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February 18, 2008

Product Review: L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara

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L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara $6-9 USD

For lashes with intense length. Telescopic® Original Mascara enhances your lashes with intense length and unique lash by lash separation. The flat side of the patented flexible Precision Brush lengthens lashes up to 60%, while the comb side of the brush separates lashes with exact precision for a clump-free result.
  • Ophthalmologist-tested and allergy-tested.
  • Removes easily with soap and water.
  • Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
  • Fragrance-free.
PRICE
Depending where you go, I've seen this mascara go for almost $9.
This give you folks an idea as to how things can get incredibly overpriced here on the island. When it comes to budget cosmetics, I really don't like paying more than $7 for a mascara. I think I paid around $8 for this, but only because I had to dip into the raves that I've been reading on it.

I think $9 is overpriced for any budget mascara, but if I really dig the product, I'll dig into the purse for the extra coins to make the purchase.

PACKAGING
Creatively, it's housed in a telescope-shaped cylinder. I actually like that it has a gradually increasing (or decreasing depending on your forte) shape because since I keep all my tools in my brush belt, it makes for easy grabbing without mistakenly snatching the wrong one. I have quite a few mascaras lined up next to each other so the indentations on the cap help to identify through touch if I've selected the correct one in a quick pick.

THE WAND
Telescopic is paired with a patented flexible Precision Brush which helps to create intense lash length while separating each strand. I honestly have always been edgy about wands like these because I actually prefer a volumizing wand instead; I like the full lash look over the lengthened lash look.

When I first withdrew the wand from the tube, I already felt my stomach turn because I had a preconceived notion as to what the results would be before even trying it. I tried a combing mascara before which tainted my mascara experience to wands that contained anything less than a million reaching bristles. So immediately I was turned off when seeing the Telescopic wand but told myself to suck it up and try it so I can see what was making everyone go coo-coo for Telescopic. To my surprise, it does work rather well. Another lesson in not to judge a book by its cover.

I haven't really noticed the flexibility of the wand. It doesn't seem to bend freely without some sort of resistance. I really like being able to bend the wand myself. I find it fun!

The concept of the wand is similar to that of MAC Plushlash in the double purpose wand construction. A flat side to lengthen, another side to separate. Plushlash, however, has volumizing bristles to accomplish both lengthening and volume whereas Telescopic is deemed ready only for length and separation as the wand is made with short bristle teeth.

PRODUCT CONSISTENCY
The formula itself is not thick or tar-like but a nice gel-like formula; reminds me of MAC fluidline consistency. This is definitely why it is easy to wash off with soap and water; although that is not the case with fluidline. That is a murder to wash off! It also does remain clump-free as advertised.

Although the formula itself doesn't clump, it does like to clump the hair strand together as more coats are applied.

THE EXPERIENCE
L'Oreal promotes Telescopic's formula as being "infused with ultra-lengthening polymers and nurturing oils" which help to give added length to the lash as well as a soft and smooth finish.

Honestly, I don't know if it really lengthens the lashes, at least on mine they don't really seem to lengthen noticeably. I think it bolds my lashes giving off the illusion that they are longer but as far as adding length, not on my suckers.

The Precision Brush tends to make groupies of my lashes as it's way of making them look separated. And since I don't use my metal teeth eyelash comb, the already grouped lashes regroup even more with each coat like relatives during the holidays. I personally think that 2 coats is enough for me. Anymore than that and I imagine we're in for Alfalfa-hairstyle looking lashes as a result of the grouping. Remember Alfalfa from the Little Rascals?

The one thing I do like about the grouping is because it does give a bolder look to the lashes. It really makes it look really black in color which I am heavily fond of because of my tanner complexion.

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WHAT I LIKE
- The intense darkness it adds to my lashes for not being the Carbon Black version.
- The teeth-like bristles create a somewhat uniform separation.
- The mascara formula glides on to the lashes smoothly and makes them look nourished unlike others that are dry and leave a coarse finish to the lashes.
- The undereye smudging from upper lashline application was more eminent after an 8-hour period whereas a mascara like Voluminous smudges during the last stretch of an 8-hour period.

