Eyelash Curler: Necessity or Medieval Torture Device?
I'll never forget the first time my boyfriend saw me using my beloved Shu Uemura eyelash curler. I was putting on my makeup in front of the full-length mirror in our bedroom when he walked in and actually let out an audible shriek.
"What kind of torture device is that?!" he asked. It was one of those things I blew off immediately (kind of like his nudging about why I need 47 pairs of jeans or have five pots of this amazing lip gloss scattered around our apartment). But if I'm honest, his question about my go-to makeup tool did make me pause. Was my eyelash curler some kind of torture device -- or do most women, like me, consider it a necessity?
Turns out I'm not the masochist my man pegged me to be: A whopping 82 percent of our Facebook fans also use these pinching little terrors daily.
Related: 13 Makeup Tools You Shouldn't Live Without
If you're not one of those women, check out these surprising ways to make your eyes look more open without a curler. For those of you who refuse to swipe on multiple coats of mascara without curling first, here are a couple hints to help you get even more enviable lashes:
1. You don't need to hold your lashes in the curler forever. CoverGirl makeup artist Molly Stern says all you need to do is clamp down and repeat "I love myself" twice and you're done. She also says this sneaks in a morning affirmation, great if you're into that sort of thing. (PS: I won't be telling me how much I love me aloud. I don't know about you, but self-affirmations are one thing I don't need my boyfriend walking in on.)
2. Too much mascara (or one that's too heavy) can weigh down your lashes and straighten out that curl you just risked your vision to create. Prevent this from happening by using one of these curl-friendly mascaras.
More from TotalBeauty.com:
Quiz: Are You Using the Wrong Mascara?
Editor Road Test: Our Favorite Mascaras
What's Your Ideal Eye Makeup Look?
