Mascara Gate: The Latest Beauty Controversy
TikTok Beauty Influencer Mikayla Nogueira Is Under Fire Yet Again, This Time for False Advertising
By Sydney Burke, Social Media Editor
On January 24, famous beauty influencer Mikayla Nogueira posted a paid ad for the L’Oréal Telescopic Lift Mascara. Fans were quick to call out that she was clearly wearing false lashes on top of the mascara.
In a comment asking if the TikTok star had applied falsies, Nogueira replied with, “nooo just three/four coats and my tight liner,” although it was obvious she had applied a lash as well.
Although it may not seem like a big deal, as an influencer, Nogueira’s fans trust her opinion when buying new makeup products. Many claimed that this offense made them unable to trust her with product recommendations going forward.
The situation became even more intense once other TikTok beauty influencers began making videos about the mascara to honestly demonstrate how it looks without a lash. One such beauty guru is Jeffree Star.
“I will be reviewing makeup again starting next week,” said Star in a TikTok uploaded the day after Nogueira’s. “A lot of foundations and mascaras, and certain things I hear may be fraudulent.”
Many beauty lovers were excited to see that Star had returned to social media and aer looking forward to his signature brutally honest reviews. Star has had very little social media presence since being accused of racism and sexual assault back in 2020. However, it seems as though many makeup lovers have forgotten Star’s problematic past since the comments section was filled with people praising him for his honesty.
Following the mascara controversy, Nogueira took a five-day break from posting on her TikTok account. On Feb. 1, she posted a Valentine’s Day makeup tutorial but has not yet addressed the L’Oréal mascara scandal.
