Category: SPORTS

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Applying makeup under dim bedroom lights or harsh fluorescent bathroom bulbs can totally throw off your look, which is why we’ve invested in the best lighted makeup mirrors to ensure our glam is exactly up to our (high) standards. Whether you want a lighted mirror that mimics natural daylight, the cooler light of an office, or the warmth of a candlelit dinner, there's something for everyone here: Allure editors have tested tons of options to find the accessories that make us feel like pro makeup artists. Offered in a range of magnifications, sizes, light and brightness settings—and some with nifty bonus features like swivels or magnetic phone holders—these are the best lighted makeup mirrors to assist you in perfecting your beat.

Our Top Lighted Makeup Mirrors

• Best Overall: PMD Reflect Pro, $119
• Best for Selfies: Riki Loves Riki 5X Skinny Lighted Mirror, $225
• Best Magnification: Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Trio Max, $350
• Best Light Bar: Willed 3W Rechargeable Light Bar, $24
• Best for Travel: Fancii Taylor LED Compact Mirror, $50
• ​​Best Tech: Fenchlin White Vanity Mirror, $38
• Best Handheld: Conair Rechargeable Handheld Mirror, $130
• Most Versatile: Jerdon Tri-Fold Double-Sided Makeup Mirror, $60

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• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Overall: PMD Reflect Pro

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PMD

Reflect Pro

$119 $93 (22% off)

Amazon

$119

Nordstrom

$119

Ulta Beauty

Why it's worth it: The PMD Reflect Pro is all about flexibility. It swivels a full 360 degrees, tilts 90 degrees, and offers 5x magnification in the corner of the mirror, so you can find the perfect angle—whether you’re blending foundation down your neck or dealing with a rogue brow hair. Use it docked on its base, detach it to hold closer to your face, or toss it in your bag for travel. Three dimmable light settings (soft white, neutral, and natural daylight) make sure you’re always working with the right lighting, whether you’re getting ready in the morning or touching up before a night out.

Tester feedback from associate beauty editor Annie Blay-Tettey

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“I originally saw this mirror on my co-worker's desk and knew I had to have it. I love doing quick touch-ups at my desk, and corporate lighting isn't always the best, so the LED light on this mirror (which comes in four modes by the way) comes in clutch when I need to re-do my lip combo before my next meeting.” —Annie Blay-Tettey, associate beauty editor

More to know

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• Magnification: 5x
• Type of light: soft white, neutral, natural daylight
• Size: 11.5" x 2.5"
• Weight: 2.5 lbs

Best for Selfies: Riki Loves Riki 5X Skinny Lighted Mirror

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Riki Loves Riki

5X Skinny Lighted Mirror

$225

Nordstrom

Why it's worth it: No makeup routine is complete without snapping a few selfies, and the Riki Loves Riki 5X Skinny Lighted Mirror agrees. Simply pop your phone into the phone holder attachment, mount it onto the mirror, pair the Bluetooth, and then press the mirror's camera button to start snapping pictures. Or, if you'd rather watch a tutorial than film one, the phone clip makes it easy to do your makeup as you follow your favorite YouTuber's instructions.

Another bonus: It only weighs 1.5 pounds, so it’s super lightweight and easy to move around your house if you want to place it in different areas. It has five dimming options with both 5x and 10x magnifying options, so you can really customize its settings to all your glam likings.

Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han

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“This was my first ‘smart’ makeup mirror years ago and I’d still recommend it. As someone who’s no stranger to zero natural light in their apartment, this really helped me avoid leaving home looking patchy or under-blended. I definitely took my fair share of selfies (and maybe a few poorly-recorded videos for TikTok) with the handy magnetic phone holder—I think the Bluetooth connectivity feature is pretty cool, so that you can snap photos more naturally. Most of all, the five light settings allowed a lot of customization and, despite its height, I liked how little space the actual base took up on my limited desk area.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor

More to know

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• Magnification: 5x
• Type of light: customized HD daylight lighting
• Size: 9.5" x 13"
• Weight: 1.5 lbs

Best Magnification: Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Trio Max

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Simplehuman

Sensor Mirror Trio Max

$350

Simplehuman

Why it's worth it: The Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Trio Max is everything a makeup mirror could possibly be. A rechargeable battery that lasts five weeks? Of course. Touch-control brightness levels? Naturally. Turns on automatically when your face nears the sensor? Ok, color us impressed. The mirror also boasts a 95 CRI (a 100 on the CRI, or Color Rendering Index, means it looks exactly like actual daylight) via its patented Tru-Lux technology, which features patterned micro-reflectors that spread light evenly. But, if you're doing your makeup for an indoor environment, the mirror features two color modes (sunlight or candlelight), so you can accurately prep your makeup look for wherever your day or night is taking you. As far as magnification goes, it features 1x, 5x, and 10x magnification to view every inch of your face in complete detail.

Tester feedback from senior commerce director Shanna Shipin

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“This makeup mirror is such a luxury. There are three different magnification mirrors, which give you a great overall look at your face, but also allow you to go IN on those tiny, stubborn facial hairs. (My tweezers would like to shout out the 10x magnification mirror.) It's pricey for certain, but it is also seemingly unbreakable; it's been victim to my clumsiness and my toddler’s desire to destroy anything on my vanity and emerges after every tumble without a dent or scratch.” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director

More to know

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• Magnification: 1x, 5x, 10x
• Type of light: sunlight, candlelight
• Size: 8" x 8"
• Weight: 6.6 lbs

Best Light Bar: Willed 3W Rechargeable Light Bar

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Willed

3W Rechargeable Light Bar

$24 $19 (21% off)

Amazon

$18

Walmart

Why it’s worth it: If you’re anything like us and living in NYC bathrooms with less-than-ideal lighting (or just need a boost for your current mirror), we have a game-changing, affordable solution: the rechargeable Willed Light Bar. It comes with a magnetic swivel mount that you can adjust to your preferred angle. You can choose between three- or five-watt power, with five brightness levels and three color temperatures to customize your glow. There’s even an LED display to track battery life, plus a remote control so you don’t have to stand on your tippy toes to turn it on or off. And it’s not just for mirrors—think closets, vanities, kitchen cabinets, you name it. Honestly, we’ll take 10!

Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai

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"I didn't have a way of getting real lighting around my vanity mirror, so I've made do with this lighting strip for three years (and counting). It looks sleek—almost as if it were built into the mirror—and is bright enough to make up for the fact that my closet doesn't have any natural light. I love that I can adjust the brightness with a few taps, and only have to plug it in to recharge once every two months or so." —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor

More to know

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• Magnification: N/A
• Type of light: 10% brightness, 30% brightness, 50% brightness, 70% brightness, 100% brightness
• Size: 11.8"L x 1.25"W x 1.57"H
• Weight: 0.66 lbs

Best for Travel: Fancii Taylor LED Compact Mirror

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Fancii

Taylor LED Compact Mirror

$50

Amazon

$49

Nordstrom

Why it's worth it: If your phone's front-facing camera isn't cutting it for on-the-go touch-ups, tuck the ultra-lightweight Fancii LED Compact Mirror into your purse. It packs a pretty punch with a built-in ring light featuring three brightness settings (natural daylight, soft white, and neutral light) and two magnification options (1x and 10x). It’s rechargeable with a battery that lasts up to 30 days per charge, so it’s always ready when you need a quick check. It also makes a great gift for your friend who can't go 45 minutes without a retouch, and it comes in 10 neutral and bright colorways to match anyone’s vibe.

Tester feedback from Han

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“As someone who’s constantly pulling up her phone camera to make sure her lip color hasn’t strayed past her lip lines or stained her teeth, or touch up her smudged eyeliner or concealer, it took me long enough to get my hands on a compact LED mirror so I can see what I’m doing more clearly. (Did I mention my eyesight isn’t great?) I got this as a gift and it’s already accompanied me on a trip to Seoul, where it really pulled its weight through long, blistering days, and early winter sunsets, when lighting becomes a scarce commodity.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor

More to know

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• Magnification: 1x, 10x
• Type of light: daylight, neutral, soft
• Size: 3.94” X 0.98”
• Weight: 0.41 lbs

​​Best Tech: Fenchlin White Vanity Mirror

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Fenchlin

White Vanity Mirror

$38 $36 (5% off)

Amazon

Why it's worth it: The Fenchlin White Vanity Mirror is sort of how we imagined everything would be in the future when we were kids. Sure, our skies aren't filled with flying cars (yet), but it's 2026, and you can buy a makeup mirror with a Bluetooth speaker on Amazon—and that's enough for us. So whether you want to jam out to your Spotify Discover Weekly while you contour, catch up on your reality TV while you curl, or call your best friend while you gel your brows, the world is your oyster with this smart mirror. By the way, the light settings and brightness are adjusted using touch controls embedded into the glass.

More to know

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• Magnification: 1x
• Type of light: warm, daylight, cool light
• Size: 11" x 9.8"
• Weight: 4.4 lbs

Best Handheld: Conair Rechargeable Handheld Mirror

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Conair

Rechargeable Handheld Mirror

$130 $102 (22% off)

Amazon

$130

Ulta Beauty

Why it's worth it: The Conair Lighted Makeup Mirror lands somewhere between no-frills and just the right number of frills. This round, rechargeable LED mirror is customizable, thanks to a 360-degree swivel, three brightness settings, and three light modes. Instead of built-in magnification, there’s a 10x magnifying mirror you can manually attach to the base, perfect for tweezing brows or concealing the tiniest blemishes. Depending on what you’re looking for (or your bathroom setup), it comes in corded or cordless options.

