Mother of Dragon...flies?

Come Fly With Me

Hello all! I have returned from the land of the famed "Stomach Virus/Hallucinatory Fever" only spoken of in legend. The good news is that while I've been off chasing those pretty unicorns (AGAIN!) my dental surgery appears to have healed up so. Bonus! 

Now that I've returned to the land of the living---up next for review we have this pretty little purse covered in dragonflies. My mom-who is a fantastic and beautiful woman unlike any the world has ever known (HI MOM!) has a HUGE love for dragonflies and passed that down to me so when I got the chance to review this purse at a discounted price I took the chance. They also do FOUR different floral/butterfly patterns that are super pretty so if dragonflies aren't your thing because you hate nature's most perfect gift then you have that option as well.

Size-wise this is a smaller-medium sized purse, you definitely won't be able to pack your whole makeup collection in it but it's a good size for a wallet, cell phone, lip product, compact and a few other things. IE: You're not overflowing with space but it should be more than sufficient to run to the store or go out for dinner. (Exact dimension is: 9.4 x 7.1 x 3.7 INCHES.) There is a small inside open pocket and the purse itself zips shut. It can be worn as either a standard or cross-body purse.

All In All: 7/10 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈
The Good: It's absolutely gorgeous and the stitching/zipper are well done. This is a huge thing I check on purses when I get them because I hate things that break or unravel right after purchase. The pattern is super cute and it has a really good price tag on it.
The Bad: I'm one of those girls that just can't leave the house without a bag the size of the Pacific. I don't know why I'll need a coffee cup, a change of clothes, twelve bandages and a small Yorkie but I might, ya know? Note: This is an exaggeration, no one would really care twelve bandages....eight maybe. I'm also not a huge fan of open pockets on the inside. What are you for? Who uses you? What do you hold that doesn't immediately just fall out into the rest of the purse? 
Where You Can Find It: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071S5S6R6 is where you can pick one up at...currently these are running $16.99 and the other prints are ranging from $9.99 to $18.99. 

If you're looking for a really pretty smaller sized bag that you can pick up brand new for under twenty bucks I'd say this is a really good deal. Realistically I probably won't get much use out of it because of it's size but hey-it's still really nice to look at! Thanks to everyone for reading and stay awesome!

---Maggielomaniac ✨

Back With Even Shinier Leaves!

Because This Is Not Mud.

Hello all! On a personal note I'm just now getting around to updating this because I had an attempted wisdom tooth extraction on 07/24 that did...umm..NOT go well. So about twelve hours ago I got to go under oral surgery to get that bad boy removed and I've been in and out of reality chasing pretty unicorns for a bit. Now I'm back and feeling great so I can get back to telling you what you should and shouldn't consider wasting your time and hard earned money on!

Today I'm reviewing another Shiny Leaf product-they liked me so much they cut me a good discount on another product to tell you how I like that one. I'm not sure why because I basically said that while I loved their mud mask it's just mud on your face, however I will accept their love because they are a genuinely really nice company with some nifty stuff.

This product is their "Premium Argan Oil Anti-Hair-Loss Shampoo: For Thickening and Strengthening Hair and Anti-Hair Loss Treatment". My hair is already pretty thick but it does fall out like crazy and I am a sucker for pretty much anything Argan oil and also anything that can make my hair healthier and stronger. It's really long, I used to self bleach a lot, it's been through the wringer. 

After trying their mud mask I had already been on the fence about ordering some of their other products because they did look pretty nifty and they have a good wide range of pretty inexpensive hair/skin care. This stuff is awesome and I'm happy I got a chance to try it because it's a decent size and one of the least expensive Argan oil shampoos I've ran across. I've tried it a few times now and I'll really pretty happy with how it's made my hair feel but even happier with the way it smells, which is pretty freaking awesome. In fact I just took the lid off to smell it again and am very happy with that choice. So.......

