Posts Tagged ‘shu uemura’
I’ve been sitting in front of my computer for the past thirty minutes, staring at a blank screen with no clue what direction to take with this post.
You see, I’m of the belief that a blog post about beauty should do more than tell facts. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I want to get in and get out of a post. But for the most part, I enjoy clicking through beauty blogs and find those that keep me coming back for more entertain or educate me at the very last.
And so that is why I decided that instead of simply telling you about the NEW limited edition Chanel Precision Eyelash Curler I would present you with part history lesson, part buying guide and part review.
Alright folks…class is in session!
History of the Eyelash Curler
While women have been adorning their eyes as far back as the days of Cleopatra, the eyelash curler came onto the makeup scene in the 1930’s. In fact, the patent for the first eyelash curler (aptly called Kurlash) was issued in 1931 to William McDonnell and Charles Stickel.
It’s reported that using an eyelash curler in those days was challenging and took something like 10-minutes from start to finish!
Diagrams that accompanied the patent
Scanned from Portuguese magazine Ilustracão, July 1 1930
Vintage Kurlash ad. The Eyelash Curler was sold for $1…oh how times have changed!
We’ve come a long way baby!
Today, eyelash curlers come in a variety of price points and although it can look a little intimidating to first time users, the process of curling lashes to lift and give the eye a more open, wide-eyed look, takes less than 60-seconds…hallelujah for progress.
The question around lash curlers today isn’t so much “what” as it is “how”…how to choose the proper eyelash curler for your needs.
I’ve been using the Shu Uemura lash curler for over 10-years and I thought nothing of trying out the new Chanel eyelash curler. Boy was I surprised to discover I am a creature of habit, at least where my lashes are concerned.
How to Choose an Eyelash Curler (a review of the Chanel Precision lash curler)
There are three main attributes to look for when choosing an eyelash curler (and I only realized these three factors myself recently);
1. Grip: Eyelash curlers generally follow the 1931 original design consisting of grips not unlike a pair of scissors where thumb and forefinger are inserted (although more modern versions use different grip methods). The grip should feel substantial enough to control the squeeze but not so loose that your lashes don’t lift properly.
I found the Chanel lash curler to have a looser grip than my Shu Uemura. At first it worried me because it felt sort of flimsy and light in comparison. This is definitely a case of personal preference.
2. Gum: What protects your eye and lashes from butting up against metal are the rubber (gummy) pads. Pads should be neither too thick nor too thin lest you end up with a noticeable crimp (ugh!) or no lash lift whatsoever!
The Chanel pads are silicone and are of a nice quality. They come with one set of replaceable pads but as of this writing, Chanel will not be selling replacement pads separately – a big negative in my beauty black book.
3. Shape: As I was researching this topic, I learned that the Shu Uemura lash curler is best suited for almond shaped eyes (less round, more slanted shapes) with fleshy lids (the opposite of a deep set or hooded eye). Essentially, you’ll want to select a lash curler that best fits your eye shape.
My eye shape is somewhere between round and almond shaped. I found the shape of the Chanel lash curler to fit me more comfortably than the Shu curler. With the Chanel curler, I could fit all my lashes – even the tiniest ones in the inner eye area – securely.
Overall, I like the Chanel lash curler because of 1)the shape and 2) it’s Chanel for heavens sake! Is it worth $34? Well, if you’re a Chanel connoisseur you’ll kick yourself for not picking it up. Otherwise, I suggest choosing a lash curler that best suits you in terms of grip, gum and shape.
Alright now…class dismissed 
Availability: Chanel counters as part of the Sophisticated Eye collection and chanel.com
Price: $34
❤Liz
3/6 Smooches: My Shu Uemura lash curler won’t be going into the archives anytime soon!
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