More to know

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• Magnification: 1x, 10x
• Type of light: home, office, day
• Size: 9" x 9"
• Weight: 3.3 lbs

Most Versatile: Jerdon Tri-Fold Double-Sided Makeup Mirror

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Jerdon

Tri-Fold Double-Sided Makeup Mirror

$60

Amazon

$70

Walmart

Why it's worth it: This Tri-Fold Double-Sided Makeup Mirror from Jerdon is—if we may—robo-chic. The slider at the base allows you to choose between four lighting settings: day, office, night, and home. The center mirror can be swiveled between 1x and 5x magnification, while the two adjustable mirrored wings help illuminate blind spots and discover new angles for your best GRWM yet. It’s almost like a three-way mirror in a dressing room, but just for your face.

More to know

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• Magnification: 1x, 5x
• Type of light: day, office, night, home
• Size: 11.8" x 9.6"
• Weight: 3.5 lbs

Frequently Asked Questions

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best lighted makeup mirrors, we considered each product's performance across different categories: magnification, type of light, size, and other special factors like magnetic phone holders. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from makeup artists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

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ICYMI, Beyoncé is back to posting on Instagram, which means we're back to poring over every photo in her signature carousels for all the best beauty details. (Oh, and she got a bob!) One such nail-related detail in her latest photo drop, however, was so delicate that I almost missed it while flipping through her pics—but I'm so glad I didn't!

Though Bey didn't join her husband and daughters on the field at the Super Bowl, she did watch the game (and the Halftime Show) and gave us a peek at her Game Day look, complete with an enchantingly dainty take on the French manicure.

Her manicure was the work of Miho Okawara, who is responsible for many of her most recognizable (and copy-able) manicures. Okawara sculpted Beyoncé's nails into a long almond shape with a neutral base color, then detailed each nail with its own minuscule design. Instead of a bright or creamy white nail, though, Okawara outlined the tip with a fine line and rhinestone design on the pointer finger and a series of teeny-tiny golden dots on the middle finger. Beyoncé's ring finger tiptoed into accent nail territory with a gold and silver metallic texture applied to the tip. A few of her fingers were entirely French-less; her pinky fingers were almost completely bare, save for a cluster of sparkle at the base of the nail, and her thumbs sported a delicate design in the center of the nail. (Scroll through a few pics to see a close-up.)

Instagram content

The French manicure is a mainstay in Beyoncé's manicure routine, and we've seen so many iterations of the look on her famous fingertips in the past. She's gone classic, of course, but we've also seen her turquoise-studded “Texas French” for her Cowboy Carter album, a chrome metallic silver set befitting the Renaissance era, and even a hidden Santa Claus French during the holidays! Could her latest manicure be a clue about a new project? Fans are buzzing about an Act III album release date, every potential hint will be fully examined—and that includes her nails!

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What can we say? It’s been a long year. What’s that? It’s only spring? Well, in that case, we could all use a little self-care—a spring break, if you will—and this season’s hair trends are reflecting our cultural desire for ease and softness amid a whole lot of stress in 2026.

Our haircuts are floaty and gentle: a shag with airy layers, a softly sculpted bob, or a long cascade of waves to transport you to a tropical island (if only when you flip your hair). Or maybe you’re wearing a shoulder-grazing midi cut, which happens to be an easy, natural evolution from the blunt bobs of last season. These cuts enable us to spend more time daydreaming and less time in the salon.

Spring colors are cozy, familiar classics that feel rich and special but couldn’t be easier to achieve. Dimensional blondes and brunettes offer shine and polish with a low-maintenance grow-out. Sandy-desert caramel and strawberry beige are soft and sweet like fresh linen, with a little sparkle that says “I’m not done causing trouble.”

These trends are like the hair equivalent of taking a deep, cleansing spring breath. Below, the experts detail the soft, gentle styles we can expect to see in a season of beauty rest and reset.

Spring haircut trends

Modern shag

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The modern shag—easily the most forecasted cut by our stylists this season—does away with electric edges and texture in favor of a softer, more lyrical look. Think less Joan Jett, more Stevie Nicks, with a Sabrina Carpenter chaser. This cut has the coolness of a long, rock-and-roll shag, but floatier layers and romantic, face-framing pieces, or curtain bangs, to bring it into 2026.

In true rocker fashion, this look is come-as-you-are. “People are moving away from overly polished styles and leaning into their natural texture,” says Brooklyn-based hairstylist Alexis Correa. “There is a big cultural shift toward low-maintenance beauty, where the hair looks good without too much styling.” And this cut works just as well with a texture spray and a laissez-faire tousle as it does big and blown-out.

Adds Denver-based hairstylist Katie Brenner, “Ask for soft layering, movement around the face, and a fringe that blends rather than feels heavy.”

Shoulder length

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A certain young blonde interloper once tested her multiple options by trying them all. Let us cut out the hard work for you. In this case, one option may be too short, the next could be too long, but the third? Juuuust right. This polished, shoulder-grazing look is exactly right. “This is a collarbone to chest-length haircut that sits between a bob and long hair,” says Brenner. “[It’s] incredibly versatile.”

A mid-length cut works on any texture, but you’ll want to give it a little movement and ooh-la-la to make it look intentional, not like you’re just waiting for last year’s bob to grow out. “Imagine hair that swings when you walk,” says Brenner. To achieve that, she recommends, ask for some internal shaping (cutting layers underneath the top layer to add volume) and a “blunt but soft” perimeter.

Waterfall hair

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If you crash-landed on a lush, tropical island, and decided you’d rather stay and become queen than try to go home, you’d need the right hair for the job. The clear answer here is long, waist-length hair that cascades down your back in silky ripples—just like the waterfall you now live behind. Obviously.

Of course, it’s not very practical (or ethical) to rule your own island, but the fantasy is really all about the hair anyway. “The cut is blunt with a clean center part and long lengths reaching mid-back,” says Chicago-based hairstylist Amy Abramite, who likes to think of these satin-finish waves as a cooler alternative to bouncy Hollywood hair. “Ask for a long, one-length cut with no layers, styled with a crimping waver.”

Soft sculpted bob

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If a bob could be hung in the Musée d’Orsay—somewhere between the Degas ballerinas and Rodin’s Thinker—it would look a lot like this: soft, impressionistic, but meticulously sculpted.

Best for straight, fine, or wavy textures, this cut is a masterpiece of proportions.

“[Ask for] a bob that feels clean and modern, but still soft and movable,” says Milwaukee-based hairstylist Loren Kramer. “Not too blunt at the ends.”

Those with denser, curlier hair can get the look by asking for “a rounded curl bob with layers that release weight and build shape,” says Los Angeles-based hairstylist Dusty Schlabach. “The curls build a soft, dome-like silhouette. Shorter where they need lift, longer where they need weight.”

Spring hair colors

Hamptons blonde

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There are the beach blondes in it for salty, sandy waves; there are the polished Hollywood blondes, perhaps the truest, blondest blondes; and then there are the Hamptons blondes, who evoke visions of convertibles and seasonal homes.

A Hamptons blonde shade is as beautiful and dimensional as a Martha Stewart tablescape. The look reads creamy, buttery blonde, but gets a deep richness from honey undertones. “It feels sunlit and soft, but never icy or overly bright,” says New York City-based hairstylist Rogerio Cavalcante. Ask for a warm blonde with golden undertones.

And if you’re still sporting a rooty winter blonde, ask your stylist for “a quick lift that will give your natural color a golden boost,” says New York City-based colorist Tiffanie Richards.

Dimensional cocoa

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You can keep your well-manicured hedges and your Dutch colonial. Dimensional cocoa is a sleek, stylish brunette for those who prefer to conjure spring in Milan or Copenhagen. “At first glance, it reads as one color, but when the hair moves, you see slight shifts of light reflection,” says New York City-based colorist Lena Ott. “It feels soft and expensive, not flat or opaque.”

Adds Cavalcante, you’re aiming for a deep, glossy brunette with cocoa or espresso undertones. “This color feels elevated and timeless, without the upkeep of heavy highlighting,” he says. Just be sure to ask for a gloss to give it that extra-polished finish—a key element of looking posh and mysterious while shoe-shopping along Corso Vittorio.

Strawberry beige

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Like a glass of Veuve Clicquot garnished with berries, this strawberry-beige color straddles the line between upscale polish and whimsy. Yes, this look has been seen at Chateau Marmont recently, but the wearer is certainly not too formal for a midnight skinny-dip.

“This is a muted, earthy copper. Soft gold mixed with peach and a hint of rose,” says Kramer. The color should feel natural and worn-in even if it’s not, in fact, your natural color. Ask for a warm base with copper and gold toning, she adds: “The balance is everything…. Too red and it’s loud, too gold and it loses depth.”

Desert caramel

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Whoever told you that you can’t have everything was not a desert-caramel bronde. You can indeed have the brightness of blonde with the ease of a natural rooty beige! (That’s what they were talking about when they said “everything,” right?)

“Clients want a low-maintenance color that still feels polished,” says New York City-based colorist Elisabeth Leary. This low-key sandy shade checks the boxes: effortless, cool, and minimal salon time.

“It’s about enhancement, not transformation,” says Leary, who recommends keeping it close to your natural shade, lifting only one or two levels if you’re starting darker. Finish with a few subtle caramel tones and a gloss.

Meet the experts

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• Amy Abramite is a hairstylist and creative director of Maxine Salon in Chicago.
• Katie Brenner is a Denver-based hairstylist and artistic director of Oli G.
• Rogerio Cavalcante is a New York City-based hairstylist and founder of Brazil Edition.
• Alexis Correa is a hairstylist at Whiteroom in Brooklyn.
• Loren Kramer is a hairstylist, owner of White Brick Salon in Milwaukee, and Goldie Locks ambassador.
• Elisabeth Leary is a colorist and founder of Whiteroom in Brooklyn.
• Dusty Schlabach is a Los Angeles-based hairstylist.

