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.  

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.