BEAUTY DECODED: THE ART OF AN EYELASH CURLER

Everything you ever wanted to know about this beauty essential.

Everyone wants long, luscious, curly lashes. It seems like we’re on a never-ending quest to find that one perfect mascara to make our dreams come true. But maybe—just maybe—it’s about more than just a magic formula or wand. We sat down with Tiila Abbitt, Director of Product Development for SEPHORA COLLECTION Accessories, to have her walk us through the ins and outs of eyelash curlers. KATE HELFRICH

We hear you worked on a new curler that comes in different shapes. Can you tell us more about this? What are the benefits to each shape?

Yes! We just launched two new eyelash curlers this month. SEPHORA COLLECTION Show Curl andSEPHORA COLLECTION Show Curl XL. Show Curl is our new gold standard eyelash curler, which is the most versatile for all eye shapes. We’ve widened the lash cage opening to help fit more eye shapes and catch all lashes. Show Curl XL has a much more dramatically curved lash cage and a slightly bouncier lash pad. This helps to create a dramatic upward curve. However, because of the extreme shape, it is better suited for round eye shapes.

What exact features make these better?

Apart from the upgraded lash cages, we’ve also improved the tension in the handles to give a faster outstanding curl—that lasts. When trying different eyelash curlers, you can immediately feel one that is inexpensive simply by squeezing the handle. The tension you feel directly corresponds with the squeeze you’ll get on your lashes. We also improved the shape of the curve of the eyelash curler to be more in line with the natural curve of your lashes. This helps to give a better fit to your eye and a stronger curl. Our silicone lash pads are the best in the market. The texture of the silicone pad helps to ensure a pinch-free design. These eyelash curlers will not crease, tug, or pull lashes! Show Curl XL even has a uniquely longer handle for ease of use and getting closer to the lash line.

Can you tell us a little bit about the anatomy of an eyelash curler?

There are six essential pieces to a curler that are taken into consideration for the overall design. They are:

-Lash cage: the head of the eyelash curler, where you insert your lashes. This part is where you can tell if the eyelash curler will fit your eye shape. Not all eyelash curlers will fit all eye shapes.  

-Curve of the cage: this is the actual curve from left to right of the lash cage. Ours is geometrically studied to enhance the strength of the curl.

-Handles: the handles help to give the correct amount of tension on the curl. Our manufacturers have a strict quality control process and each eyelash curler is individually tested.

-Silicone pads: ours are in-house designed and carefully tested to ensure the best quality for the best long-lasting curl. The pad can make or break the curler—literally.

-Handle pads: most curlers do not come with pads on the handle. We add ours because it is a true enhancement to the curler by ensuring a firm and tight grip.

-Metal: our curlers are made with stainless steel, imported from Japan, the highest grade in the market.

What does development of an eyelash curler look like?

It takes 60 working days to develop an eyelash curler. The first critical stage is to create prototypes with temporary molds, designed to be a first layout of the curler. This can go back and forth several times until we get the exact shape that we are looking for. Once the prototype is approved, we have to transpose the temporary molds to industrial production. This means taking the approved mold and recreating it to be a mold used for mass production; which can be difficult considering the mold has to be used over and over and still get the same results as you would with the first run of production. Our manufacturers use high-end, raw materials and have technical blueprints and the highest standards in quality control. After each piece is assembled from the molds and polished by hand, each curler is individually tested against rigorous standards before it’s approved to be packaged and shipped out to you.

Who is the target user of a lash curler? What are the benefits of using one?

Eyelash curlers are great to enhance your lashes and overall appearance of your eyes. It makes your eyes look brighter, lifted, and more open. If your lashes naturally have a lift, you may not need one. Someone who has straight lashes that point down and also someone with unruly lashes that grow in all directions will benefit the most.

What’s the correct way to use a curler?

When looking directly into the mirror, tilt your chin up so you can see the base of your lashes. Line the top of the curler at the base of your lashes, then clamp down for a few seconds. Move the curler halfway into the lashes and clamp again. Lastly clamp the tip of the lashes. The reason for the three-part clamp is so that the lashes will have a natural curve up, versus an L shape.

Can curlers cause damage your lashes?

An eyelash curler is an intimate item—it touches the very sensitive eye area. Ours curlers are safe to use because of all the rigorous testing and design that we do. There are, however, some very poor quality curlers on the market that I would never put near my eye! It is best to use a curler before mascara because sometimes the mascara can make your lashes a little stiff and can get stuck on the curler, which can increase the chances of pulling them out. If you have trouble clamping your lashes looking forward, a great tip is to tilt your head slightly to the right when curling the right eye and vice versa for the left. This allows you to see the angle at which to clamp and how close you are to the lashes.