Review: Shu Uemura Eye Lash Curler

I had a long-term relationship with my Shu Uem Lash Curler until it finally said goodbye in October 2015.

UNBOXING THE NEW SHU UEMURA EYELASH CURLER, 23 OCTOBER 2015


Nothing in this world will ever compare to my Shu Uemura Eye Lash Curler (SUELC) in terms of reliability and durability. Others may be better for Asian eyes, in terms of flatter curved shape and smaller size, or maybe more efficient to reach the side lashes, but I love my SUELC to bits and pieces because it has been with me in like for-evah!!!!  For the amount of time it has served me, nothing will ever beat that. I have recently repurchased it straight from Shu Uemura SM Makati, and for the current price of PhP1,400 it is absolutely worth all the peso (That’s about PhP156 per year if it reaches 9 years again).

I have had a bunch of eye lash curlers of different sorts I bought from the drugstores prior to 2006 (yes I was a makeup addict as early as far back in my younger days J). I even tried the battery-operated ones that heat up and supposedly allowed for faster curling. They just did not work on me. The classic metal and the plastic versions also break easily when I bring them in my purse. Either the metal would give up or if it is plastic, the spring with pop out. So I realized maybe these eye lash curlers were not made for travel, or cannot be subject to some pressure, no matter how gentle. 

 Then I decided I really should try the SUELC after a professional contact told me that it is the best eye lash curler in the world. And guess what, it served me for close to a decade (Yes! Close to 10 years! Can you imagine?). 

I had my first SUELC in early 2006. I asked someone to buy it for me from the US because during those times, it will always be expensive buying it in the PHL. The converted price was about PhP700-800, which was sold at PhP 950 locally. I believe the box back then came with 2 extra silicone replacements apart from what was already attached on the curler itself. Now it just comes with one.

I replaced the silicone after 2 years and the next replacement was made after 3 years, which is in 2011. My guess is during the first 2 years, I was keeping my stuff in a place with really hot temperature and probably that is why the rubber easily broke. Towards the latter part of its years of service, I moved my stuff to a different place which is of better room temperature and has very little sunlight. Quite noticeably with this move, the rubber had a better lifespan. Since I ran out of silicone, this September 2015, I bought a drugstore brand called Marionnaud. And then after a couple of weeks, the metal broke. And well then it was really time to say goodbyeLLL. 

 I held on to it even if it was broken hoping to actually compare it side by side with the new purchase. I was worried that they may have changed the shape or I might buy a different version or size. But no, it was still the exact same classic Shu Uem Lash Curler. I was told by their salesman that their new version is in gold with a tiny chain hanging but with that version, though you pay for the same price of PhP1400, you only get one silicone which is the one attached to it, no replacements. And Shu Uemura PHL does not sell the silicone replacements. No reason to be all excited with the gold. I am more after the silicone so I still bought the silver-colored classic version.

 Shown here is where it broke, the right part of the clamp is encircled in red below.

You can see the broken side pushing outwards as I press the clamp.

How different is the  new one from the old? The new one curls ever so efficiently than the old one, and when I say efficient, it means it curls my long lash in one go at a very short period of about 3 seconds. Okay disclaimer, I still run it for an additonal 2 presses with 3 seconds each, but only because I have long lashes and the only way to curl them nicely is to curl the strands in 3 different points. But if I am in a hurry? 1-2 presses will do. And only 2-3 seconds needed per clamping. No kidding. The silicone material is too plump and bouncy that it adds help to curl the lashes no matter how thick. And for those with shorter lashes, one press is most definitely enough to curl them to a pretty curve. This I am dead sure.

Comparing it, the old one still curls nicely, but the silicone will not be as bouncy and will not be as helpful in adding more curve to your lashes. It still curls alright, but you will need at least 5-10 seconds and more points to press along the strands of the lash, especially if your lashes are long. But safe is it to claim that Shu Uem eye leash curlers will NEVER BRING YOU SHARPLY CORNERED BENDING OF YOUR LASHES. It honestly curls and it does not give you the L-shaped lashes, never ever!

So here I have shared with you something that is a totally good investment, in my experience. My lashes are not curly, but not too straight pointing down either. I still believe that I have Asian lashes that are a bit straight. My look gets better when my lashes are curled and it also widens my eyes and makes it look like they are awake and happy, if that makes sense :-P So after a full week of mourning, I just had to run to Shu Uem and buy the replacement. I hope I have justified how this expensive thing is just not so expensive after all J