Don't Try This at Home

I recently heard about a beauty trick that is secretly done in bathrooms across the nation. This is the practice of heating up your eyelash curler with a cigarette lighter (or, for the slightly more sane, a hair dryer), in an effort to get a tighter, longer-lasting curl. Talk about a new way to get a smoky eye.
A much safer, and more effective solution is to purchase one of the heated eyelash curlers on the market. Plus, they provide gentle, even heat to coax your lashes skyward, and keep them that way. Now, one of my beauty blessings is naturally curly lashes, so I haven't tested these options out. If you have tried them, please post a comment and let us know how it worked for you!

Crimp-style curlers sandwich lashes between two pads to create a curl and are either heated with batteries in the handle or sit in a heated base:

Talika Heated Eyelash Curler - $35. Raved about by Bliss and features a sleek design. Word in the Alley (makeupalley.com, that is) is that the body is made of cheap plastic and it isn't easy to use.

Hotlashes - $50. If you like using a more traditional curler but want to heat it up, this provides a heated base for a manual-style curler. It's a big investment, but some say it's worth it.

Wand style lash curlers allow you to hold the heat against the lash, reducing the risk of pulling your lashes out.

• EyeCurl - £14.95. Seemingly only available in the U.K., this heated eyelash curler gets rave reviews from Kate Moss and other celebs. Plus, rave reviews from fellow beauty junkies.


• Blinc - $24. Mixed reviews on drugstore.com. Star feature: blinc Lash Curler’s heated comb has a special built-in guard that prevents contact with your skin and eyes.


• Japonesque Heated Mini Eyelash Curler - $16. The small size and fact you can use it over mascara make this one a good choice.

So, are you heating up your lashes so you can look smokin hot? Let us know which of these options has worked for you. Just please leave the flames in the bathroom for a candlelit bath.