WANDerlust: good vibes & a happy ending in a blink

By didifraioli Posted on June 20, 2008 - 3:35pm

A real turn on? Get ready for more vibrating mascaras.

Ann's SpinLash article earlier this week piqued my interest. So I looked into it a bit more and discovered the fashion and beauty industry is positively abuzz over this new vibrating mascara trend, as Women's Wear Daily reported. Because I guess even eyelashes need a little action. Who knew?

SpinLash will soon have to compete for good vibrations. Estée Lauder's TurboLash All Effects Motion Mascara ($30) launches in July exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue, and Lancôme's Ôscillation is set to debut sometime this fall. No doubt, more brands are planning to follow suit. And as I'm sure you've already guessed, there is no shortage of vibrator jokes over this news.

Just a bunch of marketing spin?

Maybe. But maybe not. According to Estée Lauder's global marketing vp, there is a relationship between vibration, lash length, volume, separation and curl. Formulated with a rapid-release gel, the TurboLash wand vibrates at 125 "micropulses" per second. And its vibrating action claims to mimic the way a professional makeup artist applies mascara - side-to-side. WWD is calling it revolutionary.

I guess the execs over at Lancôme were studying the same makeup artists. Also in an interview with WWD, Lancôme's mascara designer said he created the Ôscillation vibrating mascara wand after watching makeup artists apply mascara in a zigzag pattern. By the way - this guy is credited with designing over 400 mascaras for Lancôme.

Coinkydink? Dunno... But there are differences between Ôscillation and TurboLash. For starters, Ôscillation is designed with a flexible, rubber-like polymer brush, unlike the traditional mascara bristles on TurboLash. Also, Ôscillation vibrates at 7,000 "micro-oscillations" per second. And one can only assume that the difference between a "micropulse" and a "micro-oscillation" is nil, or miniscule at best. So with a 6,875 edge, Ôscillation is gunning for rabbit-like status among vibrating mascaras.

Sure, you could try the makeup artist move with your regular 'ol manual mascara wand and brush lashes back and forth horizontally as you brush up. But then you wouldn't have an excuse to buy a new toy, would you now?

Enjoy this Article?

By preciousMAKEUP on June 21, 2008 - 10:09am

I'll stick to my regular old non-vibrating mascaras, lol.

By Bren on June 21, 2008 - 7:46am

this scares me. but we'll see.

By Marie on June 21, 2008 - 2:30am

I'll wait for the reviews. I have a hard time spending money on stuff like that to end up finding out it works just as good as my $10 Revlon stuff I buy at Target.

By lauracarsonmiller on June 20, 2008 - 4:21pm

I have to tell yall that I have the SpinLash and am not very impressed. But I always say that not every person likes every product (or every mans style, as was evidence by some of the scathing comments concerning my men with style post ~!HAHA!) and I am willing to give the SpinLash the benefit of the doubt. I would try these mascaras by Estee Lauder and Lancome, as these are brands with long track records. As with anything in this world, opinons are like eyeballs. Most people have at least two.

By mrswhite072895 on June 20, 2008 - 4:03pm

This sounds like a bunch of hooey. I can't imagine applying mascara accurately while it is all shaking and spinning. The back and forth horizontal move works just great for me. But, I would like to see some reviews if anyone tries the vibrating/spinning mascras.