Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler Verses Revlon Eyelash Curler

Lashes are big this year, and your eyelash curler can make a difference in how your lashes appear. Sephora sells several mascaras intended to look like false lashes and to curl, but the best curl comes from an eyelash curler. If you want the look of false lashes but cannot manage to apply them, you will want to learn about eyelash curlers.

If you use Revlon's Eyelash Curler, you and many other women have something in common with Catherine Zeta Jones, who despite her extraordinary wealth and access to any beauty product she wishes for, she uses this basic drugstore brand curler to curl her lashes. Revlon eyelash curlers are under $5, yet some very expensive eyelash curlers have invaded the market. One example is the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler. Is there really an advantage to these curlers?

The Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, reportedly loved by stars such as Gwen Stefani, promises an amazing curl with a gentle touch. But at $18, what could make the Shu Uemura eyelash curler better than your standard drugstore brand eyelash curler?

Here are my eye to eye test results: I used the Shu Uemura curler on my left eye and held it in place for a little longer than normal, and got an amazingly curled lash line without a crimp mark. I tried on the other eye to intentionally make a crimp mark and I could not. I curled the first eye again to see if two curls would make it crimp, and that did not crimp either. The curler is very gentle to use. This feature does set this curler apart from many drugstore brands. I find that when I apply makeup to the eye of my non-dominant hand, "the other eye" the makeup does not apply as well since I cannot keep a steady hand. This problem is reduced with the Shu Uemura curler due to it's' shape. The Shu Uemura curler cost me $18 plus about $6 shipping from Sephora. I recommend getting the free gift box to protect the curler during transit.

The curl from the Shu Uemura lasted overnight, so I had to wait until the next day to try the same thing with the Revlon Curler. The curl was good, it straightened out a bit after applying mascara, and it did not last all day. It fit my eye shape fine and I did not get pinched but some people report that with drugstore brand curlers. My eye looked more awake, but I did like the results of the Shu Uemura curler better. You can get a funny crimp mark but that usually looks a little better if you wait a few minutes to let the curl fall out before applying mascara. I got the Revlon eyelash curler at my local drugstore for about $4.70. I used the spring curler in this comparison, which is more expensive than the regular $3.70 curler.

The Shu Uemura eyelash curler is made specifically for the oriental shaped eye, meaning, that the less defined the brow bone is due to your ethnic eye or face shape, the harder it may be for you to get results from a drugstore eyelash curler. So if your eyes are not that well defined for any reason including due to ethnic background, naturally droopy eyes, puffiness from allergies, or if you just have a small eye, the Shu Uemura curler can do more for your lashes than the Revlon eyelash curler can do. The reason for this is the Shu Uemura has a special shape to it - if you compare a Revlon eyelash curler and a Shu Uemura curler side to side, you will note the curve of the top is different. This allows better lash definition. Even if you have an oval eye shape with a well defined brow bone, you will see some more curl staying power with the Shu Uemura curler. If you have very long lashes or use extensions, the Shu Uemura curler seems more suited to curl your lashes at the correct angle for the curl to look natural from the sides (a rare trick amongst eyelash curlers as the side of false lashes if often telltale even if you apply them precisely). My lashes are not thick but they are even and long, and using this curler in the morning leaves a curl that stays in all day and often remains after I use baby oil to remove my makeup, which I think is impressive. Sometimes I even wake up the next morning and my lashes are still curled. It is a good enough curl that you might consider skipping the mascara and rarely would you need false lashes since it seems to make lashes look extra long already.

The problem with the Shu Uemura curler is its limited availability, it is found at Sephora, Eluxury.com and Neiman Marcus, but not exactly the sort of thing you can pick up at your local drugstore. Also, this curler does not have a very long life span. It comes with a curler pad and a refill, when the refill goes, that is it for the curler. You also have to be very careful to keep the unique shape of the curler intact, which often means no dropping it or letting it bang around in your handbag. To protect the curler, Shu Uemura sells a special hard shell carrying case for around the cost of the curler. It is available at stores like eluxury.com and Neiman Marcus and Saks. Another advantage is that this curler will not pinch you if you use it too long, and its curl looked more like a standard Revlon curler when it lost is "oomph".

This is a comparative strength to the Revlon curler, since its lifetime seems much longer than the Shu Uemura curler. I do not know how often you are supposed to replace the standard drugstore type curlers such as Maybelline or Revlon, I usually would only replace it if it pinched my lashes or if I lost it, but since they sell refill pads in sets of two or three, I doubt it is replaced as often as the Shu Uemura curler. You also do not have to take special measures to keep the shape of the curler intact. You can also find the Revlon curler practically everywhere including the supermarket.

I did however find that I needed to use the Revlon curler during the day to refresh the curl, which was not a problem with the Shu Uemura eyelash curler that I rarely had to use again for touch-ups. I also found the perk of the Revlon curler curl often drooped after the application of my mascara. If you re-curl your lashes during the day, you might decide if the Shu Uemura curler is an advantage to not fiddle with an eyelash curler in the ladies room. (For some reason, you can reapply lipstick or powder without the other ladies thinking you are shallow, but use an eyelash curler in a ladies room and suddenly you are apparently the diva of the room.) You can usually get a better hold from the Revlon curler if you do not just press and release, but use several gentle pumps to it for more staying power.

Another problem that some people have is an allergy to metal, so Shu Uemura makes a 24K gold curler and a nickel curler for the allergic types. It is claimed the 24K gold one is what Gwen Stefani uses. I find the nickel one to have the longest lasting curl, but other women find just the opposite. For those who cannot get a standard eyelash curler near your eye for whatever reason, the Shu Uemura will never pinch you and will not cause a reaction if you get the nickel or gold curlers. If you are allergic to metal you likely are limited as to how much eye makeup you can wear, so the Shu Uemura curler will maximize your eyes the most, a perk if you cannot wear mascara or eyeliner due to sensitive eyes or allergies.

In conclusion, Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler does live up to the hype if you have certain eye shapes or problems using regular eye lash curlers. If you have a perfectly shaped eye, you might do just fine with a standard cheaper curler. II personally decide to save the Shu Uemura curler for special occasions when I want to look good and use a Revlon curler for everyday use. If I am sick or it is allergy season, I use the Shu Uemura to look more awake (the same principle would work for not looking hung over or whatever reason your eyes look bloodshot or tired). It gives a full, long-lasting curl that appears natural, without leaving a crimp mark. It is gentle to use and practically impossible to pinch the eyelid. The Revlon curler lasts longer and can be carried in your purse without risking it. I found the Shu Uemura curler to be an easier alternative to using lash extensions or false lashes.