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The best Korean toner pads are a mainstay in Korean skin-care routines because, as Charlotte Cho, co-founder of Soko Glam based in New York City, explains, “they have always been treated as a hydrating prep step—like the bridge between cleansing and the rest of your routine.”

Forget the harsh, astringent wipes you may associate with Western toners—Korean toner pads are much gentler and feel more like a quick, soothing facial step. “They’re designed to calm, prep, and give you that immediate skin refresh,” says Cho. You can swipe one on after cleansing, or place a few pads on your cheeks and forehead for five minutes as a mini-mask moment.

Our Top Korean Toner Pads

• Best Overall: Biodance Collagen Gel Toner Pads, $26
• Best for Dry Skin: Hanyul Artemisia Soothing Toner Pads, $26
• Best for Oily Skin: Medicube Zero Pore Pad, $31
• Best for Active Breakouts: Mediheal Madecassoside Blemish Pad, $24
• Best for Dullness: Some by Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Truecica Clear Pad, $18
• Best for Sensitive Skin: Anua PDRN 100 Hyaluronic Acid Glow Pad, $22
• Best for Combination Skin: Torriden Dive In 5D Hyaluronic Acid Toner Pads, $26

Compared to liquid toners, pads also make the whole step faster and more convenient: no cotton rounds to hunt down, no spills, and way more control over where the product goes. Many are double-sided, with a lightly textured side for gentle exfoliation and a smooth side for hydration—so you’re toning, lightly exfoliating, and refreshing skin in one pass. They’re also inherently more portable, which explains why they’re a favorite for gym bags, travel, and busy mornings.

Many formulas highlight K-beauty staples like Centella asiatica (a.k.a. cica) to soothe redness, mugwort (artemisia) to calm reactive skin, or collagen to boost bounce and hydration. While they don’t replace targeted serums or moisturizers, they can combine toning, light exfoliation, and hydration into one easy step—one of those low-effort, glass-skin tricks that delivers real glow, fast.

Frequently Asked QuestionsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevron

• What makes Korean toner pads different from Western toner pads?
• What ingredients are common in Korean toner pads?
• Do Korean toner pads replace multiple steps?
• Meet the experts
• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Overall: Biodance Collagen Gel Toner Pads

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Biodance

Collagen Gel Toner Pads

$26 $24 (8% off)

Amazon

$26

Soko Glam

$26

Sephora

Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Biodance Cera-nol Gel Toner Pads

Sarah Han

Why it's worth it: If you haven’t had a chance to try Biodance’s viral overnight collagen masks yet, these toner pads offer a preview of the glow they’re known for. In Korea, toner pads are often used as mini mask treatments. “If you’re short on time or too tired for an overnight mask, this is the perfect morning rescue,” says Jane Yoo, MD, a dual board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. She points to the innovative gel fabric and low-molecular-weight collagen, which is broken down into smaller fragments to hydrate more effectively, feel lighter on the skin, and help create a plumper, smoother look with minimal irritation. Hyaluronic acid helps flood skin with hydration, while galactomyces (a byproduct of yeast fermentation originally discover in sake breweing) smooths texture for a clearer, more even look. While they work well for all skin types, “they’re especially popular for skin that feels dry, dull, or less bouncy,” says Cho.

Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han

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“These are so so so so soothing—some of the most cooling, most drenched toner pads I've ever put on my face. One casual swipe of this makes my skin look 10 times dewier, not even joking. Because they're so potent, I make sure to bring all of the hydrating, plumping goodness down to my neck.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor

More to know

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• Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, collagen, galactomyces
• Fragrance-free: yes
• Number of pads: 60

Best for Dry Skin: Hanyul Artemisia Soothing Toner Pads

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Hanyul

Artemisia Soothing Toner Pads

$26

Amazon

$26

Soko Glam

$26

Sephora

Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the Hanyul Artemisia Soothing Toner Pads

Christa Joanna Lee

Why it's worth it: Hanyul’s Artemisia Soothing Toner Pads are the kind you should “reach for when your skin is feeling reactive or easily irritated,” says Cho. Each pad is soaked in a calming essence built around the brand’s proprietary Artemisia-Cica blend—a K-beauty-favorite pairing of artemisia (mugwort) and Centella asiatica. “Artemisia is a traditional ingredient in Korean skin care, and has a calming quality that makes your skin feel hydrated and soothed,” she says. Centella asiatica brings relief by helping calm inflammation and support the skin barrier, which is especially important when skin feels sensitized or stressed.

Artemisia leaf water further enhances comfort, while panthenol (vitamin B5) supports the skin barrier, and hyaluronic acid delivers lightweight hydration. The formula also includes Lactobacillus ferment, a fermented ingredient commonly used in Korean skin care to improve absorption, so it helps your toner work more effectively.

Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee

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“My already-dry skin has been a serious drama queen lately thanks to my tretinoin prescription—think peeling and redness. These pads have a subtle grip to them, so they don’t slip and slide around your face, and they’re saturated without being so drenched that you can’t actually hold onto them (a small but important detail). After swiping one on, my skin felt noticeably softer and comforted—less tight and nicely hydrating for the dry patches on my cheeks.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer

More to know

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• Key ingredients: Artemisia-Cica (artemisia leaf extract and Centella asiatica), panthenol, hyaluronic acid, artemisia water, Lactobacillus ferment
• Fragrance-free: no
• Number of pads: 60

Best for Oily Skin: Medicube Zero Pore Pad

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Medicube

Zero Pore Pad

$31 $15 (52% off)

Amazon

$31

Yesstyle

$21

Ulta Beauty

Allure associate social media manager Katie Gunderman applying the Medicube Zero Pore Pads

Katie Gunderman

Why it's worth it: If you have oily skin, you already know there’s a big difference between a healthy glow and greasy-looking shine. When skin starts feeling slick or congested, Medicube’s Zero Pore Pads help restore balance. These toner pads are soaked in a clarifying blend that gently exfoliates dead skin cells, clears excess sebum, and helps keep pores from appearing clogged. Salicylic acid works inside pores to break up oil and buildup, while lactic acid smooths uneven texture caused by lingering congestion. Centella asiatica, panthenol, and allantoin help keep skin calm and comfortable, so you get clarity without a stripped or tight feeling.

Tester feedback from associate social media manager Katie Gunderman

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“The Medicube Zero Pore Toner Pads are always the first step. They refresh my face and prep it for the rest of my skincare or makeup routine. They always leave my skin feeling clean and hydrated and I love how easy they are to pop on.” —Katie Gunderman, associate social media manager

More to know

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• Key ingredients: lactic acid, salicylic acid, Centella asiatica, panthenol, allantoin
• Fragrance-free: yes
• Number of pads: 70

Best for Active Breakouts: Mediheal Madecassoside Blemish Pad

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Mediheal

Madecassoside Blemish Pad

$24

Amazon

$24

Ulta Beauty

$24

Soko Glam

Allure senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin applying the Mediheal Madecassoside Blemish Pad

Sarah Felbin

Why it's worth it: Sometimes you can feel a blemish coming and head it off with the right products. Other times, it’s already angrily announced itself—and that’s when Mediheal Madecassoside Blemish Pads help shorten its unwanted stay. “These are great for acne-prone skin, especially if you’re dealing with active breakouts or post-breakout redness,” says Cho. Each pad is soaked in a calming, barrier-first formula built around cica, “one of the most iconic calming ingredients in K-beauty,” Cho notes; she also likes that the pads are easy to use, not harsh, and help skin look clearer and more balanced over time. You’ll find whole-plant Centella asiatica extract to help calm visible redness, plus leaf and root extracts that deliver antioxidant and barrier-supporting benefits. Madecassoside, a key compound derived from cica, helps reduce irritation as breakouts heal. Niacinamide adds a brightening boost that helps fade lingering post-breakout marks, leaving skin clearer and skin tone more even.

Tester feedback from senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin

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“I have very sensitive, oily skin that can break out if I look at it wrong. Add to that the dozens of new beauty products I'm testing each week, and I'm almost always dealing with some stubborn blackheads, whiteheads, or both. When I first notice signs of a breakout, I always make sure to grab these pads. The pad's material is very thin and soft (not scratchy like some other pads I've tried, which can irritate my skin even more). There's a lot of product in each box of pads, so they're always fully saturated, even weeks after I've bought them. And I love that each box comes with a pair of clear plastic tweezers hidden underneath the lid, so I can quickly and easily grab a pad without having to stick my fingers inside. The pads apply a thin layer of a clear, watery product that dries quickly and layers easily under the rest of my skin care and makeup. And after a few uses, my skin looks calmer and clearer. These have been a medicine cabinet must-have for me since I first tried them. Madecassoside is the real deal!” —Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor

More to know

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• Key ingredients: niacinamide, glycerin, Centella asiatica
• Fragrance-free: rosemary and mango scent; no synthetic fragrance
• Number of pads: 100

Best for Dullness: Some by Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Truecica Clear Pad

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Some by Mi

AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Truecica Clear Pad

$18

Amazon

$25

Ulta Beauty

$24

Soko Glam

Allure commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann applying the Some by Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Truecica Clear Pad

Sarah Hoffmann

Why it's worth it: Some By Mi comes from the phrase “something by a miracle,” and with the way their formulas revive dull skin, we can believe it. Unlike some other exfoliating toner pads, their AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Truecica Clear Pads are designed for daily use, thanks to their low-dose blend of acids that gently smooth and brighten without overwhelming skin. Citric acid (AHA) gently lifts away dull, dead skin cells on the surface, while willow bark water—naturally rich in salicin, which the skin can convert into salicylic acid–like compounds—helps keep pores clear without the irritation of traditional BHAs. PHA (lactobionic acid) adds an extra layer of mild exfoliation while helping skin retain moisture. Calming staples like Centella asiatica, madecassoside, artemisia, and tea tree help prevent irritation while these pads help shed dull, dead cells for a clearer look.

