I’ve got some general info about Julep and their monthly maven box subscription below. But first is a review of their latest mystery box. (It’s picnic themed.)
The options are:
Picnic Mystery Box at $24.99 (which gets you $70-$150 worth of fun polish and fab products)
or
Big Picnic Mystery Box at $39.99 (which gets you $120-$250 worth of fun polish and fab products)
In each box you are guaranteed to receive the new and exclusive polish, “Evie”, described as a raspberry crème with gold shimmer.
In addition, a la the Golden Ticket from Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, one lucky soul will find a $1000 VISA gift card in their box.
I opted for the Big Picnic box because I am putting together a kickass manicure gift for a friend’s birthday gift and I figured I could probably pick up some great items for her–and myself, because whenever I buy someone a gift I feel like I should get one too. (The beauty in being a grownup is buying yourself stuff because it’s someone else’s birthday, or it’s Tuesday, or the internets keep tempting you with random subscription boxes).
When I arrived home today I was pleased to see I had I received Big Picnic Mystery Box Version 1.
I received the Paris Lip Trio including: Set Includes:
Charleston: Cranberry lip sheer
Sweet Lorraine: Bubblegum pink lip sheer
Lady in Red: Matte crimson lip color
(Retail Value: $28.00)
I already own this set and adore it. The lady in red is perfect for a fancy night out. The other colors are a bit sheer. I’ll probably be gifting this to a friend since I own both this and the New York set (which also contains lady in red).
I received seven polishes and amazingly none are duplicates.
In order from left to right:
Annette: Light dove grey crème. (Retail Value $14.00) – I probably wouldn’t have bought this on my own but I actually think it will probably end up being a nice neutral.
Maya: Peachy pink seashell, like a shimmering pearl. (Retail Value $14.00) – This one has a nice shimmer that I think would complement a lot of skin tones.
Catherine: The original classic, go-to red crème. (Retail Value $14.00) – I’ve actually been pining after this one. I adore dark and classic reds so this one will get a lot of use.
Evie: Raspberry crème with gold shimmer (Retail Value $14.00 – but as of right now you can’t buy this item on its own). You can really see the gold shimmer and I think this one will look amazing on.
Gloria: Coral orange crème. (Retail Value $14.00) – This is my least favorite in the box. I’m a pale redhead so orange can go really, really wrong. I think this one might go into the gift pile.
Dianna: Mint green crème. (Retail Value $14.00) – I am a sucker for nearly every shade of mint and this one has been on my wishlist for a while so I’m psyched to have it.
Vanessa: Opalecent glitter in a clear base. (Retail Value: $7.99) While I’d love to keep this for myself and glitterfy all the colors, it’s perfect for the manicure gift bag I’m making for a friend so it’s going there.
So I paid $39.99 for this box. The retail value of the box was $119.99. The “maven” value (with the maven subscription discount) was $97.59.
Overall I’m satisfied with my bag as I got a few colors I desperately wanted, and a couple that will make great gifts. The one thing I’d like to see with these mystery bags is for there to be more manicure basics included. We can all use an extra base or topcoat or nail polish remover. I don’t see the lipsticks really connecting to a picnic theme and they seem more like an afterthought.
GIVEAWAY! Julep is currently having an End of the Rainbow giveaway. One winner a day through Friday! Click here for entries.
Julep specializes in toxin-free nail color but also features beauty products. They are a small company based in Seattle and have been featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things List.
They have a monthly maven box that costs $19.99. You simply take their beauty quiz and it will match you up with a specific style.
The options:
Modern Beauty – (For those who prefer beauty items over nail color) – “You’re a savvy tastemaker obsessed with the art and science of beauty.” Get two full-size beauty products in every box.
Boho Glam – “You’re a dynamic free spirit with a creative eye.” Get two limited-edition nail colors and one full-size beauty product in every box.
Bombshell – “You’re a confident frill-seeker with magnetic appeal.” Get two limited-edition nail colors and one full-size beauty product in every box.
Classic With a Twist – “You’re an iconic beauty with a timeless aesthetic.” Get two limited-edition nail colors and one full-size beauty product in every box.
It Girl – (For those who want polish only) “You’re a colorful trendsetter who’s not afraid to be bold.” Get three limited-edition nail colors in every box.
The real beauty of a maven box is that you only get what you want. You can change profiles each month or simply opt out of a box. Julep will email you your monthly box selection, at that time you can choose a different box than your regular beauty profile or opt out entirely. Every time you purchase a box you get the option of add-ons at a huge discount along access to their “Secret Store” that lets you get other products at great prices. Another perk is that when you’re a maven you get 20% off anything you purchase from their store along with free Shipping. Julep polishes retail at $14.00 each, so a Maven box of two to three brand new polishes for under $20.00 is a great steal.
To try out a being a maven get your first box free (you’ll just have to pay for shipping this time) use the code FREEBOX. Just remember this is a subscription service so your free box will sign you up to get a box every month. Either opt out each month when you don’t want a box, or cancel by calling Julep’s customer service.
Lisa Preziosi 