WHAT I DISLIKE
- I wish Telescopic expanded their line to include a volumizing brush using the same formula.
- It was a tad bit heavy on my lashes. This is why I curl them straight up with I use this mascara because the weight brings them down to where I actually would like them to be.
- I didn't get to experience the 60% of extra length in lashes. That really would have been nice.

OVERALL
I really do like Telescopic. I will sometimes wear L'Oreal Voluminous in combination with this mascara just for the volumizing properties, but Telescopic on its own does just fine also. I definitely wouldn't mind purchasing this product again once it runs out or my 3 months is up, whichever comes first.

YOU'LL PROBABLY LIKE THIS IF...
- you are blessed with a nice full fluff of lash. This would look amazing on those!
- you're lashes are short and are looking for a more pronounced way to tell the world that you do have some.
- you dig the patented Precision Brush design.
- you're looking for a good non-clumping, lash separating mascara.

YOU'LL PROBABLY DISLIKE THIS IF...
- you're looking for a volumizing mascara. Best to try out L'Oreal Voluminous.
- you only like working with bristles on the wand versus teeth.

Are you still looking for your Holy Grail mascara or have you stumbled on it already? Please share!

Aloha,
Mrs. Lynne

Share and Enjoy your MakeupFix!

32 makeovers:

na said...

Voluminous waterproof is a great mascara! My HG is probably Clinique High Impact, or Majolica Majorca Lash Extend Elegantly (which I think may be WP, but I have no idea since I can't read a word of Japanese!).

Telescopic doesn't look too bad, but it does look like I'd end up looking like I only have 5 lashes, haha.

Christiana Divine @ Memoirs of A Shopping Addict said...

great review sis. :] I'd probably use both telescopic and voluminous together cause i have eck lashes. LOL! :] i haven't found an HG mascara. :( i think my false eyelashes have spoiled me. LOL. :P too bad, too bad.

Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net said...

Emilee I have a Clinique sample mascara, I forget which one, but I like it also. I loves bristle wands!!!

I wouldn't mind waterproof mascara, but I'm just not a fond of the difficulty in getting it off the lashes when it comes time to wash up.

And Alfalfa just might have a party on your lashes, eh girl? Hah.

Chris I'm not really fond of the super lash separation effect of Telescopic, but sometimes I'm just in a rush that I don't really care, lol.

But see!! That is exactly why I'm scared to get all lovey-dovey with falsies. I soo know I can get spoiled too. My will power is not that good, lol.

Anonymous said...

I received this in an MUA swap, thanks to Nessa's eotd posts, and I really like it! But I rarely use mascara cos my eyes are too darn sensitive :(

Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net said...

Julie Hi love! That's very boo-boo that mascara irritates your eyes. If your eyes are that sensitive, are you able to wear eyeliner at all? Or do you even us it?

RESSA said...

great review! I use telescopic a lot and I switch up between that and clinique doubling lash...but I enjoy ur blog. :)

Seymone said...

I always wanted to try out L'oreal telescopic mascara. I would go with the curved brush though.

Xuanie said...

great review!!! my HG for mascara is Tarte's "Lights,camera, lashes! in very black" it makes my lashes fuller and longer, and i love how it makes them look very very black!

nilla cookie said...

I've never really strayed away from my L'Oreal Voluminious but I have been testing a couple that I enjoy -
Cover Girl Last Blast is one I'm trying to get used to. I'm testing Elizabeth Arden's Ceramide mascara which I think I like too! Both reviews coming up shortly!

Great review of Telescopic - always so thorough!

(g)ezebel said...

i have so many drugstore mascaras, i can't remember the names of the ones i like best. one's in a silvery-blue, strange shaped tube. currently, i'm using cover girl's lash blast. okay, i lied; i only use it on my lower lashes 'cuz i wear fake upper lashes all the time. *bats her long, fake lashes*

Jenn said...

Hi girl, thanks for the review! too bad we don't have telescopic here, it looks really good on you! you don't need any mascara though!! your lashes are already so full and lush by themselves already! i'm jealous! lol :D

yeah, agree that Loreal mascaras are a little expensive for drugstore stuff! some of them like Volume Shocking actually cost more than $15 after conversion here! Madness!

my HG for dolly lashes is Loreal Double Extension! it plumps up my lashes like crazy! lol. for daily use, ZA's Cutie Curl Volume works beautifully for me! :) i love how MAC's Prolash make my lashes look, but too bad it smudges a little on me.

what's your HG mascara? :D

Anonymous said...