Tester feedback from commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann

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“I treat these toner pads like a first aid kit for my skin. Whenever I'm inconsistent about skin care, the first place the neglect starts to show is around my nose and chin, where I'm prone to clogged pores. Whenever I notice this kind of congestion, a day or two of using these exfoliating pads clears that right up. My skin is pretty sensitive, so I appreciate how these toner pads are perfectly dosed with the right amount of product, so I don't need to stress about over-exfoliating. The first time I used these after a week of not-so-great skin, I woke up the next day and genuinely thought, ’Well, that made my skin perfect.'" —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer

More to know

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• Key ingredients: citric acid, betaine salicylate, lactobionic acid, Centella asiatica, madecassoside
• Fragrance-free: yes
• Number of pads: 70

Best for Sensitive Skin: Anua PDRN 100 Hyaluronic Acid Glow Pad

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Anua

PDRN 100 Hyaluronic Acid Glow Pad

$22

Amazon

$22

Ulta Beauty

$28

Olive Young

Lee applying the Anua PDRN 100 Hyaluronic Acid Glow Pad

Christa Joanna Lee

Why it's worth it: It’s about time more toner pads started incorporating PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide), an ingredient long prized in skin-repair treatments. Traditionally derived from salmon DNA and known for supporting tissue regeneration and cell renewal, Anua PDRN 100 Hyaluronic Acid Glow Pads use a plant-based form that’s especially gentle for sensitive skin. The oversized pads make it easy to cover most of your face, turning a quick step into a barrier-repairing, mini-mask moment. While PDRN supports skin recovery, these pads also feature multiple forms of hyaluronic acid to provide hydration and cushion the skin. Calming botanicals like aloe, turmeric, and holy basil round things out, keeping skin comfortable and soothed.

Tester feedback from Lee

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“Okay, fair warning: These pads are ultra drenched—like, dripping with essence. When I tried swiping one across my face, the pad kept rolling up on itself, so I pivoted and started using them as mini sheet masks instead (pressing them onto my cheeks and forehead for a few minutes). The PDRN and hyaluronic acid combo delivers crazy hydration, and my skin looked extremely glassy afterward. I’ve been peeling from a prescription cream for my melasma, and these have been such a helpful counterbalance—plumping things back up and taking the edge off that tight, flaky feeling.” —Lee, contirbuting commerce writer

More to know

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• Key ingredients: plant-based PDRN, hyaluronic acid, aloe, turmeric, holy basil
• Fragrance-free: yes
• Number of pads: 60

Best for Combination Skin: Torriden Dive In 5D Hyaluronic Acid Toner Pads

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Torriden

Dive In 5D Hyaluronic Acid Toner Pads

$26

Amazon

$26

Sephora

Han using the Torriden Dive In 5D Hyaluronic Acid Toner Pads

Sarah Han

Why it's worth it: Combination skin typically means oilier, congestion-prone areas (usually the T-zone) paired with drier or tighter patches elsewhere—and those needs can shift by the day. But having combo skin doesn’t mean you need different products for different parts of your face. Torriden’s Dive In 5D Hyaluronic Acid Toner Pads meet your skin where it is. The “5D hyaluronic acid” refers to a blend of five forms of hyaluronic acid with varying molecular sizes, allowing hydration to reach multiple layers of the skin rather than sitting on the surface. Dry areas feel cushioned without overwhelming oilier zones. For balance, gluconolactone (a gentle PHA) and willow bark extract lightly exfoliate to keep pores clear, while witch hazel and tea tree help manage shine. Barrier-supporting ceramides, beta-glucan, and humectants round things out, leaving skin hydrated, clear, and balanced all over.

Tester feedback from Han

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“I don't use cleanser in the mornings (a quick rinse is as far as I go!) but sometimes my skin could use a refresher, which is where these Torriden pads come in. As their name suggests—and just like the Dive In serum and cream I love so much—these toner pads are intensely hydrating, thanks to five types of hyaluronic acid, and they sweep away any debris that might've accumulated during the night. (Did I mention they're so nicely cooling, too? These + my morning coffee = the ideal one-two wake-up punch.) One nice advantage these pads have over others I've tried is their shape: While many toner pads are straight-up circles, Torriden's has a curved edge that rest sperfectly underneath my eyes for when I want to leave my toner pads on for five minutes as a sheet mask stand-in. My skin always looks glowier and brighter, no matter how dead I feel inside. (I've long accepted I'm not a morning person.)” —Han, commerce editor

More to know

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• Key ingredients: 5 types of hyaluronic acid, PHA, witch hazel, tea tree, ceramides, beta-glucan
• Fragrance-free: yes
• Number of pads: 80

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Korean toner pads different from Western toner pads?

Korean skin-care routines in general tend to be much more treatment-focused than their Western counterparts. “Korean toner pads are more like essence-soaked pads, while Western toner pads are often astringent-based,” says Marie Jhin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in San Carlos, California. Instead of relying on strong acids or alcohol for oil control, Korean formulas prioritize hydration, soothing, and gentle brightening. “Think of Korean toner pads as a nourishing bridge between cleansing and treatment,” Dr. Jhin adds, “not just an exfoliating step.” That’s why they’re often designed to be left on as mini masks—supporting the skin barrier while delivering active ingredients, rather than stripping skin in the name of clarity.

What ingredients are common in Korean toner pads?

Korean toner pads are known for their skin-friendly, barrier-first ingredient lists. “You’ll often see calming and barrier-supporting ingredients like galactomyces, bifida ferment, and cica,” says Dr. Jhin, along with nourishing staples such as propolis, snail mucin, and botanicals like heartleaf, mugwort, and rice. To round things out, many formulas include multitaskers like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid for hydration and brightening, plus gentler exfoliants—think PHA or low-dose AHA/BHA blends, so skin gets the benefits of exfoliation without the irritation.

Do Korean toner pads replace multiple steps?

While Korean toner pads don’t completely replace targeted serums, ampoules, or moisturizers, they do help streamline your routine, especially if you’re juggling multiple skin concerns. “They combine toning, light exfoliation, and essence into one step,” says Dr. Jhin, which can reduce a longer, multi-step routine into just a few essentials. Think of them as a smart shortcut: they prep skin, deliver active ingredients, and create a smoother base so the rest of your skin care works better—leaving skin looking more balanced, refreshed, and dewy without skipping the steps that really matter.

Meet the experts

• Charlotte Cho, co-founder of Soko Glam based in New York City
• Marie Jhin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of Premier Dermatology, adjunct clinical instructor at Stanford University, and author of Asian Beauty Secrets and K-Beauty Secrets based in San Carlos, California
• Jane Yoo, MD, a dual board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon based in New York City

How we test and review products

Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?

For our review of the best korean toner pads, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, cosmetic chemists, and professional makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

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The Allure Readers’ Choice Awards are determined through an annual reader-voted poll on Allure.com. This page explains how nominees are selected, how votes are collected and verified, and how final winners are determined.

Allure magazine has been bringing reliable product recommendations to readers for 30 years. And for 20 of those years, readers have been telling Allure editors the hair, skin-care, and makeup products they recommend (and can’t live without) in the Readers’ Choice Awards poll. They vote, we listen.

Here’s a closer look at how that process works.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long does the Allure Readers’ Choice Awards voting period last?
• Who is eligible to vote in the Allure Readers’ Choice Awards?
• How are votes counted in the Allure Readers’ Choice Awards poll?

What Are the Readers’ Choice Awards?

Every February, Allure editors ask our discerning readers to share which hair, skin, nail, and makeup products they’re loving via the Allure Readers’ Choice Awards poll.

The poll features over 500 products for readers to vote on, across all categories: Skin, Hair, Body, and Makeup, along with a few other specialties, like Clean Beauty, Breakthroughs, Steals, and Splurges.

In recent years, several new categories have been added to the poll, like New Brand, Most Viral Product, Favorite Indie Brand, and Favorite Creator. This year, a K-beauty category was added to the list.

How Readers’ Choice Awards Voting Works

How Products Are Nominated for the Poll

In every category of the Allure Readers' Choice Awards, readers are invited to weigh in, selecting their favorites from a short list of 5 to 15 beauty products.

We curate each list from:

• The Readers' Choice and Best of Beauty Award winners in that category for the last three years
• The products nominated by 15 to 20 of Allure's favorite beauty experts (dermatologists, hairstylists, makeup artists, nail artists, and cosmetic chemists)
• The best-selling products at Ulta Beauty, Sephora, and Credo Beauty
• The top-selling products from Allure's commerce stories (across all retailers)
• Allure staff picks: new launches and cult classics
• New products that we have featured in our social series “This Just In”

Beauty products aren’t the only nominees in the Readers’ Choice Award poll; content creators are now also included. Every year, the Allure social team hand-picks top beauty, style, and lifestyle creators to participate in the poll. They are selected based on a handful of metrics, such as follower count, engagement rate, and our editors’ views on the quality of their beauty content, and more.

The Readers’ Choice Awards poll nominee list is crafted between the months of November and January, and typically goes live in early February. This year, the Readers’ Choice Awards poll goes live on Tuesday, February 17, at 8 a.m. ET.

How to Vote in the Readers’ Choice Awards Poll

Head to allure.com/vote, where the Readers’ Choice Awards poll lives. From this page, you can jump between categories or follow the order in which categories are listed on the page: Skin, Splurges, Breakthroughs, Makeup, Survey, Body, Steals, Clean, and Hair.

