Manna Kadar Mascara

This mascara was an item that I received in my October Wantable Makeup Box.  I have a hard time finding a mascara that really makes me happy. I don't have particularly impressive lashes naturally.  They are short(er), don't hold a curl very well, and are light in color.  I was really hoping this would be a home run.

As you can see, the brush is a very standard, traditional style brush. The bristles just wind up to the tip and taper off at the very end.  I usually have better luck with the more standard mascara wands.  This one, however, didn't really do anything for my lashes.

The shape actually reminds me a whole lot of the original Maybelline Great Lash.  I did use that one for years and years when I was a teen.  As I've gotten older and played around with more mascaras, I realize just how unimpressive Great Lash is.  Well, this one falls short as well.  

It may have added a tiny bit of length but beyond that it was an extremely, extremely natural mascara.  The bristles on the wand are placed too far apart and the gaps between scoop the lashes and just apply color.  It doesn't give anything to build on and it was quite wet.  It actually made the curl I did before application droop back down. 

I have worn this several different times but each time, before leaving the house, I coat another mascara over the top to build on it.  In these photos, however, it is just the Manna Kadar mascara.  I took the photos before applying a different mascara over the top.

It saddens me that I cannot recommend this mascara.  I did receive it complimentary of Wantable Box, but it holds a retail price of $19.  I can't justify that. 

If you have tried this mascara and have had better luck, please leave me a comment and let me know!

Michael Marcus Refillable Eyeshadow: Amazing

Now that I have had a good chance to wear this eyeshadow, I wanted to put up a post with my thoughts on it.  First let me start by saying this was one of the products I received in my Wantable Box. You can click that link to be taken to my other blog where I posted an unboxing.  You can see all of the products I received. 

The packaging is very simple.  It is a silver compact with a clear flip-top lid and the shadow sits inside.  I did notice that the name of the color is nowhere to be found, except on the outside box.  I don't keep the boxes, so if I ever wanted to know the name, I'd be out of luck.  Now, the name could very well be on the underside of the pan itself.  However, I didn't try to pop it out because I didn't want to ding the shadow. Even if the name IS on the underside of the pan, that is still less than ideal because I don't plan on pulling the pan out of the compact each time I need to see the name.  This is a very minor detail, though, and I'm nit-picking.

As I mentioned in my unboxing post, I was originally underwhelmed by this color.  I like the color and it is something I can easily see myself wearing.  However, it just seemed like a very safe color to send in a box.  Also, when I had test swatched it on my finger it was extremely pale.  I could hardly see any color transfer to my finger.  That had me worried. Now that I have worn it several times, I have changed my mind.  I love the shadow.  Absolutely love it!

It is a greyish brown in the pan, so I suppose you'd just say taupe.  When I put it onto my lids (over TFSI) it shows more brown than the grey.  It can be worn as an extremely light wash or with a flat shadow brush and a bit of "packing on" it can be built up for more color pay off.   I did layer it just a bit to get a deeper color from it, but I am satisfied with the color I can get it to.  I still can't claim it is highly pigmented, though.

I will say this isn't the most buttery and smooth shadow I've ever worked with.  It is somewhat powdery, but nothing that really causes too much of a problem.

Something that I love is that it is a matte shadow.  Mattes are my favorite.  I find them easy to wear and give a nice, clean look to the eye.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a bit of shimmer every now and again, but if given the choice between the two, I'll always pick matte.

It does look like there is some sheen to the shadow, but that is coming from another shadow I lightly brushed on with this shadow.  I'm wearing Amazing with a bit of maroon from one of the Wet n Wild trios as well as Nutty from the Wet n Wild single. 

This retails for $24.00 USD.  While I enjoy wearing this shadow and will continue to do so, I can't say that I'd pay $24.00 to repurchase it.  That seems rather steep considering it doesn't have high pigment and is a bit powdery.  I am able to purchase other high end and even drugstore shadows that are better.  Since this isn't a unique color either, it is easily dupable with something more affordable.  

Product Obsession! Scented Wax Bars

For quite some time now I have had a love affair with scented wax bars.  They have taken the place of nearly all candles in my home.  Having children running around, I feel better about flameless wax warmers than I do a candle burning.  I know some will argue, "what about the hot wax?"  Well, the wax isn't hot enough to cause any kind of severe burn.  Candles create hot wax too...  as well as an open flame.   Either way, point blank...  I've converted to wax warmers. As you can see in my photo above, I'm rather obsessed.  I have a basket that is decorative when closed, but inside it conveniently hides away all of my bars. 

A couple of weekends ago I was switching out the fragrance in the warmers throughout the house when I realized I didn't have anything pumpkin scented!  SHOCK! HORROR!  I made sure I bought some later that day.  Yes, I am that lunatic. I had a couple of fall appropriate scents, but I had my heart set on pumpkin. 

I came home with four new waxes.  One isn't shown here because it wasn't a bar, rather a single tart (in the scent pumpkin spice) that I already have melting down in my living room warmer. The three bars I selected are all from ScentSationals.   They are in the scents: vanilla pumpkin cream, country hayride, and harvest fair. 

I have not used the vanilla pumpkin cream one yet.  When I sniff the bar, though, it is divine.  You definitely pick up on the mix of pumpkin and vanilla.  My husband said it reminds him of an actual pumpkin pie.  I have to agree.   If you close your eyes and smell it, you almost anticipate being handed a slice of fresh pumpkin pie with a dollop of whipped cream on the top.  Mmmmm!

I have country hayride in one of my bathroom warmers.  It smells like Michael's craft store when you first walk in.  It is spicy and incense-like.  It is thick and almost smoky. 

