Curler Crazy

with a blog as obsessively devoted to perfecting your lashes as mine is, i figured it was high time i did a post on the best eyelash curlers. in my opinion, (and i'm chock full of them) having a great eyelash curler is just as important as having a great mascara in the quest for your best possible lashes. and who needs to be using an eyelash curler? EVERYONE!!! but not everyone should go blindly running out to purchase the Shu Uemura curler that all the magazines recommend; getting a great curl doesn't have to be expensive, and eyelash curlers are not one-size-fits-all.

in my own testing, i've tried dozens of eyelash curlers from expensive to super cheap, but these three stick out in my mind as the best possible buys for each price range. starting off at the lower end, the N.Y.C. (or New York Color) Eyelash Curler, $2.99, is a great buy. found at lots of drugstores and any Target, this eyelash curler gets the job done with no pinching and no damage to your lashes. the one i'm recommending is metal with purple accents-- make sure to pick up that one because the plastic one that N.Y.C. also makes is utter crap. and while we're on the topic, i just have to say that i think all plastic eyelash curlers are crap and should stop being manufactured. they just plain don't work well at all! you may have had different experiences and if you're happy using a plastic eyelash curler then by all means keep it up, but that's my story and i'm stickin' to it. also worthy of a mention for those on a fixed budget is E.L.F.'s Mechanical Eyelash Curler, $1 (pictured at right). this smash hit of a curler has a 4.5 out of 5 star rating on Make Up Alley's review boards, a rating so high it's almost unheard of! check out the amazing reviews here and read for yourself how many reviewers would pay fifteen TIMES as much for this eyelash curler.

next up on the list is the very first eyelash curler i ever purchased, Maybelline's Expert Tools Eyelash Curler, $5.79 (at Walgreen's). for those who can spend a little bit more but still aren't ready to pony up almost twenty dollars, Maybelline's curler is sturdy, dependable, and long lasting. as a matter of fact, i used mine for years before the rubber pad finally gave out and cracked! (note: never, ever use a curler with a cracked pad, it can break or pull out your lashes and those cracks are breeding grounds for all kinds of nasty bacteria that can cause eye infections!) another great reason to use and love the Maybelline curler? it's easily found at any drugstore and you can also purchase replacement pads for it when yours wear out!

now onto the high-end eyelash curlers for those who want to splurge, and the first thing i want to address is the misconception that the Shu Uemura curler is the be-all, end-all king of curlers and the only one you should have in your arsenal. i know you've read countless magazine articles singing the Shu's praise but don't be fooled into thinking you have to buy it just because everyone says it's the best. after using many fabulous eyelash curlers for years i still felt like i was always missing out on something because i didn't have the Shu, and when i finally did spring for it, guess what? it didn't even fit my eye shape! yes my loyal readers, i got better results with my $1 E.L.F. curler than i did with the Shu. now this isn't to say that you won't fall madly in love with it, i know many people swear by it, but make sure you test it out at the department store and see that it fits your eye shape before you hit the checkout. and one more negative thing about the Shu? after you've paid $18.50 for it, you can't even purchase a replacement pad once your original pad is out of commission! yes, that's right, they don't sell replacement pads. so i'm left to guess that if you're a faithful user of the Shu and your pad wears out you just...buy a whole new curler? i don't think so. moving on...if you're going to splurge on a high-end curler, my recommendation would be the Shiseido Eyelash Curler, $17.50 (at left). after my extreme disappointment with the Shu, this sleek little silver curler saved the day! the reason that this takes the #1 top spot of Best Eyelash Curler ever is because it's the first and only one i've found that gets every single eyelash curled in one quick press of the handles! usually i have to curl the inner half of my eyelashes and then reposition and curl the outer half to get everything even, but not with the Shiseido! it manages to get everything from the tiny, inner lashes to the very last impossible-to-grab lash on the outer corner of my eye. not only that, but when you're using the Shi you only have to press very gently to get a perfect, sharp curl! with most lash curlers i've found that you have to press down really hard to get a nice, even clamp on your lashes but not this one, it grabs all your lashes so easily there's no pressure needed. and two replacement pads are only $5, so if you take care of your Shi the way you should, you can keep it in tip top shape for years to come. for an honorable mention, i also really love the Japonesque Power Curl Eyelash Curler, $16.50. i used this curler for atleast 6 months until i bought my Shi and it works almost as well! it does everything correctly, from giving you a great, even curl to keeping it's shape and never pinching the delicate skin around your eyes.

some tips for getting the best possible curl?

• always curl your lashes before you apply your mascara and never after you've put it on; the mascara can make your lashes stick to the metal of the curler and rip them out or break them off!
• before you curl, turn on your blowdryer and aim it at your eyelash curler to heat it up slightly. before you put it up to your eye, make sure to test it out on your arm first so you don't burn yourself! this turns your eyelash curler into an eyelash curling iron and really helps to lock in your curl so it stays all day.
• when curling your lashes, position your curler near your lashes roots and press once, holding it for a few moments. repeat if you'd like, but don't move the position of your curler. i find that if you only curl your lashes in one spot, it helps the curl to stay longer.
  
• keep your eyelash curler in a safe place so it doesn't get bent; if it loses it's shape, it can pinch your skin and break off your lashes.
• always keep your eyelash curler clean and replace the pads as needed.
  

i hope you've enjoyed this eyelash curling manifesto, and haven't fallen asleep halfway through! if you have any tips or tricks for curling lashes or getting a great looking fringe, i'd love to hear them! meow!