All In All: I would give this shampoo a 9/10 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈
The Good: It lathers really well, it comes with a really good price tag and it smells INCREDIBLE. It also comes in a 16 ounce bottle so even if you had long hair like me you can get some good use out of it. My short haired friends could find it lasting them  ridiculously long amount of time.
The Bad: My fiance told me he doesn't like the smell-he thinks it smells "too sweet". This means therefore that one of my biggest YAY points on it could be a big "EWW" point for you depending on what kind of sniffer you have. 
Where You Can Find It: https://www.shinyleaf.com/products/argan-oil-shampoo 
Right now it's priced at an awesome $12.17 for that good sized 16 ounce bottle. All always, their products are all natural, not tested on animals and made right here in the USA

This is definitely a hit for me and I will be repurchasing it again in the future. This has also sealed my decision on buying other items on their site to check out because this all looks pretty great, friends. 
Thank you, as always, to everyone for reading and stay awesome!

---Maggielomaniac ✨

Bumble Road, Take Me Home

Goodness Gracious, Great Balls Of ....Luscious Lavender?

Review time again! I've been dropping the ball so now I'm here to bring the ball back....four times over! I got sent these at a discounted price to review and I love bath bombs so I anxiously awaited getting these in the mail. Then the mail showed up and I thought there must have been a mistake as I lugged a giant package in through the door. (I'm out of shape okay?) These were just cute little bath bombs, right?

No. These are bath planets. At least orbiting moons. These moons are called "Luscious Lavender", "Orange Creamsicle" "Really Rose" and "Yellow Grapefruit Licious". All of their bath bombs are made with Shea Butter, jojoba oil and Epsom salts as well as being all natural, non-GMO, never tested on animals and (AN IMPORTANT LABEL) ethically sourced. 

Each of these bath bombs has something a little special about it-perhaps the most impressive is the Really Rose-with the good amount of real rose buds embedded in the bomb it makes it immediately ten times easier for your honey to run you a romantic rose filled bath. Or you to run one for them....I wouldn't though because that would require sacrificing a bath bomb and I'm greedy. The "this smells awesome" title probably goes to the "Orange Creamsicle" which also gives you some awesome petals in your bath. These are absolutely stunning to see in action, they definitely change the color/scent/vibe of your bath in a drastic way and are relaxation central.

All In All: 9/10 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈 Would easily be a ten but I did have just a couple issues.
The Good: They smell AWESOME (just leave them in your bathroom for a couple days before use and the whole thing will smell epic). They work GREAT (immediately fizz, don't get all gritty and turn into duds like some bath bombs). They change the color of your water dramatically without dying you or your tub. This is all wonderful.
The Bad: These did arrive with the stickers having fallen off which had me confusing Orange Creamsicle and Yellow Grapefruit for a bit. Yellow Grapefruit didn't have much of a scent compared to the other three, which was a bit disappointing. Also I couldn't help but notice on the very bottom of the container that it does said "Made in China" and China has some questionable policies when it comes to testing on animals....so a bit in the air on that one.
Where You Can Find It: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072C7ZP3W currently they are having an AWESOME sale on these bad boys too.

If you're looking for a pretty awesome bath bomb experience or a good gift for a loved one, these are pretty awesome little balls of fun. Their #BumbleRoad #NextLevelBath experience is definitely an accurate claim and worth checking out. As always, no matter if I buy a product myself, get it for free or get it at a discount my opinions are 100% my own and I will give you all the facts both ways. 

Thank you to everyone for reading and stay awesome!

---Maggielomaniac✨

More Expensive Doesn't Equal Better

A Serum A Day Keeps The Money Away

I recently got a chance through Influenster to try Clarins Double Serum and was super excited about this. I was getting a seven day trial of it for free in exchange for honest feedback and the serum is on the pricey spicy end of the retail scale. It says that it has "two power-packed serums in one" - a whole lot of plant extracts with Turmeric to "decode the language of youth". We will finally be able to understand the true meaning of "Fleek" "Fire" and "ROFL". It has an ingredient list ten miles long that begins with "water" and ends with about a million fruit and plant extracts.

Sounds awesome, right?! I cracked this bad boy open, squirted the serum into my hands and applied liberally to my face....and cringed. The smell of this is absolutely AWESOME. If they made a fragrance sign me up please. The texture however is oily as heck and just feels like I rubbed one of those hot oil treatments all over my face. The greasy residue lingers on your hands even after a couple washes and it never quite settles right on your skin. 
I might be willing to keep trying this to see if it meets the claims it makes to rejuvenating your skin but---the pricetag though.


