When I first started as a beauty writer, it felt as though I’d unlocked the industry’s best-kept secrets. Suddenly, I had access to the tips and techniques that beauty insiders genuinely swore by – it felt like an ‘in’ club where people with real expertise spilled the intel on the products that actually worked. There were plenty of discoveries that became permanent fixtures in my routine, but one stood out above all the rest: the Shu Uemura eyelash curler.
I first spotted it behind the scenes at Fashion Weeks, tucked among the makeup artists’ seemingly endless assortment of brushes and palettes. It was never showcased as a standout item or shared with a dramatic gesture, but this silver contraption kept coming up in conversation as the tool loved by editors, pros, and celebrities before applying mascara.
At that time, I’d never considered eyelash curlers. While my lashes are long, they are naturally straight, meaning mascara can darken and thicken them but doesn’t necessarily lift them. The Shu Uemura curler created a noticeable difference. It elevated my lashes cleanly from the root, avoiding that harsh, crimped kink that can make lashes seem like they’ve been folded instead of curled. Plus, it felt firm enough to be effective, yet gentle enough that I never felt like I was on the verge of losing half my lashes.
When Shu Uemura left the UK market in 2017, I felt a surprising sense of loss. I know it might sound a bit dramatic to be upset about an eyelash curler, but anyone in the beauty world will totally get it. This wasn’t just any tool; it had become a must-have in my makeup routine and one I’ve recommended to so many friends. For almost ten years, I’ve been on the hunt for a good substitute.
“This wasn’t just any tool; it had become a must-have in my makeup routine”
The long search for a Shu Uemura alternative
To be clear, there are lots of very good eyelash curlers. I have tried the classics, the new launches, the heated versions, the precision ones, and the lash curlers designed specifically for different lash lengths. I have used them in hotel bathrooms, on trains, in the back of taxis, and before events.
The Tweezerman Classic Eyelash Curler, £19, is a brilliant, dependable option and one I have happily recommended to friends. The Surratt Relevée Lash Curler, £32, is beautifully engineered and particularly good if you have a more rounded eye shape. Shiseido’s Eyelash Curler, £28, has a devoted following for a reason, especially if you find standard curlers too flat or narrow. Dior’s Eyelash Curler, £26, is another excellent choice: comfortable, easy to control and good at giving a softer, more natural-looking lift.
But none quite surpassed the original Shu Uemura, £22, for me.
Some curlers were too curved for my eye shape, meaning I had to work in sections. Others were excellent at grabbing lashes but left too pronounced a kink. A few felt as though they required too much pressure. The best alternatives came close, but the Shu had a particular combination of grip, width, and softness that I had spent years trying to replicate. Now, after nearly a decade, it is officially back.
Why is the Shu Uemura eyelash curler so good?
The original Shu Uemura eyelash curler is not flashy. It is a classic stainless-steel curler with a silicone pad, but its design is what sets it apart. Its broad, curved shape is designed to sit comfortably against the lash line and catch lashes from corner to corner, rather than forcing you to repeatedly reposition it. Its patented hinge and ergonomic shape are designed to work on every eye shape, helping create a lifted curl without tugging, creasing or breaking lashes. And the pad has enough give to create lift without creating a hard crease, while the hinge gives you control over pressure. The result is a smooth, rounded curl that starts close to the root and looks like your lashes naturally grew that way. On days when I am wearing minimal makeup, curling my lashes can be enough to make me look more pulled together.
There is a reason it has been a backstage staple for decades. Makeup artists, such as Val Garland and Pat McGrath, need products that deliver quickly, consistently and without drama. A lash curler may not be the most glamorous item in a kit, but when it works this well, it earns its place.
The celebrity fans who helped make it iconic
The Shu Uemura curler’s reputation has travelled far beyond makeup artist kits. It even had a pop-culture moment in The Devil Wears Prada, when Gisele Bündchen’s character asks what a Shu Uemura eyelash curler is – a small detail that beauty editors everywhere noticed immediately. It has also inspired genuine devotion among celebrity beauty fans. Celebrity fans include Meghan Markle, who named it one of her top beauty products to look ‘instantly awake’, and supermodel Kate Moss, who is reported to rely upon it to make her shorter-than-standard lashes look longer.
Does it still deserve cult status?
Having used the Shu Uemura eyelash curler again, I can say yes. Beauty has changed dramatically since it first became a makeup-bag icon. We have lash lifts, tubing mascaras, growth serums and more clever lash tools than ever. But this is a reminder that a well-designed beauty basic doesn’t need to be reinvented every few years.
It gives me the lifted, wide-awake look I want without the drama of a lash lift appointment or the commitment of extensions. It makes my lashes look longer and more defined, helps mascara hold its shape better and, crucially, does not leave me with a harsh, bent-looking curl. Would I say every eyelash curler is the same? Absolutely not. Your eye shape, lash length and tolerance for beauty tools near your eyeballs all play a part. And there are still excellent alternatives if the Shu does not suit you.
But after years of trying to find one that could genuinely replace it, I am pleased to report that the original has not lost its magic. The Shu Uemura eyelash curler is back in the UK — and, in my opinion, it is still the one to beat.
Read the full article here
