SHISEIDO: Eyelash Curler

Hey guys! When it comes to makeup tools, I usually stick to what works for me and not buy another brand until the one I'm currently using gets busted or lost. I've been using my Shu Uemura eyelash curler for 3 years before the silicone lash pad was split in two and since it came with a replacement pad, I'm looking forward to the next 3 years before I let it go. Don't get me wrong, I love to try different brands but I usually allocate my budget according to my immediate need. This is why I totally appreciate being given stuff I've lined up in my head to try next. A good friend recently travelled to Japan and gave me the Shiseido eyelash curler as a gift. 

Before anything else, I'll start with showing you the basic parts of an eyelash curler so you'd know what I'm saying when we get to the nitty-gritty side of this review. I got this information from an article by theglossy.sephora.com but I only included the 3 basic parts that I'll be mentioning a lot of in this post. The lash cage is your eyelash curler's head which is where you insert your lashes. This part is where you can tell if the eyelash curler fits your eye shape. The silicone pad is the soft rubbery strip inserted in the lower portion of the lash cage. That's where you rest the base of your lashes when using a curler. Different tools may use varied pads but silicone is probably the best type to use because it doesn't harden over time and has been proven to be less irritating. The handles are obviously the scissor-like portion of the tool where you insert your fingers. Other eyelash curlers have incorporated a rubber or plastic pad around them for a more firm and secured grip. 

This tool from Shiseido looks like a standard metal eyelash curler. It has a deeply curved lash cage which perfectly fits my eye shape and allows the tool to grasp my lashes from end to end. The silicone lash pad is so soft that it doesn't pinch or hurt my eyelids like other curlers tend to do. The handles have just the right size and the entire tool is lightweight but not at all flimsy. I love how it lifted my lashes beautifully with long-lasting results. 

(L) Shiseido eyelash curler; (R) Shu Uemura eyelash curler 

Since this tool is such a hit for me, I think it's just appropriate to compare it to my most loved eyelash curler by Shu Uemura. Honestly, seeing them next to each other confused me as to which is which because they look exactly alike!

(L) Shiseido eyelash curler; (R) Shu Uemura eyelash curler 

See what I mean? Both of them are curved with the exact same depth that it's impossible to tell them apart without looking at the engraved label. Others say the Shiseido eyelash curler is less curved compared to Shu Uemura but I really can't tell the difference. Can you? 

(L) Shiseido eyelash curler; (R) Shu Uemura eyelash curler

If you're really keen on finding even the slightest difference between these 2, I think this might satisfy your curiosity. Shiseido's lash cage has a slightly wider opening than Shu Uemura's which in my opinion doesn't really give any advantage to either tool. Although some say that the narrower opening of Shu Uemura makes it more stable and firmer to hold, I still can't consider it a major difference. 

Here's the extra silicone pad that came with the Shiseido eyelash curler. Oh, there's really one major difference between Shiseido and Shu Uemura eyelash curlers I haven't mentioned! Shiseido sells replacement pads so you can keep this eyelash curler forever until you can while Shu Uemura doesn't and actually instructs you to replace the entire tool with a new one after 6 to 12 months of use. Contrary to this, I've only changed the silicone pad once on my Shu Uemura eyelash curler in 3 years and it's still in tip top shape. Just saying. Price-wise, I can't really conclude which one's more affordable if you buy locally because my friend got the Shiseido eyelash curler in Yen which converts to Php 250. 

Overall, I find the Shiseido eyelash curler a close competitor of Shu Uemura. The only advantage Shiseido has over Shu Uemura is they sell replacement pads so you can keep using this tool until you're tired of it. If you own a Shu Uemura eyelash curler and you've used up the extra pad, you can buy the ones from Shiseido because they're a perfect fit. If you're happy with your present curler regardless of the brand, keep using it until you're ready to upgrade. When your present tool doesn't give your lashes the proper curl they deserve or has pinched you more frequently than you can take, switching to Shu Uemura will most likely help. Shiseido on the other hand, does an equally good job so you may consider getting it if Shu Uemura isn't available. Either brand will definitely give you fabulous looking lashes.

Any thoughts about Shiseido or Shu Uemura eyelash curlers? Do leave them on the comments section below. Thank you for your time and have a great weekend!