I can't wear eyeliner without rubbing my eyes once in the day LOL so I opt not to wear it as part of my everyday routine. I'll only wear eyeliner and mascara for special occasions!

MakeupByRenRen said...

great review as usual! i have this mascara and I too had mixed feelings, i think i like the voluminizing brushes better too.

Jaclyn Rose said...

hey twin, love this stuff. I actually ran out and decided to try the MAC plushlash, but i really like the brush/teeth applicator on the l'oreal telescopic, easier to work with for me, the plushlash brush is humongous compared to the telescopic. i can get very clumsy with mascara, especially when my allergies act up, which they tend to do when i'm putting on mascara.

Anonymous said...

great review! i personally adore telescopic. i have long but sparse eyelashes and i honestly think it plumps up my lashes while lengthening them. it's the only drugstore mascara that seems to work for me.

Vanessa said...

This is actually one of my favorite mascaras! I've used it for a long time and I absolutely love the lengthening effect...but I am starting to love the Covergirl Lashblast!

And LOL at your comment, i'll tell the BF that we should start the baby making and see what he says! haha that would be so cute if we had a girl and she marries your son! AWWWWW!!!!

Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net said...

RessaMakeup Hey girl! Glad you like the shop :)

I really like Telescopic and its bolding effects. Me likes the bolds, hah.

Seymone Hey mama. You know, whenever I use the curved brush I always use it with the curvature of the brush facing outwards, lol. I just haven't been comfortable using it correctly.

You should try Telescopic sometime. You just might like it :)

Xuanie Hey hey! I think you're the second or third person who's vouching for Tarte. I will definitely have to check that out next time I'm at Sephora. I have their lash curler and am liking it but wouldn't mind testing out Shu Uemura.

Nilla Cookie Girl, I FINALLY got my hands on Lash Blast because it's always sold out! I really really like it!! It's so natural and lightweight... LOVE at first sight!!

EA Ceramide sounds very interesting. Can't wait to hear your verdict.

(g)ezebel I love CG's Lash Blast! It just works well for me.

Oh girl. I wish I had the patience you do to apply falsies all the time. I'm such a newborn to them. Probably applied them less than 5x's, hah!

crazychick I actually bought Volume Shocking and did not like it at all. Didn't do anything for me and I was turned off by the gunk on the wand when it came out the tube.

I've heard mixed feelings on Double Extend. That is actually one of the first mascaras that I really liked because I loved how the fibers made my lashes look before adding the mascara. I use the fiber wand as a base for my mascaras when I have time.

My HG mascara would have to be CG Lash Blast. I bought it last week and the results are very natural. I'll do a review once I have a little more play with them but so far, I'm loving it!!

Have you tried any other MAC mascaras?

Julie Ooohh, gotcha! But eyeshadows are okay, yah?

Ren Yup girl. I likes me the full look, not the lash lineup, lol!! What is your HG mascara?

missjaclynrose Isn't Plushlash just HUGE!! I always screw up because I'm still getting used to how to use it properly. But no doubt that it always ends up on my lids somehow, lol.

Ooh, I have allergies too! Bad ones. But after Hubbo and I moved here, the moist air just cleared the sinuses because now it only acts up with dust.

Nikki That's great Nikki! I really like L'Oreals line in general. They always have a great selection on things. Do you ever use any high-end mascaras?

Nessa Sis, I just got my hands on Lash Blast last week and I LOVE IT!!! That is exactly what I like in mascara.

And that would be soo cute! Aww... dude girl. Our grandchildren would break hearts left and right!! You tell Jon I said to get on the baby making RIGHT NOW!! LOL.

yummy411 said...

mrs. lynne: great review! i feel like i'm becoming an old fart when it comes to mascara. i was on a super rampage going after mascaras (one, a combo or trio) that would make my lashes look like falsies. now that i've found voluminous (great mascara at a decent price) i haven't bought my diorshow again, i haven't been eager to try anymore... like my grandmother would say "if it ain't broke then don't try to fix it."

i do actually like trying new falsies though and switching brushes on my fav mascaras if they'll fit. i'll keep this in mind however when a bogo comes up at the drugstore, because these drugstore prices are sky rocketing! i get irritated when I go there and see a eyeliner for $7!

nilla cookie said...