All In All: 3/10 🌈🌈🌈
The Good: Smell is INCREDIBLE. Love love love it. 10/10 on that scent.
The Bad:  Not worth the money. I also highly doubt the "for all skin types"claims-I don't think oily skin would dig this. Super heavy and oily on the skin and don't sink in over time. Big nope from me.
Where You Can Find It: For $89 at http://www.clarinsusa.com/en/double-serum/80025862.html . 

It may work wonders if you can afford beg borrow or steal enough t continue use for an extended period of time but unfortunately I'm not in that much of a spending mood.
Thank you to everyone for reading and stay awesome!

---Maggielomaniac ✨

Seventh Generation: Wipes For Errybody!

Wipe That Look Off Your Face

Wipes are an essential part of life, often one that you don't learn the true wonder and beauty of until after you have children. Oh, they need a diaper? Grab the wipes. Oh, they just decided to fling peas in Dad's face? Grab the wipes. They have used their sibling as a canvas to create their masterpiece: "All Shades of Mom's Makeup-A Compilation"? Grab the wipes. 

Wipes aren't super easy for everyone though. Many people (and little ones) have very sensitive skin which makes fragrances, certain preservatives and even alcohol a big no-no. Often even the wipes on the market that are directed towards individuals with sensitive skin are just not cutting it. 

I ran into an issue recently when I decided to use my six month daughter's "sensitive skin" baby wipes to remove my makeup in a pinch. While she has no negative reactions to them herself my entire face (especially an inch around my eye area) burned like fire for hours afterwards-talk about questioning what I use to clean her delicate bottom. 

When I got the option to try Seventh Generation's "Free And Clear" wipes I decided to take it. They sent me a few small packs for free-enough to test in several different situations. These wipes are cruelty free, no parabens (a preservative that has been widely scrutinized lately for its potential dangers), no phenoxyethanol (a germicidal glycol preservative) and no alcohol.

So if it doesn't have any of that what does it have? Well, water. Water, a plant based cleaning agent called "cocomidopropyl pg-dimonium chloride phosphate" which is naturally derived from coconut oil, citric acid, saponaria wood extract, aloe extract, vitamin E and sodium benzoate. 

Where it got me was the "Sodium Benzoate". This is another questionable ingredient.

 Let's compare this then to the ingredients in Parents Choice Sensitive Skin wipes: 

Water, the same plant based cleaning agent (our friend cocomidopropyl pg-dimonium blah blah), glycerin (naturally occuring alcohol compound), calendula officinalis flower extract (marigold extract known for its anti-inflamatory properties),  bisabolol (a natural occuring scent ingrediant in chamomile), chamomile flower extract, aloe leaf extract, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E based), phenoxyethanol (that germicidal glycol preservative), iodopropynyl butylcarbamate (a water-soluble preservative that has been scrutinized), simethicone (an anti foaming agent often used to fight gas in babies when administered orally) and citric acid.

So these two wipes have a lot in common really. They both use water and our friend Coco Mido as their first two ingredients, they both use citric acid, aloe and vitamin E. Seventh Gen uses wood extract, Parents choice goes the chamomile route. They both have ingredients people dislike and they BOTH use preservatives. The main difference between the two is that one uses alcohol and the other does not. So...recap time.

All In All: 8/10 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

The Good: These work! They were non-irritating to my face, they were non-irritating to my daughter and they clean well. They are a bit more damp than other wipes, which can come in handy.

The Bad: There isn't much. The only reason I have any issue at all is that they contain sodium benzoate and to have that is a bit like throwing stones and owning a glass house since it is known to have issues as well.

Where You Can Find It: www.seventhgeneration.com, Target, Babies R Us, Walgreens. 

INTERESTING FACT: These wipes are made in Arkansas!

I'd recommend them if you have sensitive skin and don't like the Parent's Choice wipes, they are fairly inexpensive ($2.99 for a 64 count and less if you buy bigger packages). 

Thank you to everyone for reading and stay awesome!

-Maggielomaniac 🌈

Shiny Leaf:The Dead Sea Mud Mask

Mud Masks, Aka: Covering My Face In Mud As An Adult

Today I'm going to be reviewing a new item I just snagged to try. This one had a lot of claims and not as hefty a price tag as these kinds of products can sometimes carry with them.

