Sunday, October 10, 2010

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, Grail or Fail?


the Shu Uemura eyelash curler. quite possibly considered the "Cadillac" of eyelash curlers. makeup artists rave about its performance and critics agree. i decided to put it to the test and see if it was worth its $19 price tag.

at first glance, it appears to be the same as my $3 Revlon and $12 Bare Escentuals eyelash curler.

left: Shu Uemura    middle: Revlon   right: Bare Escentuals
 they seem to have the same body, appear to perform in the same mechanical function, but it wasn't until closer inspection that i realized their differences.


this is an up close look at my Revlon curler. comparing the bodies of the two, the Revlon curler is built a little cheaper. the top of the curler is simply clamped on to the prongs, which for me always catches my eyelashes. the white pad that lines the bottom is flat, and quickly formed a trench, which after time would pull my eyelashes. the balance of the hinge is where i found the biggest difference. there is simply no balance in the Revlon hinge.
  

next is a look at my Bare Escentuals eyelash curler. it has a similar black silicone mushroomed cushion on the bottom and the hinge mechanism was a little more sturdy than the Revlon, but still not as good as the Shu Uemura. my biggest complaint would be that the top of the curler is actually pulling off of the prongs. this can lead to an imbalance of pressure on the pad.



and now for the cream of the crop. the Shu Uemura. i admit, i had my doubts about its performance, but when you hold this curler side by side to the other products it was hands down the best. a definite Grail. you could actually feel the balance in the hinge that helps to create the perfect amount of pressure when curling. this helps avoid eyelash damage. the "mushroom" shape silicone pad provides a protective, stay-put edge for optimum curl. the top portion of the curler is embedded into the prongs, ensuring it stays put and does not catch on eyelashes.

is it worth $19? definitely. if you are in the market for a curler, spend the extra $6 on this performance enhanced beauty. while the other curlers work and serve their purpose, you will see a difference in the quality of this curler. and when it comes to protecting your eyelashes, i am a major stickler.

xo,
kristie

ps. i had a link for Amazon but then the price shot up another $10!! here's a link for the company website www.shuuemura-usa.com


9 comments:

  1. I have had this curler for about 8 years and i never considered getting a different one!

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  2. this is THE best curler out there! I gladly spend $19 and replace often, however, not as often as the cheaper brands. It's constantly in the instyle best beauty buy - and with good reason! I bought the limited edition 18k gold curler as a gift, stunning! Shu Uemura has amazing products, expensive, but amazing and they are worth every penny!!!

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  3. I'm a make up artist and there's no chance for me to even think of another eyelash curler... Maybe the limited edition of Shu Uemura's eyelash curler 24K.

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  4. i agree! i'm loving this curler and it is a must have in my book.

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  5. Agree! But have you tried the Suesh eyelash curler? It's the best curler for Asian eyelashes - which are short. The Suesh eyelash curler can curl the shortest lashes ever!

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  6. Dyna, i haven't tried that curler. given that the Shu Uemura curler is Japanese company, i believe they design with Asian eyes in mind.
    what's nice about the Shu Uemura’s curler is that it's lack of curve actually means it will work with Asian eyes. most normal lash curlers are made with a large and deeply curved shape which doesn’t fit and work with Asian eyes since they aren’t as deeply set or large.
    and while the design is perfect for Asian eyes, the straighter edge also means that Asian or not, you can get closer to your lash line. :)

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  7. I've been using this eyelash curler for the last 8 years...haven't ever had to replace & it still works great! :) -Brooke

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  8. Ladies no matter what curler you use they need to be replaced regularly. Cheap or expensive they WILL wear out. As a professional artist I would never have any curler other than shu umeura in my kit as they simply are the best. Personally I've been using shu uemura curlers for 10 years and every year I treat myself to a new one on my birthday!

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  9. shuuemura or elf?any suggestion?URGENT!!!

    Best Of Luck!!!
    best eyelash curler

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