Tool Time: Part Two

hola chicas! time for part two of Tool Time, where i will focus on some more brushes that i think are crucial for getting your best makeup application. now these are brushes that are a little more specialized, probably better suited for someone who's into experimenting with her makeup and working on creating different looks. so if you're more than happy using your fingers to apply your makeup, don't feel bad, it's all about what makes you the most comfortable. here are some more of my favorites, so read on and enjoy!


4. this next brush is one that i only recently started using and fell deeply, head-over-heels in love with. MAC's 194 Concealer Brush, $18.50, is firm, flat, and slightly tapered, making it perfection for covering small spots and blending concealer underneath the eyes. all these years i've been of the school of thought that undereye concealer is best applied using the ring finger, because the heat from your finger helps warm and blend the concealer seamlessly. i still do believe that, but using the 194 brush to first apply and blend makes the task quicker, easier, and delivers a better end result. it's slim but firm shape is also great for concealing the darkness that some of us lucky girls have right under our lower lashline, a place impossible to get to with your finger. now i stroke on my concealer with the 194 and just use my ring finger to tap, tap, tap and blend away into invisible perfection. and the small point of the bristles is perfect for getting just the right amount of concealer onto a blemish without highlighting the skin around it. a cheaper alternative? try Essence of Beauty's Synthetic Conceal Brush, $3.99 at CVS stores or at their website.


5. our next brush gets the privilege of having cult status! people practically die over this brush and it's many, many uses! MAC's 187 Duo Fibre Face Brush, $42, boasts natural goat hair AND synthetic bristles, giving it it's distinctive two-toned look. often referred to as a 'skunk brush', this type of brush is made by many brands but none come close to the quality and performance of MAC's. the 187 is quite the multi-tasker, performing equally well whether it's being used with cream, liquid, or powder products. many swear by the airbrushed finish it gives when used with liquid foundation, and it's light touch is the perfect answer to highly pigmented blushes or shimmery highlighters. it also is wonderful for giving a light-as-air dusting of powder to set any look. it took me quite a while to be convinced that it was worth the money, but i'm here to tell you it definitely is. this is a brush i use almost every single day, and have washed many times, that still looks brand new. really want a skunk brush but don't have the cash for this one? try Flirt's Feather Dust-her Brush, $6, a brush that performs surprisingly well for it's low price. Flirt cosmetics are available exclusively at Kohl's, so stop in and check it out!


6. this next brush is one you've seen mentioned previously on my blog when i discussed smoky eyes. it's a wonderful brush that stands up a to a beating and ended up being well worth it's price (which i was not too happy about at the time). MAC's 209 Eyeliner Brush, $17, is just money well spent. it's slim but just stiff enough bristles give you the most perfect application of gel eyeliner that you never have to trace over! it also works really well when used damp with a powder eyeshadow to give you a softer intensity eyeliner. for brightening up any eye look i'm going for, i like to use my 209 dry with a white shimmery eye shadow to trace a line under my bottom lashline and around the inner corners of my eye. need a less expensive alternative? try E.L.F.'s Lip Defining Brush, $1 (yes, only one dollar! all of E.L.F.'s makeup is only a dollar, check them out here) which is the same shape as the 209 and could help you decide if this type of eyeliner brush is for you before you spend more money on it.

7. up next on the list is the perfect brush to bring out when you're in the mood to create a sexy, smudgy, soft looking eye. MAC's 219 Pencil Brush, $23, was made for precision shading on the eyelid, in the crease or along the lash line. the soft, smooth fibers of this brush are gathered into a pencil-shaped tip that's the ideal firmness for blending out sharp lines and keeping shadow in it's assigned place. i like to use this brush to softly line my upper lid, lower lid, and to accentuate the outer 'V' of the eye. another option that's less expensive but works just as well is Essence Of Beauty's Crease Brush Duo, $4.99. this two-pack of brushes is a thrilling find for under $5! it includes two brushes, one being a bit larger than the other, that blend shadows, find your crease and hug your outer 'V' in a way that makes even an amateur feel like a makeup artist. i have to say i own both the 219 and the EoB brushes and i don't know which ones i use more, it's a close call!

8. finally on the list, i've chosen a little tool that's become indispensable to me. you may have noticed that i love a multi-tasker for the time it saves and it's convenience, and Sephora's Professionel Platinum Lash & Eyebrow Comb #21, $10, earns that title proudly. it packs two tools in one, a fabulously made brow brush and a clump killing metal lash comb. here's where i have to climb up on my soapbox and beg you readers please, please do not buy the lash combs that are made of plastic! they don't work and will probably end up doing more harm than good. the plastic teeth are never sharp or thin enough to get into your lash base and they just plain stink. you need metal teeth to bite their way into those clumps! this will be the best ten dollars you've ever spent when you see how much better your eyelashes look after a sweep of the lash comb. plus, the brow brush side works super well for taming brows and blending in your brow pencil or powder. i use this little guy every single day and don't know what i did before i owned it! another great option that gets many rave reviews is Tweezerman's Folding Ilashcomb, $7, which you can find at drugstores or Tweezerman's website. i've never tried this one but i trust the reviews on MUA and they seem to love it!

now of course there are many, many more brushes that i could talk about but i think these are my most essential. i hope you've enjoyed hearing about them and maybe found something in your price range to check out! always remember that the better you care for your brushes the longer and better they will serve you. i wash mine atleast once a week (and my 209 brush that's used for gel eyeliner each and every time i use it) with a mild soap like Dial which i like for it's antibacterial qualities. after gently squeezing the water out of them, i lay them flat on a hand towel and allow them to air-dry. this seems to work well for me and should for you, too. and one more thing, some of these brushes are very expensive, but i've found that if you buy one at a time, here and there, you will be happy that you spent a little extra for items that will last.

what are your favorite brushes? any that you've bought and hated? let me know in the comments!