I have harvest fair in another of my bathroom warmers.  It is fresh and crisp.  I think of cutting open a pumpkin or gourd and that smell that comes along with doing so mixed with cider.   I think there is a touch of cinnamon in it, too, warming the fragrance a bit.

All of them are delicious and perfect for fall.  The ones I have already used are keeping my home smelling awesome. 

Here you can see the 6 little cubes that comes in the bar.  You only need 1 cube at a time and it will last quite a while before you need to add another or replace entirely.

Product Obsession! Pumpkin Spice Creamer

The first weekend of autumn, during my weekly grocery trip, I hunted this baby down!  I needed to have some pumpkin spice coffee.  I'm not keen on buying my coffee at big chain coffee shops very often, so I wanted to be certain I could have my seasonal fix at home. 

I found that Kroger has put out a creamer in their store brand for a fraction of the price of the others.  I picked up one, and my husband pointed out that I tend to act as though I need half my mug filled with creamer, so I had better get two.  HAHA!  In my defense, I did very well and I didn't blow through the jugs nearly as fast as either of us had thought.   With me cutting down my caffeine intake, I drink one small mug of coffee and that is it for the day.

This creamer is delicious!  It gives me exactly what I was looking to satisfy when I think of autumn drinks.  The pumpkin is there but not disgustingly overpowering.  It is perfect.  It only takes a tiny amount, too, to get the flavor running through the coffee. 

Let me know, have you been indulging in any seasonal drinks yet?  What flavors do you enjoy?

Product Obsession! Tums

We're about to get real fancy with this product obsession!  HAHAHA!

Okay, so perhaps this isn't really an "obsession" as much as it is a "necessity" right now.  Either way, it has been something I've had to reach for often as of recent and because I'm so thankful for how well it works...  I must feature it.   I'm sorry.

As many mamas out there know and understand well, one of the very fun symptoms that comes along with pregnancy is acid or heartburn. No, we don't all experience this little doozy, but many of us do. And, if you are someone who does/did during pregnancy, you will know just how much of a beast it can be. 

My heartburn and acid has kicked in full force this past month.  When I was pregnant with my first child I relied on the chewy, cherry flavored Rolaids. They worked well and tasted like a candy.  It was fantastic.  This time around, I headed to the store looking for those.  Store number one didn't even carry the brand.  Confused and frustrated, I went to another store.  Then another.  And another.  I looked online to see what the deal was and found out that Rolaids went out of business after sawdust and other not-so-fantastic-non-food-items were found in their product.  Instead of a recall, they shut down?  Either way, I was left without my tried and true acid relieving product.  I had to settle for Tums.  

I browsed through the many flavor options and decided that Wintergreen sounded the most appealing.  When I say there were a lot of options, I really mean that.  I felt as though I were standing in front of a wall completely filled to the brim with any and all flavors imaginable.  

Now that I've been using these for a little while, I can safely say that I didn't just settle.  These work fabulously! I can pop two into my mouth, chew the chalky little tablet up, and within a few moments I'm completely relieved of the volcano of fire in my chest and throat. 

Let's talk about the taste and texture.  I have mine in Wintergreen.  I love the flavor.  It reminds me of the pale green Tic-Tacs.  They may even be called wintergreen, too.  They even smell nice.    The texture, however, is less than ideal.  In all fairness, it is a Tums and we all know that Tums are chalky little tablets.

I was given a list of medications that are safe during pregnancy and Tums were listed, so I'm pleased for that. I'm glad to have these on hand.  I probably won't need to buy another bottle before the baby comes because there are 96 tablets in my bottle.  You only need two tablets for each dose.  So far, my acid hasn't gotten any worse than needing to take one dose every couple of days.  I'm fairly certain I am set.  However, should I run out, I'd more than happily buy these exact ones again.  (my husband would probably prefer a different flavor...  like cherry...  because he said it creeps him out that these are minty)

Sneak Peek At My October Wantable Box

Over on the other blog I have a full unboxing post for October's Wantable Box.  Hop on over there to see the products inside and some of my initial thoughts on what was received.  

Product Obsession! Caress Passionate Spell

There have been a handful of products that I have been absolutely gaga over now that the seasons are switching over to fall and the cooler weather is moving in.  I wanted to spotlight on these items individually.

One of the first things is this body wash.  I'm sure if you are reading this, you've already heard a ton about it.  This Caress shower gel is getting a ridiculous amount of hype right now.  Is it worth it?  

YES YES YES!

I gave in and decided to purchase this after hearing/reading rave reviews on it over and over.  I'm pleased to say that it was worth the buy. This is the Caress body wash in Passionate Spell.  The scent is supposed to be "passion fruit and fiery orange rose."   When I smell this I pick up on a citrus-like note as well as a deep, sexy something (I'm assuming it is the rose).  It is perfect for the cooler weather because it smells very cozy.  

The fragrance lingers on your skin after getting out of the shower.  It may not last a ton of time, but for a short period after I've showered I can still detect it.  I don't mind this, in fact I enjoy that, because it also works well with nearly all of the autumn perfumes I've been wearing. 

The great thing about this shower gel (on top of the other points I have mentioned) is that it is easy to find.  Pretty much any personal hygiene section in a store should carry this.  Everywhere I have been does.   Another bonus?  Coupons will be easy to get a hold of to reduce the already affordable price even lower!

I highly recommend you at very least pick up a bottle and sniff it while at the store.  Don't be surprised to find that you fall head over heels in love with it, though, and will have to buy it right then and there!