I have mixed feelings about Lash Blast - it took me forever to find it too! And then finally Target had a HUGE display and I grabbed one. :)

Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net said...

yummy411 Hey mama Kia! I actually have been using Voluminous too until Telescopic entered my life. I don't really like to switch things much either but sometimes I get curious, hah. But if Voluminous is definitely working for you, then by all means still to it girl! And like you said, just try other things on the BOGO :)

Nilla Cookie I KNOW!! I just got my mitts on them because I was cruising down the aisle and to my surprise with the fat orange tube in Black! The search was finally over. So I grabbed it then as I rounded the corner, guess what was on display on the end cap? An entire Lash Blast display! They were featuring the mascara with a free eyeliner, so you know I dropped what the other packaging that was in my hand to get it with the free liner! Lol.

Anonymous said...

Yep, eyeshadows are okay as long as I don't do the whole 'inner v' thing cos that irritates my eyes too, LOL. Geez, talk about sensitive! I just stick to a wash of colour and then crease colour & highlight.

Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net said...

Nilla Cookie The liner is a decent liner but doesn't last as long as my Technakohl. It is very very soft though which is what I like. And because it's so soft, it smudges nicely. I'll probably keep it in the bag for touch-ups, if I EVER do one, lol.

Julie Wow, very sensitive! So I guess makeovers are out of the question then, huh? I would be scared to have anyone work on my makeup if I was that sensitive. Do you wear contacts or anything?

Anonymous said...

Heya, I've never had a make-over, LOL. I'm contemplating one though for my year 12 formal but ahh, we'll see...

I normally just wear my prescription glasses. I only wear contacts on special occasions like weddings and stuff.

Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net said...

Julie Makeovers in moderation are definitely acceptable!! And what better time to try one out than your formal. That should be exciting.

I wear glasses also. I was actually on strict orders to not wear contacts for about a year I think. I have some boo-boo'ed eyes and they needed to clear up before I could wear contacts again. Thank goodness I just got clearance to wear them again because I really hate the nose indentations from glasses.

So since you'll be graduating soon, do you have any idea what you'd like to do for college?

Anonymous said...

Ouch. Boo boo'd eyes don't sound very fun :( I'm glad they're okay now! I know what you mean by the nose indentations! They're so annoying. I lost my old ones, which gave me those nose indentations and got new ones which don't give me indentations :D LOL

I'm not sure what I want to do yet! There are so many choices, haha.

Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net said...

Julie Yah. I have this congenial eye condition. So when it flares up, it feels like I have an eyelash stuck in my eyes but there is nothing. It's definitely a pain.

Oh, choices indeed. I think looking back now, I wish I would have gone through school in one setting instead of farting around. I guess the 10-year college plan sounded better to me at the time, lol. And if I could have it my way, I would have gone to Cosmetology school right outta highschool.

Anonymous said...

My HG mascara is, hands down, Diorshow. When used with the Tweezerman lash comb, it is amazing! Using that particular lash comb is most important, because the metal bristles make all the difference. but Diorshow is easily the most amazing mascara I've used.

Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net said...

Anonymous Hi there! I've heard so many good things of Diorshow but haven't had the pleasure to try it yet. Well, that and making peace with the big buckos to buy it, lol.

I actually have the Tweezerman lash comb and I LOVE IT!! I don't use it anymore because I don't have time, but I agree that that tool IS the most useful tool I own and it does make a difference!

Cosmetricks said...

Great pics, I'm convinced I should at least try this and hopefully it'll make my lashes long too!

Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net said...

Hi Cosmetricks!

This is my favorite next to CG Lash Blast. Do you have a favorite mascara that you're using right now?

Anete Berzina said...

Love this mascara - it does what it promises. You can check also my review and pics (http://beautymeetcute.blogspot.com/2011/07/loreal-telescopic-carbon-black-mascara.html). Btw - nice review :)

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