By clicking on the name of each category, for example, Skin, you’re directed to the Skin poll, which features 10 subcategories, with eight products in each. Once you’ve selected your product picks for all 10 questions (only one product can be chosen per question), the page will automatically direct you to the next category, e.g., Splurges.

You should continue this process until you’ve reached the end of the poll, which is after the Hair category.

Note: While there is no fixed limit on participation, Allure monitors voting activity and reserves the right to review and remove suspicious or automated submissions. However, you must complete the poll in its entirety in order to be counted.

How Live Voting Leaderboards Work

During the voting period, we display a live leaderboard for the Best New Brand category. This leaderboard reflects how nominees are pacing based on votes received to date. It is updated periodically and is intended to provide a snapshot of voting trends—not final results. Official winners are determined only after voting closes and all eligible votes have been fully tallied and reviewed.

How Votes Are Verified & Tallied

Each vote cast in the Readers’ Choice Awards poll is counted and collected via a third-party program called Typeform. On this platform, the Allure staff has full viewing access to results during the voting period; votes are securely recorded through the platform and reviewed before final tallies are confirmed. They are counted at the end of the voting period, which ends on Tuesday, March 24, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

How Allure Readers’ Choice Winners Are Determined

Readers’ Choice Award winners are determined by the number of votes a product has in its category. The product with the highest number of votes is deemed the winner.

Allure Readers’ Choice Awards vs. Best of Beauty Awards Methodology Comparison

Unlike the submission process for the Allure Best of Beauty Awards, brands do not submit products to be considered for the annual Readers’ Choice Awards poll. Instead, Allure editors craft a 500-plus product list—across hair, skin, makeup, body, Clean, and Breakthrough categories—for readers to vote on.

For the Best of Beauty Awards, winners are selected based on editors’ testing experiences; for the Readers’ Choice Awards, winners are determined by readers’ votes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Allure Readers’ Choice Awards voting period last?

The voting period for the Readers’ Choice Awards Poll is five weeks long. This year, it opens on Tuesday, February 17, at 8 a.m. ET and closes on Tuesday, March 24, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Who is eligible to vote in the Allure Readers’ Choice Awards?

Anyone over the age of 18 can vote in the Readers’ Choice Awards poll.

How are votes counted in the Allure Readers’ Choice Awards poll?

In the poll, you can expect to find a mix of open-ended and multiple-choice questions, where you can select from 5 to 15 nominees or submit a product that’s not listed. Every product selected or submitted is counted as one vote. You must complete each individual category before moving on to the next.

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If anyone expects an apology from Tyra Banks in Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, they will surely be disappointed. The new Netflix docuseries chronicles the evolution of America’s Next Top Model—and the toxic messaging about beauty it pushed upon audiences—featuring interviews from some of its judges and contestants, executive producer Ken Mok, and host-slash-creator Tyra Banks. To a millennial viewer such as myself, watching it felt like a sort of seance—a call into the void, making contact with the meltdown voyeurism, diet culture, and reality TV ghosts of the early aughts.

The reality competition series ran for 24 seasons (or “cycles,” as they’re called) between 2003 and 2018. Contestants vied for the title, a cash prize, and a loosely defined modeling contract. Each week, they endured challenges—mostly themed photo shoots—that have since been lampooned across social media for their cultural insensitivity, all-around weirdness, and lack of relevance to modeling. (Cycle four contestant Keenyah Hill shared in the docuseries that she couldn’t use her photos from the show in her modeling portfolio because they were so thematically nuts.)

Every cycle, beauty makeovers were the highlight—and the biggest point of cognitive dissonance. Banks says in the docuseries, as she has many times in the past, that she made a point of casting models whom the fashion industry writ large excluded at the time—Black models, brown models, queer models, curvier models… only to bind them in the same impossible beauty standards she claimed to denounce. Weaves, extensions, and drastic haircuts or color changes were ostensibly forced upon contestants for the sake of making them more fashion-forward. Cycle six’s Joanie Dodds and Danielle Evans were vaguely threatened with elimination unless they agreed to permanent, painful dental work. (Dodds was asked to straighten her smile, which required surgically removing several teeth and replacing them with implants; Evans was asked to have the gap between her two front teeth surgically closed because it wasn’t “marketable,” which she vocally opposed on camera.)

Photo: Courtesy of Netflix

Criticisms about contestants’ looks from Banks and her judges ran the gamut in their cruelty. And when receiving feedback on their performance in challenges from week to week, panel critiques frequently strayed from modeling prowess to aesthetics. Contestants were measured and weighed on camera at times and were often interrogated about their eating habits in front of the entire cast and crew. In cycle one, Banks openly criticized 18-year-old contestant Giselle Samson for having a “wide ass.” In the docuseries, cycle 18 contestant Ebonee Davis described the joy she felt being a Black woman on a television show created by a Black woman—and how that joy deflated when Banks told her the judges thought she looked “ashy.”

Naturally, these instances didn’t age well and have long drawn post-mortem criticisms. Reality Check makes a point to mention ad nauseam that much of the public backlash toward America’s Next Top Model took hold following the pandemic, when a majority of people were blowing through their to-watch queue, desperately seeking fresh viewing fodder. A “2020 lens” is how members of the cast described this perceived shift in public reaction in the docuseries. The general sentiment is that things were “different” when the show originally aired—back when reality TV was built on a foundation of shock, awe, and scrutinizing women’s bodies. (Anyone else remember The Swan and Extreme Makeover? Yikes!) There is a kernel of truth there, but it does not absolve Banks, Mok, or anyone else involved in the show’s production of their behavior.

I watched America’s Next Top Model in that fabled “different” time, when I was a tween-going-on-teen. I remember judges calling contestants around a size six “plus-size” and criticizing them for being too big. I remember contestants who were a size four being told to lose weight—the how didn’t matter. In Reality Check, Whitney Thompson (cycle 10) and Bre Scullark (cycle five) recalled the proliferation of eating disorders on set, where some contestants skipped meals ahead of photoshoots and challenges. The docuseries also featured a brief archival clip of Banks and judge Jay Manuel discussing an unnamed contestant he said “isn’t plus-size and isn’t model-size;” Banks responded that the model should gain weight to become “plus size.”

“[Makeovers] stripped contestants of their bodily autonomy—if they could not protest a bob, they did not have a leg to stand on when the series took unpredictably dark turns.”

Meanwhile, Thompson, the show’s first “plus-size” winner (she was a size six at the time), said that when she signed to Elite Model Management after the series, a contingency of her victory, the agency didn’t even have a plus division. The way models’ weight was treated on ANTM communicated to my younger self: Be skinny or be fat; pick a side—but if you fall into “fat” territory, beware the consequences.

I have struggled with disordered eating my entire life. Being 13 years old and obsessed with America’s Next Top Model in tandem with the ever-pervasive diet and tabloid culture of the 2000s absolutely contributed to my shaky body image. With a frontal lobe about as firm as overnight oats, I, like many others my age, fell victim to the ideals presented in the docuseries: It’s just how things are. My friends and I entered middle school and traded juice boxes and multiplication tables for diet soda and calorie counting. We didn’t understand at the time how the media we consumed, not our diets, was causing our anguish.

But in Reality Check, Banks—who has been interviewed about the negative impact of her show multiple times—smizes unflinchingly into the camera lens as she utters every adage and platitude instead of, "Hey, I'm sorry for fucking up a generation of young people—particularly young women." (For what it’s worth, Banks has said in past interviews that she “agreed” with criticisms for “off choices,” but it was still predicated by the “it was a different time” spiel.)

But the sins against contestants—and society writ large, for that matter—extend beyond distorted conversations about beauty. The highlight reel of what-the-absolute-hell moments on America’s Next Top Model also included the now-infamous race-swap photo shoot, a photo shoot where the models pose as unhoused people, and a spine-chilling photo shoot where the models (one of whom was the daughter of a gun violence survivor) pose as murder victims. The models Banks vied to empower so audaciously became her dolls for makeovers and playing pretend. It stripped contestants of their bodily autonomy—if they could not protest a bob, they did not have a leg to stand on when the series took unpredictably dark turns.

As many fans vividly remember, the production filmed and aired cycle two contestant Shandi Sullivan’s intoxicated encounter with a man in Milan, which she describes in the docuseries as sexual assault. “It’s a little hard for me to talk about production because that’s not my territory,” Banks said when asked why production did not intervene to protect a clearly intoxicated Sullivan, blaming Mok and other members of the team. (Writer's note: Banks also held an executive producer title on the show; the docuseries does not interrogate exactly how production wouldn’t have been her “territory” in this instance.)

In one instance, she does apologize—on camera, not face-to-face—to cycle four contestant Keenyah Hill, who faced unwanted sexual advances from a male model on the set of a photo shoot. These instances happened on camera and in front of the entire production crew, but when Hill stopped the shoot to share her distress, she was dismissed and later told she needed to take more control. Banks’s response in hindsight: “None of us knew… but she needed more [protection],” Banks said of Hill’s experience. “Boo-boo, I am so sorry.”

Photo: Courtesy of Netflix

And that’s ultimately how Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model unfolded. Banks acted as though she parted the Red Sea to make her vanity project come to fruition—all to change the modeling industry by way of reality television—and mostly refused to acknowledge the gravity of her choices. But Banks believes what she believes: that her work was groundbreaking. ”24 cycles of changing the world,” she said last year while accepting an award from Essence.

Watching Reality Check, I could only surmise that Banks wasn’t just drinking her own Kool-Aid; she had manufactured an ayahuasca-like substance from contestants’ distress that transported her from this reality we’re all living in. She used words like “accountability” as a shield, and her loose apologies felt hollow and flippant to me as a result.