 So let's cover the claims first. It says that you don't need a lot of product :"pea sized"-this jar is a pretty good size at 8.8 hefty ounces. Definitely not something you would want to chunk at your significant other if, say, they tried to tell you that you order too many masks. Not that anyone would do that. So, assuming that claim is valid then it's a pretty good deal considering you could fit a lot of peas in here. It also says it dries quickly and is easy to wash off with water water or a warm towel after 15-20 minutes. This is also a good claim because I hate masks that either take FOREVER to dry or just never do and sit around all gooey and gloppy on my skin. 

It's therapeutic grade which is just a fancy way of saying it's a 100% pure all natural product (no preservatives and no fillers added in). Because of this it does tend to settle (like mud will) so they include a stirrer with the product. This product is supposed to fight acne, fight signs of aging while removing dead skin and fight skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and other assorted rashes.

I was pretty excited to break into this bad boy and check it out. Probably too excited. This is essentially a nice thick mineral packed mud water so....when you open it if you don't want to fling on stuff be careful. It was a little watery looking so I stirred it with the included stir stick which thickened it right up. I then decided to be fancy and use the stir stick to apply it to some parts of my face. I'm going to go ahead and say this was a good call because I feel like it made it less messy to apply but maybe I just like giving myself a pat on the back. After I did that I used my fingers to get a good even coat everywhere and left it on for 20 minutes.
After that I grabbed a favorite cleanser of mine and used a little bit mixed with some warm water to wash it off and oooh-this did legitimately make my skin ridiculously soft and happy looking! Go you, mask! So let's get down to the recap!

All In All: 8.5/10 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈 (imagine a very small rainbow here)
The Good: This mask does do what it says: it only takes a tiny bit to go a long way and spreads very well. It did also dry fairly quickly, which I was pleased with. It made my skin ridiculously soft and it's PURE NATURAL PRODUCT.
The Bad: You know what pure dead sea mud smells like? It is not great friend. Not a bucket of roses. Now this is nothing negative REALLY about the product because without all those fancy smellifiers (yes this is a word now) that are definitely NOT pure or natural it's going to smell like mud. It's just to be noted. Also it can be a little messy, which again is to be kind of expected with mud. 
Where You Can Find It: https://www.shinyleaf.com/products/dead-sea-mud-mask/ is the best place to find it and it is CURRENTLY priced at $12.71. While you're on their website though I would definitely recommend checking out the rest of their stuff because it's pretty spiffy. They have essential oils, hair care, other skin care and things like lip balm sets (which I have my eye on).

All in all if you'd like to try a good mask for sensitive skin that won't cost you and arm and a leg and will last you a good long time, I'd give this one a shot!  I did pick this up for free in exchange for my review but like always, my opinions are going to be my own and this seems like a pretty great product for those that have sensitive skin or any kind of skin issues-I'll just keep using it because it makes my skin super soft. 
Thank you to everyone for reading and stay awesome!

-Maggielomaniac xoxo 🌈 

My Moisturizer Of Choice:Peter Thomas Roth "Water Drench"

Moisturizers Everywhere!

It seems like everywhere I look today there is someone selling a new moisturizer. This one makes your skin softer, this one makes it smell nice, this one erases years of sun damage, this one reduces your fine lines and wrinkles almost overnight. Softening, tightening, pore shrinking-the list never ends. My opinion on moisturizers until very recently was that give or take a few ingredients they're all pretty much the same so just pick one that smells alright to you and go with it.This is the product that changed my viewpoint on that.

Peter Thomas Roth's "Water Drench" labels itself a "hyaluronic cloud cream" and claims that it's "30% hyaluronic acid complex draws atmosphere vapor, helps lock in hydration for up to 72 hours".What does that really mean though? Well based off this claim this cream actually uses three different sizes of this molecule to continuously pull moisture from the air and use that to hydrate your skin all day long (or night). What is Hyaluronic Acid? It is a sugary molecule that our skin makes all by itself-it natural resides in our joints and connective tissues. The beautiful creature can hold up to a thousand times its own weight in water and is one of the biggest things that keeps our skin vibrant and moisturized. For years this couldn't be faked-this molecule starts losing its fizz and begins to taper off as we get older. Now scientists have figured out how to make smaller versions of this molecule so we can use it topically to re-plump and re-hydrate our skin. Science is cool.

