If you've spent any time whatsoever on TikTok in the last few days, then you'll know all about mascara-gate. And no - those are words we never thought we'd be saying.
You might know TikTok creator Mikayla Nogueira from her raw, honest TikTok reviews of all things beauty, but her last video is accused of being - well - anything but. As part of a #spon video for L'Oreal's new Telescopic Lift Mascara, Mikayla recorded herself trying on the mascara, saying "this literally just changed my life - this literally looks like false lashes." And let's just say... famous last words.
Not long after, comments started flooding with allegations that Mikayla was actually wearing falsies in the video, and lied about it. Our favourite comment, by far, being "are you lashlighting us rn?" Genius.
Beauty influencers also jumped on the bandwagon, saying they could spot Ardell Wispies (a type of fake lash) from a mile away. So, this begs the question - is the L'Oreal Paris Telescopic mascara really as good as Mikayla says it is?
The mascara promises to lengthen and lift lashes with a 25-degree curl effect which lasts an impressive 36 hours. The brush also features a double bristle, designed to grab and coat each lash individually to avoid the dreaded clump.
To satisfy our (and the whole internet's) curiosity, the beauty team at heat set out to test the very hyped, very controversial mascara, to bring you an honest, no-BS, review.
Review by Marina Avraam, Senior Commerce Writer
I won't lie - putting on mascara is definitely the favourite part of my make-up routine, so I'm always eager to try new and exciting formulas. The packaging is simple: black and silver, and the brush was unlike any I've ever seen before. The double bristles almost make it look like a hair comb, so I immediately knew I was in for a unique experience.
Before:
The application was so incredibly easy. With just a few strokes, the Telescopic mascara lengthened, volumised and brought my lashes to life. No clumping, no excess product I needed to wipe away with a spoolie brush - just a gorgeous set of lashes, which still looked natural. I will admit, when attempting to coat the bottom lashes things got slightly messier, so tread carefully. I ended up wiping it away because with such an impressive top lash, I truly didn't see the need for it.
After:
Review by Aimee Jakes, Shopping Editor
Approx 85% of my beauty purchases over the last few years have been #influenced by TikTok, so naturally, I had to try the new mascara getting everyone talking, *cough*, mascara gate. First up, I love the sleek, executive realness packaging which feels very plush for the £11.99 price tag. It has a double-ended wand which promises to get right into the root for a fluttery 'falsie-effect' lift.
Before:
Personally, I really enjoyed the mascara and the height and volume it quite frankly *served*. You have to work quickly to ensure no clumps but with a little practice (I am rubbish at mascara) it's a really great all-rounder product you can rely on. Definitely in my top three bargain mascaras (sorry, Maybelline's Sky High just clinched it for me).
After:
SHOP: The L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara
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