But who is to blame for America's Next Top Model going off the rails? The networks, Banks, or executive producers? For viewers, it's hard to navigate the finger-pointing. The buck is passed around as liberally as hair wefts in the show’s makeover episodes. From judges to Banks. From Banks to Ken Mok. From Mok to network executives. For God’s sake, Banks blames the viewers at one point, saying, “You guys were demanding it. And so we kept pushing… more, and more, and more.”

In the many dropped bombs in this docuseries, one explosion still rings in my ears: Banks’s out-of-nowhere revelation that cycle 25 is coming. For all the discussion around accountability and how America’s Next Top Model was a sign of the times, I’m not confident Banks and her peers can be trusted with a reboot, especially now with diet culture and body shaming resurgent and cosmetic procedures of every sort multiplying; beauty standards remain as rigid as ever.

At one point in the docuseries, Banks says, “Hindsight is 20/20 for all of us. It just so happens that a lot of the things that are 20/20 for me happened in front of the world.” If you ask me, it’s time she gets glasses.

Collage: Paula Balondo; Source images: Courtesy of brandsSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this story

When we talk about the best Korean cleansing oils, we’re talking about the products that basically redefined what a good first cleanse should feel like. These formulas are lightweight, silky, and ridiculously good at melting off makeup, sunscreen, and grime—without leaving skin tight or greasy.

What makes these cleansing oils distinctly Korean? K-beauty cleansing oils usually rely on plant-derived oils and streamlined ingredient lists, so they feel gentle even if you’re wearing waterproof mascara or have sensitive or acne-prone skin. “They tend to have a lighter consistency and fewer ingredients,” which makes them easier on the skin than some heavier Western formulas, says Justine H. Park, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Westlake Village, CA. And when you follow them with a water-based cleanser (the classic double-cleanse), your pores get a deeper, more satisfying clean.

Our Top Korean Cleansing Oils

• Best Overall: Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil, $18
• Best for Oily Skin: Knours 2-in-1 Oil-to-Foam Non-Stripping Facial Cleanser, $17
• Best for Makeup Removal: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil, $16
• Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil, $20
• Best for Dry Skin: Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil, $40
• Best for Barrier Repair: Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleansing Oil, $26
• Best for Sensitive Skin: Purito From Green Cleansing Oil, $17
• Best for Large Pores: Hanskin Pore Cleansing Oil BHA, $27
• Best for Mature Skin: Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil, $20

Whether you like fragrance-free options, formulas that target blackheads, or oils that leave your skin feeling extra nourished, Korean cleansing oils are one of those rare categories where almost everyone finds a favorite—and beauty editors, derms, and even TikTok, all agree.

Frequently Asked QuestionsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevron

• How do I use cleansing oils?
• What makes Korean cleansing oils different?
• Why is double cleansing important in Korean skincare?
• Meet the experts
• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Overall: Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil

Save to wishlistSave to wishlist

Ma:nyo

Pure Cleansing Oil

$18

Amazon

$23

Ulta Beauty

Allure commerce writer Lily Wohlner applying the Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil

Lily Wohlner

Why it’s worth it: Don’t just take our word for it—we’re pretty sure you know one of the 20 million (and more) people worldwide who’ve grabbed a bottle of Ma:nyo's Pure Cleansing Oil. This best seller uses 14 plant-derived oils to cleanse without clogging pores, transforming into a milky wash that dissolves makeup and restores your skin’s natural moisture and pH balance. It’s suitable for all skin types (yes, even acne-prone). “Its tea tree and melaleuca oils help combat oily skin and bacterial overgrowth, making it great for people with blackheads and whiteheads,” says Dr. Justine Park. With nourishing argan, moisture-replenishing jojoba, and vitamin E–rich olive oil, it’s no wonder this cleanser has a global fan base.

Wohlner before applying the Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil

Lily Wohlner

Wohlner after applying the Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil

Lily Wohlner

Tester feedback from commerce writer Lily Wohlner

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“By the time I’m ready to take off my makeup, I’ve usually had it on all day—so the moment I walk through the door, it needs to come off fast and easily. This cleansing oil melts off my makeup in just a few swipes without irritating my acne-prone skin, and although it’s fragrance-free, the natural scent from the oils gives off a subtle, spa-like vibe that makes for the perfect way to unwind after a long day out and about.” —Lily Wohlner, commerce writer

More to know

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• Key ingredients: argan kernel oil, jojoba seed oil, olive oil, tea tree oil
• Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Oily Skin: Knours 2-in-1 Oil-to-Foam Non-Stripping Facial Cleanser

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Knours

2-in-1 Oil-to-Foam Non-Stripping Facial Cleanser

$22

Amazon

$22

Ulta Beauty

$22

Soko Glam

Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the Knours 2-in-1 Oil-to-Foam Non-Stripping Facial Cleanser

Christa Joanna Lee

Why it's worth it: If you have oily skin, you know the drill: Cleanse too gently and you’re shiny again by noon; go in too aggressively and your skin panics—producing even more oil to compensate. Knours’s 2-in-1 Oil-to-Foam Cleanser is especially ideal for oilier types because it helps whisk away excess sebum without triggering that rebound effect. It starts as a lightweight oil that melts away makeup and excess sebum, then transforms into a soft foam once you add water—so you get the benefits of a double cleanse in a single step. Gentle surfactants cleanse without stripping, while olive, jojoba, apricot, and broccoli seed oils help replenish moisture where skin needs it most. “This cleansing oil effortlessly dissolves makeup and excess sebum while feeling luxuriously smooth,” says Charlotte Cho, co-founder of Soko Glam based in New York City. Glycerin and honey extract add a final boost of hydration, leaving skin balanced and comfortable.

Lee before applying the Knours 2-in-1 Oil-to-Foam Non-Stripping Facial Cleanser

Christa Joanna Lee

Lee after applying the Knours 2-in-1 Oil-to-Foam Non-Stripping Facial Cleanser

Christa Joanna Lee

Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee

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“I don’t usually classify my skin as combination or oily, but on days when I’ve been wearing a ton of makeup or leave the gym feeling shiny and slick, I need something that really clears the excess oil off my T-zone in particular. This cleanser feels incredibly gentle as it removes even my waterproof makeup, and the foam feels like it whisks everything away without irritating my sensitive skin.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer

More to know

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• Key ingredients: olive, jojoba, apricot, and broccoli seed oils, glycerin
• Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Makeup Removal: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil

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Haruharu Wonder

Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil

$16

Amazon

$25

Nordstrom

Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil

Sarah Han

Why it’s worth it: In Korean culture, rice is deeply tied to comfort, health, prosperity, and home, so when a brand puts it front and center in your skin care, you know it’s intentional. The fermented black rice in Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil delivers a surge of antioxidants, minerals, and proteins that help keep skin elastic and resilient from step one. Alongside rice bran extract, the formula blends olive oil (to whisk away makeup and excess sebum), sunflower seed oil (to soothe and moisturize), macadamia seed oil (to strengthen your barrier), jojoba seed oil (to balance and refine), and tocopherol for an extra antioxidant boost. There’s not much else in the formula, and that’s exactly why TikTok is obsessed with its short, sweet, no-fluff ingredient list.

Han before applying the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil

Sarah Han

Han after applying the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil

Sarah Han

Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han

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“The key characteristic of a good cleansing oil? A super silky formula that breaks down your toughest makeup with tugging—especially around the eyes—and washes away without an ounce of residue. Oh, and it doesn't hurt when they're fragrance-free for my sensitive girlies. The Haruharu Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil is one of my top recs for cleansing oils for these reasons, and because it just… delivers. There's nothing complicated about it, which is exactly what I need as I'm beginning my loaded nighttime skin-care routine. It melts away shimmer eye shadow, long-lasting gel liners, and every type of mascara in 10 seconds. It's a must even on my no-makeup, sunscreen-only days, too. A mainstay, as they say.” —Sarah Han, commerce writer

More to know

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• Key ingredients: rice bran extract, olive oil, sunflower seed oil, macadamia seed oil, jojoba seed oil
• Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil

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Skin1004

Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil

$19

Amazon

$25

Ulta Beauty

Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai applying the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil

Deanna Pai

Why it's worth it: If the makeup-melting, calming ability of Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil feels almost heaven-sent, it tracks—“1004” is pronounced cheon-sa, meaning “angel,” in Korean. The entire brand centers its formulas around Centella asiatica (a.k.a. cica) sourced specifically from Madagascar, where the plant grows with exceptional purity and potency thanks to the island’s untouched environment. This cleansing oil’s featherlight texture works beautifully for all skin types, including our tester with oily, acne-prone skin and Joyce Park, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Washington, who calls it “a new favorite for my sensitive, rosacea-prone skin. The cica is extremely soothing, and the formula has a super-lightweight texture.” Staying true to Skin1004’s pared-back formulas, it keeps things streamlined with just four key oils: bergamot, sunflower seed, olive fruit, and jojoba seed.

Pai before applying the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil

Deanna Pai

Pai after applying the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil

Deanna Pai

Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai

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"I don't want to be dramatic, but this has capital-T transformed by cleansing routine. I got it in a set paired with the brand's Cleansing Ampoule Foam, but this is a non-negotiable first step for melting all of my makeup off before I go in with the lather. It has a generous slip, little to no scent, and a lightweight texture that's easy to emulsify and rinse. My only complaint is that I will need a jumbo size made." —Deanna Pai, Allure contributing commerce editor

More to know

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• Key ingredients: Centella asiatica, bergamot, sunflower seed, olive fruit, and jojoba seed oils
• Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Dry Skin: Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil

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Sulwhasoo

Gentle Cleansing Oil

$40 $34 (15% off)

Amazon

$40

Nordstrom

Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil

Christa Joanna Lee

Why it's worth it: You may know Sulwhasoo for its 500-hour ginseng creams and tech-packed serums, but don’t sleep on this quieter overachiever. The Gentle Cleansing Oil, a 2024 Best of Beauty winner, happens to be waterproof makeup’s worst enemy, melting through long-wear formulas without drying out skin. Its secret isn’t ginseng this time, but a cushiony blend powered by the brand’s Hydra Capture Complex, which uses four proprietary herbal extracts to help skin stay hydrated as you cleanse. It also features “coconut oils to give a luxurious texture and help remove makeup,” says Christina Han, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Vancouver. Mulberry leaf and mountain yam extracts soften and nourish, while the silky oil-to-milk texture leaves skin feeling clean but not tight. While it’s on the pricier side for a cleanser, one pump does more heavy lifting than most double-cleanse duos combined.

