Oscillation, a Revolution

In the world of innovation, there are reinventions: collector-edition Barbies, blu-ray technology, Michael Jackson post Jackson 5. And then there are revolutions: YSL’s le smoking, the television, and, well, let’s face it, Michael Jackson post ‘89. Revolutions are distinct cracks in continuity, wakeup calls that abruptly break the cruise control response you’ve accustomed to.

So save for miracle-grow potions and nano fat injections, what does a mascara revolution look like? According to beauty leader Lancôme, it’s sleek, black lacquered, and decidedly hard to pin down (the result of both limited quantities and a 7,000 vibrations- per-minute-technology).

Created by mascara mastermind, Jean-Louis Gueret, Oscillation is Lancôme’s latest breakthrough in delivering long, lush lashes. With 7,000 vibrations per minute, the mascara leader claims it will offer 360 degree coating for perfectly defined, sophisticated eye fringes. And while some of you might be apprehensive to putting a battery-operated, um, anything, that close to your cornea, you’ll be comforted to know its movement is more akin to the flutter you experience at the sight of a new shoe, rather than the cardiac-arresting experience of a new, say, Balenciaga collection.

But how well does the wand live up to the hype? As a guy, I had one of two options: Tammy Faye my way to awareness, or trust the experts, the beauty sommeliers that consume makeup like water (and trust me, these skin-obsessed opinion leaders sip back pools of the artisanal, bottled kind). And since a one-eyed blogger would only be able to bring you half as many fashion-forward sightings, the latter option won.

Daphne Gordon from The Star wrote, “After two coats, I had thicker, longer, curlier, clump-free lashes. The before and after was more dramatic than any other mascara I’ve tried.” Meanwhile, one ShinyGloss writer raved that “the lush brush quietly hums away and slaps on an amazing coat. It’s speedy, quiet, and I didn’t even bother with eyeliner–my lashes looked too damned good.

The verdict: Next to having Pat McGrath on speed dial, this vibrating black wand is your best bet for out-of-this-world lashes. Not to mention a cosmetic experience that’s just as 2kfuture.

Lancôme Oscillation will be available across Canada shortly. Visit www.lancome.ca.