Lancome Le Curler Eyelash Curler

My trusty Kevyn Aucoin eyelash curler was on its last legs and I ran out of rubber pad replacements. It was time to get a new one, and since I was shopping at the Lancome counter I found myself with their Le Curler. I've had many eyelash curlers over the years, and while the classic Japanese one (Shu Uemura and Shiseido) were good, I discovered that the ones that worked best for my eye shape were Le Metier de Beaute and Kevyn Aucoin, the latter has been a regular repurchase item (it lasts better than the LMdB).

I was curious about the Lancome curler, mainly because I'm still kicking myself for not getting the limited edition one from Chanel last year, and some people said that the Lancome one is of similar quality (other reports have compared it to Shu Uemura, which makes sense because both companies are owned by L'Oreal). I don't know if it is, but it does feel good in the hand, with just enough springiness. However, I discovered that my eyes are far less round than I thought. You can see it in the photo below (Lancome is on the left)- the arch is very curved, and apparently can't seize the full line of my lashes and hold onto it for a successful curling. Who would have thought? While I can sort of fiddle with this curler, the ultimate result isn't as accurate and good as with a slightly flatter curler. Not to mention my chances of stabbing myself in the eye have increased.

If the Lancome curler fits your eye shape you'll probably find that it's an excellent and stable tool. The rubber pads seem to be of good quality, and the mechanism is soft yet sturdy. For me, though, it's just not a good fit, so take shape into account the next time you're hunting for an eyelash curler.

Lancome Le Curler ($23) is available at the counters, Sephora, Ulta, and from lancome.com.