Lee before applying the Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil

Christa Joanna Lee

Lee after applying the Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil

Christa Joanna Lee

Tester feedback from Lee

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“I’m pretty heavy-handed with waterproof eye products (my go-to liner is basically budgeproof), so finding a makeup remover that melts down every last bit of mascara and liquid liner in seconds is wildly satisfying. Even better, it rinses off feeling completely hydrating—and while it doesn’t claim any brightening benefits, my skin somehow always looks a little glowier afterward.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer

More to know

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• Key ingredients: Hydra Capture Complex, mulberry leaf extract, mountain yam extract, coconut oil
• Fragrance-free: no

Best for Barrier Repair: Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleansing Oil

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Round Lab

1025 Dokdo Cleansing Oil

$26 $21 (19% off)

Amazon

$23

Ulta Beauty

Han applying the Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleansing Oil

Sarah Han

Why it’s worth it: The 1025 Dokdo line gets its name from the waters around the Ulleungdo and Dokdo islets in the East Sea—an area known for mineral-rich deep-sea water, which Round Lab uses to create some of its calmest, most balancing formulas. Their Dokdo Cleansing Oil pairs that soothing water with plant-derived oils like meadowfoam, grape seed, avocado, evening primrose, and macadamia to melt makeup without leaving skin tight or greasy. It’s especially great for sensitive or dry skin thanks to barrier-loving ingredients like allantoin, and panthenol. “The addition of hyaluronic acid and ceramides helps soothe dry, sensitive skin while adding hydration as it cleanses,” says Dr. Justine Park.

Han before applying the Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleansing Oil

Han after applying the Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleansing Oil

Tester feedback from Han

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“Round Lab's standout products, for me, come from the 1025 Dokdo line, which uses Ulleungdo deep-sea water as its star ingredient. That's what gives the cleansing oil a slightly refreshing feeling I don't find with other oils I've used. (Apparently this sea water is extracted 5,000 feet below sea level and stays at a cool two degrees Celcius all year round, so this checks out!) It gets rid of my eye makeup—I love my waterproof, lifeproof gel liners—in a blink of an eye, so it passes my main criteria with flying colors. It leaves my skin feeling baby-soft post-rinse, too. This is pretty niche but I love how much the pump dispenses at once because of how high it sits. I go heavy on cleansing oil in general, especially when I'm wearing makeup, so this little design detail is appreciated!” —Sarah Han, commerce editor

More to know

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• Key ingredients: meadowfoam seed oil, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, allantoin
• Fragrance-free: yes

More Korean cleansing oils we love

Best for Sensitive Skin: Purito From Green Cleansing Oil

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Purito

From Green Cleansing Oil

$20 $17 (15% off)

Amazon

$21

Nordstrom

$21

Olive Young

Why it’s worth it: Just because Korean skin care popularized the famous 10-step glass-skin routine doesn’t mean they don't know the power of simplicity. Purito’s From Green Cleansing Oil is an ultra-minimalist formula that clocks in at just 10 ingredients, making it a standout for sensitive or easily reactive skin. Instead of essential oils—which are aromatic extracts often added for scent and can be irritating—“the formula relies on gentle fatty oils like olive, sunflower seed, jojoba, sweet almond, and grape seed” to dissolve makeup and sunscreen while helping replenish the skin barrier, says Dr. Han. With no fragrance or unnecessary extras, reactive skin is left soothed and calm.

More to know

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• Key ingredients: olive, sunflower seed, jojoba, sweet almond, and grape seed oils
• Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Large Pores: Hanskin Pore Cleansing Oil BHA

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Hanskin

Pore Cleansing Oil BHA

$27 $24 (11% off)

Amazon

$27

Ulta Beauty

$27

Soko Glam

Why it’s worth it: It’s relatively rare to see beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) take center stage in Korean beauty—most formulas lean on gentler polyhydroxy acids (PHAs), ferments, and enzymes to support cell turnover—but Hanskin is one of the exceptions, and it does so with sensitive skin in mind. The Pore Cleansing Oil BHA features betaine salicylate, a milder, slower-acting cousin of salicylic acid that helps loosen pore buildup with significantly less irritation, making it suitable for daily use. Lightweight, non-comedogenic emollients like jojoba oil dissolve makeup and excess sebum without clogging pores, while glycerin helps prevent that tight, stripped feeling after rinsing. Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, recommends this option for a deeper clean that targets congestion while keeping skin balanced and comfortable.

More to know

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• Key ingredients: betaine salicylate, jojoba oil, glycerin
• Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Mature Skin: Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil

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Beauty of Joseon

Ginseng Cleansing Oil

$20 $17 (15% off)

Amazon

$20

Sephora

Why it’s worth it: Beauty of Joseon’s Ginseng Cleansing Oil takes the brand’s hanbang roots (traditional Korean herbal medicine) and turns them into a cleansing step that feels practically therapeutic for mature skin. The stars are “glycine soja (soybean) oil, which melts makeup while giving mature skin nourishing omegas, as well as ginseng seed oil for natural antioxidant power,” says Dr. Justine Park. With olive, camellia, coconut, and black cumin oils in the blend, this silky formula transforms from an oil into a soft foam cleanser, keeping skin supple and hydrated rather than tight. It’s the kind of gentle face wash that leaves mature, often-dry skin feeling soft, calm, and cared for.

More to know

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• Key ingredients: soybean oil, ginseng seed oil, olive oil, coconut oil
• Fragrance-free: yes

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use cleansing oils?

First, skip the water. “Apply cleansing oil to dry skin and massage into the skin to dissolve dirt, grime, oil, sunscreen, makeup, etc.,” says Dr. Justine Park. Working it in dry allows the oils to properly break everything down. Once it’s had a moment to do its job, “rinse with warm water or use a warm wet washcloth to wipe away and then rinse with warm water,” she says. Only after that step should your skin be wet.

What makes Korean cleansing oils different?

What makes these cleansing oils distinctly Korean comes down to texture, simplicity, and the types of oils used. In general, Korean beauty products, especially cleansing products, skew lighter and more streamlined, favoring plant-based oils over the denser, synthetic formulas to nourish your skin barrier.

Why is double cleansing important in Korean skincare?

“Double cleansing ensures thorough and effective cleansing as a two-step process to allow the removal of impurities followed by the actual cleansing of the skin,” says Dr. Justine Park. The first step—an oil-based cleanser or cleansing balm—breaks down sunscreen, makeup, and excess sebum, while the second step—a water-based cleanser—removes leftover residue, sweat, and impurities. Together, these K-beauty skin-care products leave your complexion clearer, smoother, and better prepped for the rest of your routine.

Meet the experts

• Christina Han, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and medical director at Xyon based in Vancouver
• Joyce Park, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Refinery based in Washington
• Justine H. Park, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of the Skin & Beauty Center based in Westlake Village, CA

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best Korean cleansing oils, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

Collage: Jemeria Davison / Images: Courtesy of brandsSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this story

The best eyelash curlers are key to creating and securing brow-grazing lifted lashes. When paired with your favorite mascara (and/or eyeliner, if you want more drama), these essential beauty tools can help elongate and enhance your lashes, adding an instant, enlongating oomph to even the shortest, straightest, and wispiest eyelashes among us.

Even better? Despite the fear that may accompany placing a contraption so close to your eyeballs, high-quality eyelash curlers do the trick without pinching or pulling. So, for your fluttery-lashed pleasure, we scoured the web and talked to editors, board-certified dermatologists, and professional makeup artists to get the skinny on what makes an eyelash curler stand out. Read on to find your perfect match.

Our Top Eyelash Curlers

• Best Overall: Shiseido Eyelash Curler, $25
• Best Long-Lasting: Tweezerman Promaster Lash Curler, $24
• Best for Short Lashes: Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler, $26
• Best Grip: Shu Uemura Iconic Lash Curler, $20
• Best Tug-Free: Hourglass Lash Curler, $34
• Best for Round Eyes: Surratt Relevee Lash Curler, $36
• Best for Beginners: Jenny Patinkin Lazy Perfection Eyelash Curler, $20

Frequently Asked QuestionsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevron

• What are the benefits of using an eyelash curler?
• How do you find the right eyelash curler for your eye shape?
• Should you curl your lashes before or after mascara?
• How often should you replace an eyelash curler?
• How should I use an eyelash curler?
• Meet the experts
• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Overall: Shiseido Eyelash Curler

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Shiseido

Eyelash Curler

$28

Amazon

$28

Nordstrom

$28

Ulta Beauty

Allure commerce editor Sarah Han using Shiseido’s Eyelash Curler

Sarah Han

Why it's worth it: The broad curve and flexible silicone pads make the Shiseido Eyelash Curler catch and curl even the shortest lashes, like the ones nestled along the inner and outer corners of the lash line. "It has an especially good grip and a curved shape that makes it good for most eye shapes, with no worries of pinching the skin on the sides," says New York City-based makeup artist Meredith Baraf. Its large clamp opening, wide slit, and cushiony dent-prone silicone pad make it the ultimate lash curler for just about any eye shape or lash type.