So that is the "why it works and how it does it" of this moisturizer-what I can tell you from personal experience is that I received a sample size in my Sephora Play one month and a week later had a full size container sitting in my hand. Price wise it will run a bit on the higher end but it's so worth it. It glides on silky soft and literally feels like you have smushed a rain cloud up in your hand and are putting it on your face. A rain cloud blessed by angels. A rain cloud blessed by angels that really love you. As much as I hate to admit it at 28 years old (isn't the youthful glow supposed to last a long time?!) I am getting lines in my forehead and this drastically reduces the appearance of them. I put it on every night before bed and every day before putting on my primer and it makes my skin feel amazing and my foundation go on ten times more smooth. 

All In All: 10/10 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈 - not many products will take this rating.
The Good: That this product exists.
The Bad: It will hurt your wallet a little bit. It sits at $52 retail (at this time) for 1.6 fl oz. While a little does go a long way it can still feel like a big hit to the skin care budget if you're used to paying for lower cost alternatives like I was.
Where You Can Find It: www.peterthomasroth.com, Sephora and Ulta. Can also be found on Amazon and eBay for cheaper (usually in the mid $40 range) if you're comfortable using those for your purchases. 

Would recommend to anyone. This products works for all skin types!Thank you to everyone for reading! Stay awesome!

-Maggielomaniac xoxo 🌈

"Murder In Wizard's Wood"

"Murder In Wizard's Wood:A Book Review"

If you're looking for a good read to help beat the summer heat and you're like me you'll want to escape into something fantasy related. This novel "Murder In Wizard's Wood" is a really solid read that has a lot of classic elements we're used to and mixes them up in some new and interesting ways. This book deals with a lot of old legendary fantasy while incorporating it into modern day in a way that doesn't come off as cheesy or overdone like many of the genre that try to blend those two. It contains many of the age-old sacrifices that one must face in dire times and the writing is both descriptive enough to paint a clear picture yet brisk enough to hold a good pace.
I would recommend giving it a read, I was able to read this novel for free in exchange for an honest review but I will be looking for the next book in the series. 

All In All: 7/10 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈
The Good: Quality Storytelling, Artful Blending Of Genres, Doesn't Lag Too Much 
The Bad: A bit cliche in some places, Certain plot devices can be easily predicted
Where You Can Find It: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30367737-murder-in-wizard-s-wood

Would recommend for a summer read if your reading list is looking bare!
Thank you to everyone for reading! Stay awesome!

-Maggielomaniac xoxo 🌈

First Blog: My Rating System

Hello To My Lovely Readers!

Today I am gearing up to do my first review, first I wanted to cover what my rating system will function like. I will be rating all products on a scale of 1-10 rainbows. Yes, rainbows. One rainbow means that this rainbow isn't so great. It's kind of like that when your friend says "Look, a rainbow!" ....only you don't see a rainbow. It's already gone. That's sad. These things are also sad.
Five rainbows means that it's kind of cool. I mean, it's better than no rainbow. It's kind of like that mini rainbow that shows up sometimes when you put the sprinkler the right way and the light is just right. Ten rainbows is awesome. It is the ultimate rainbow. It's there, it's lasting a long time, it's right over your house and it looks like there is a pot of gold in your backyard.
Sweet. Gold.

Starting tomorrow I will try to post a product review at least every other day. Let me know what kind of reviews you would like and I will do my best to please. I will be starting out with my ride-or-die items, aka: what I use everyday and can't live without. <3 Thank you to everyone for reading! Stay awesome!

-Maggielomaniac xoxo 🌈

About Me!

Hello all and welcome to the Blog! 

My name is Maggie and I am a 28 year old makeup/fantasy/music enthusiast from Northwestern Arkansas. I have three children and a wonderful fiance that puts up with my overly enthusiastic makeup collecting problems. In my spare time I love to try and review products-helping people find the right products for them and avoid bad companies and items is something I love to do. I spent many years reading through reviews myself and being concerned on if their opinions were honest ones or if they were being somehow paid off to report against or for an item. This concern has led me to start my own journey into the product reviewing world to learn just how the process works and what advantages and disadvantages that path holds. 

I am new to this sort of platform but hope to get much better at this as time goes on so if you stick with me I can promise in the future: positive reviews, sarcastic comments and hopefully give-aways! 

Thank you so much for joining me in this journey. <3

-Maggielomaniac xoxo🌈

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