First Impression: A Closer Look at the Shu Uemura S Curler

January 13, 2014 by pearlessence 16 Comments

I had known for a while that Shu Uemura would be releasing a new curler, so I guess the mental preparation had suppressed any excitement upon seeing the s curler finally released.

… at least until I saw the 6 Princess by Takashi Murakami version of the s curler.

The flower was so happy that I decided I needed the s curler with the detachable keychain.

The Heart and Flower by Murakami s curler came in a gold box decorated like the rest of the 6 Princess Holiday 2013 Collection, with some cute cartoon characters interspersed throughout. Can you spot my happy flower?

Unlike traditional eyelash curlers, the s curler does not have side bars and is much smaller, traits which are supposed to prevent pinching and allow more precise curling that can reach tiny lashes at the corner of the eye. I think it looks pretty intimidating, though.

I actually ordered my s curler last month on ShuUemura.ca and had tried to use it for my New Year’s Eve look. After poking myself in the eye, I decided to feel around blindly in my makeup bag for my trusty original Shu Uemura eyelash curler while trying not to let my tears run down my made-up face.

I tried the s curler again yesterday with more success, although I still managed to stick it in my eye a few times. The actual curling also took much longer because I had to curl my eyelashes in 3 sections (inner, middle, outer) since it is about half the size of a regular eyelash curler. I didn’t manage to get as good a curl as I usually do with my regular Shu curler but it was my first time using it. Despite being designed to prevent pinching, I definitely managed to pinch myself – but that’s probably attributable to my lack of skill.

I’m sure there is a steep learning curve to the s curler, but I’ll keep trying. Lesson #1: how to use the s curler without stabbing yourself in the eye.

There are instructions on the back of the box, actually.

Although the directions do not actually say anything about closing your eyes while you bring a shiny metal claw-like object (which can easily be mistaken for a medieval torture device) right up to your eye, you can see that the cartoons show a closed eye. I have to say, I am more than a little reluctant to close my eyes while using an unfamiliar eyelash curler\.

Do you remember the first time you tried using an eyelash curler? I remember running in the other direction when my friend held up the eyelash curler and offered to curl my lashes, blinking furiously when my mother tried curling my lashes for grade 8 graduation, and pinching my eyelids (so painful) when I finally decided I needed to learn how to use a curler.

What’s your favourite eyelash curler? The Shu Uemura eyelash curler was my second curler and I have never desired another conventional curler since. The s curler is my third, and will definitely take some practice (as long as I don’t give up and reach for my original Shu instead). Will you try the s curler?