Han before using Shiseido’s Eyelash Curler

Sarah Han

Han after using Shiseido’s Eyelash Curler

Sarah Han

Tester feedback from Allure commerce editor Sarah Han

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“Asian brands know Asian lashes—who would've guessed? But not just my lashes. Shiseido's Eyelash Curler can coax any lashes—my itty-bitty, stubborn lashes included—out of hiding. With some practice, it's really easy (and painless, despite what you might gather from the video!) to get super close to the lash line before working my way out. My real estate is limited here, so I can sometimes squeeze in two more curls, but usually, it's just one more near the tips of my lashes. I simply don't apply mascara without prepping my lashes with this baby, and it lasts for approximately one million years.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor

More to know

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• Material: stainless steel, silicone
• Who it’s for: everyone

Best Lightweight: Tweezerman ProMaster Lash Curler

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Tweezerman

Promaster Lash Curler

$26

Amazon

$26

Nordstrom

$19

Ulta Beauty

Former Allure shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis using the Tweezerman ProMaster Lash Curler

Angela Trakoshis

Why it's worth it: The Tweezerman ProMaster Lash Curler is a repeat Best of Beauty Award winner for a reason. Scratch that—many reasons. For starters, the wide top bar is specifically designed to fit deeper-set eyes, and the silicone pad is plusher than most, making for a more comfortable clamp. The long pad also makes it easy to catch every hair along your lash line, including the teeny-tiny ones along the inner corners, resulting in an elegant, lifted curl that lasts. It comes with three replacement silicone pads to keep everything nice and hygienic.

Trakoshis before using the Tweezerman ProMaster Lash Curler

Angela Trakoshis

Trakoshis after using the Tweezerman ProMaster Lash Curler

Angela Trakoshis

Tester feedback from Former Allure shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis

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"I've had this Tweezerman eyelash curler for years, and it never lets me down. One quick squeeze, and you've got the kind of lift that makes people wonder if you secretly got extensions." —Angela Trakoshis, former shopping market editor

More to know

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• Material: stainless steel, silicone
• Who it’s for: people with deep-set eyes

Best for Short Lashes: Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler

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Kevyn Aucoin

Eyelash Curler

$26

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty

$26

Bluemercury

Allure senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin using the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler

Sarah Felbin

Why it's worth it: It's easy to spot this backstage favorite in a lineup, thanks to the cherry red pad, which helps the curler align with the roots of stubby lashes for a precise, pinch-free clamp. A few gentle squeezes will get you beautifully curled, crimp-free lashes. Kevyn Aucoin's Eyelash Curler is also made of durable, rust-resistant stainless steel to ensure that all you'll need to update are the occasional new replacement pads.

Felbin before using the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler

Sarah Felbin

Felbin after using the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler

Sarah Felbin

Contributor Jennifer Hussein before using the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler

Jennifer Hussein

Hussein after using the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler

Jennifer Hussein

Tester feedback from Allure senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin

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“An eyelash curler that actually fits my eyes, doesn't pinch, and is easy to clean? Sounds like a unicorn—or Kevin Aucoin. I use this every single day, and I'm obsessed. It feels so high-quality—a little heavier than drugstore versions, which goes a long way. And the way it lifts my lashes is simply unmatched. You'll never catch me applying mascara without using this first.” —Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor

Tester feedback from Allure commerce contributor Jennifer Hussein

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“I have extremely straight lashes, and a few squeezes of this lash curler always gives them the lift they need to show off their true length. It fits perfectly across my lid to grab each and every lash without tugging them or causing fallout, another chronic issue I have with my natural set.” —Jennifer Hussein, commerce contributor

More to know

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• Material: stainless steel, silicone
• Who’s it for: short lashes, straight lashes

Best Grip: Shu Uemura Iconic Lash Curler

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Shu Uemura

Iconic Eyelash Curler

$28 $21 (25% off)

Amazon

$28

Nordstrom

Allure social director Kassidy Silva using the Shu Uemura Iconic Lash Curler

Kassidy Silva

Why it's worth it: This might look like your run-of-the-mill metal eyelash curler, but the results are anything but average. The silicone pad on Lancôme's Le Curler Eyelash Curler has a no-slip grip that gently cushions lashes as you squeeze to prevent tugging and breakage. After each use, you'll dig the difference: a dramatic, lifted, crease-free curl that'll carry you from conference calls to cocktails.

Silva before using the Shu Uemura Iconic Lash Curler

Kassidy Silva

Silva after using the Shu Uemura Iconic Lash Curler

Kassidy Silva

Tester feedback from Allure social director Kassidy Silva

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"If you suffer from long-lash envy, this eyelash curler is for you. In less than 20 seconds, you'll have all the lash volume you've been looking for."—Kassidy Silva, social director

More to know

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• Material: alloy steel, silicone
• Who it’s for: everyone

More eyelash curlers we love:

Best Tug-Free: Hourglass Lash Curler

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Hourglass

Lash Curler

$34

Nordstrom

$34

Ulta Beauty

Why it’s worth it: Hourglass’s Lash Curler boosts the look of length and curl without tugging or pulling lashes in the process. Designed with a universal-fit shape, it comfortably reaches even hard-to-curl lashes at the inner and outer corners of the eye without pulling. Both Allure editors and Los Angeles–based makeup artist Mezhgan Hussainy frequently use this curler for its controlled, gentle clamp that helps prevent breakage while creating a smooth, long-lasting curl that holds throughout the day.

More to know

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• Material: stainless steel, latex
• Who’s it for: those with fragile eyelashes

Best for Round Eyes: Surratt Relevee Lash Curler

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Why it’s worth it: The Surratt Relevee Lash Curler is one of those “if you know, you know” kind of products. Its a sleeper hit that’s ultra-wide for all lash types, including those with rounder eye shapes. Ariuna Iakovleva, a New York City-based makeup artist, calls the Surratt Revelee Lash Curler one of the most well-made lash curling tools that’s become a poopular standout. “It provides a smooth, controlled curl and feel comfortable to use,” she says.

More to know

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• Material: nickle-free steel, silicone
• Who’s it for: round eyes, wide eyes

Best for Beginners: Jenny Patinkin Lazy Perfection Eyelash Curler

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Jenny Patinkin

Lazy Perfection Eyelash Curler

$20

Amazon

$24

Nordstrom

$24

Dermstore

Why it’s worth it: The elegant rose gold-and-white design gives the Jenny Patinkin Lazy Perfection Eyelash Curler extra style points, but this tool is more than just a pretty face. "The carefully calibrated trap opening gives balance and control and accommodates lashes of any length," Tarryn Feldman, a Nashville-based makeup artist, explains. "Additionally, the white bumper pad allows for better user visibility and curler positioning, limiting the likelihood of pinching or crimping." We'd venture to say this is a very worthy addition to your makeup bag.

More to know

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• Material: zinc alloy, silicone
• Who’s it for: everyone

Frequently asked questions

What are the benefits of using an eyelash curler?

If you've been overlooking lash curlers in your beauty routine, it's time to rethink.—t These small tools can make a significant impact with very little effort. "Besides the fact that a lash curler boosts your lashes for mascara application, it's also really great for making you look more awake when you're going for a no-makeup look," explains Ashleigh Ciucci, a New York City-based makeup artist. Whether going full glam or keeping it minimal, a quick curl can instantly open up your eyes and elevate your entire look.

Despite the benefits, you should still take precautions when using these tools. Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, M.D., previously noted, "Eyelid skin is super sensitive, and lashes are fragile. I would make sure that the device comes nowhere near the skin and that it isn't overused so as to damage eyelash hair."

How do you find the right eyelash curler for your eye shape?

The good news for all eye shapes: According to Iakovleva, most lash curlers are created with a a large, universal fit. That means no matter which curler you grab, there most likely won’t be a dramatic difference between fit. That being said, if fit has been an issue for you in the past, she suggests keeping the the radius of the curve and the width of the curler in mind.

Should you curl your lashes before or after mascara?

You may feel an urge to curl your lashes after applying macara, but Hussainy recommends using your lash curler before you apply any makeup. “Curling before mascara is better to ensure your mascara doesn’t clump or, more importantly, not damage or pull your lashes,” she says, adding that this technique provides an overall more polished look.

How often should you replace an eyelash curler?

Depending on how often you use and clean your lash curler—which should be cleaned after every use to prevent product buildup—Hussainy recommends replacing the tool every six months to a year. “I find that after that period of time, it doesn’t perform quite as well,” she says.

It’s also important to replace the silicone pad regularly. “For maintenance, the rubber pad should be changed every three to six months, or as soon as it starts to harden,” says Iakovleva, noting that regular cleaning is essential for both hygiene and performance.

How should I use an eyelash curler?

For starters, take your time. "Keep the lash curler clamped for a good 20 seconds on each eye," Baraf tells Allure. “If you're not going to hold the curler on each lash for at least 20 seconds, don't even bother.”

Meanwhile, makeup artist Tommy Napoli employs a three-part approach to lash curling. He previously advised Allure readers to start at the base of the lashes using firm pressure before squeezing outward the middle of the lashes—this time, less pressure than is used at the base. Use a touch of pressure at the tips of the lashes to round things out.

Meet the experts

• Ashleigh Ciucci, a New York City-based makeup artist
• Tarryn Feldman, a Nashville-based makeup artist
• Mezhgan Hussainy, a Los Angeles-baed makeup artist
• Ariuna Iakovleva, a New York City-based makeup artist
• Meredith Baraf, a New York City-based makeup artist
• Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut
• Tommy Napoli, a New York City-based makeup artist

How we test and review products

Before reviewing any makeup tools, we ask questions about a number of factors: What purpose does it serve? Does it accommodate a wide range of customers? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?

For our review of the best eyelash curlers, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different lashes, desired outcomes, and price points. We considered each product's performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.