor review: "It has thicker padding, which my sensitive eyes appreciate! I also like how the padding is bright red (instead of white or black). It offers a contrast that helps me see my lashes in between the two clamps, which helps me align the placement. The body of the curler is very slim and lightweight, which some people (especially makeup artists) love because it allows you to hold the curler at any angle. However, I do enjoy a 'sturdier' curler because I need the extra control!" — Schneider

"On the very first use, this lash curler gave me the most long-lasting, dramatic curl! It clamps down on every single lash and doesn’t pinch at all." — Hughes

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Dior Backstage Lash Curler

Average rating: 3.5/5

What we liked:

Uniform pressure

Visible curl

Long-lasting effect

Sturdy, chic construction

What we didn't:

Bulky, stiff handle

Editor review: "This curler is pretty and makes you feel bougie, however, The handle is bulky and uncomfortable to hold, the curler feels so stiff, and it doesn't give me the full, dramatic curl that I want. There are some promising reviews though, so maybe it just didn't work for my lashes. I would take the money you would spend on this and purchase one of their lip oils instead. — Walsh

I love how thick and sturdy this lash curler feels. I can drop it in my makeup bag without fear of breaking it and I know it will last me years. However, I agree that the handle can be hard to hold while curling the lashes. I had no trouble, but I was worried about pinching or pulling while I was using it.

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Deep Reviews Research and Testing Process

This installment of Deep Reviews, like all others, took weeks to complete. Not only do we take our time to research the best products on the market, but we put our top contenders through rigorous testing, which is conducted by our very own editors.

Here's how it goes down: We started by looking at other publications—Harper's Bazaar, Byrdie, Cosmopolitan, The Cut, and others. We created a master list of all the eyelash curlers that were recommended. From there, we compared and color-coordinated the lists, looking at how often each one was mentioned as well as its overall ratings and reviews on major beauty retailer sites.

After all of this, we had our list narrowed down to the top eyelash curlers on the market. All that was left to do was undergo editor testing. Each editor received eyelash curlers, and over a few weeks, they tested, rated, and reviewed them. Once we had everyone's responses, we assembled them into a document and ranked each eyelash curler according to the feedback. By the end, we had crowned the best one.