Mystery Box – Lisa Preziosi

Julep Maven: August 2016 Endless Summer! A Halloween Mystery Box Plus 20% Off!

At long last, I’ve gotten to the last August box review that’s been sitting on the shelf.
Julep Maven offered their “Endless Summer” collection which is perfectly appropriate for today since it’s like 80 degrees in NYC in mid October. Before I jump into all the info on a new mystery box, my review and more Julep gossip, I’ve got some awesome coupon codes and offers. For 20% off your julep.com purchase use coupon code LETSGET20 (expires on 10/31/16). If you’re interested in subscribing there are some great free gift offers, just jump down to the backstory for my affiliate links and coupon codes.

BEWITCHED GLOW MYSTERY BOX

(Price: $24.99 – Estimated Retail Value $106)
Description: “Something wickedly fun this way comes. This intriguing mystery box includes a fan-favorite black polish, a glow-in-the-dark top coat, and more. Don’t be left in the dark!”

This mystery box definitely includes:

Xena (Boho Glam)
Description: “Glow-In-The-Dark Glitter Top Coat”

Johnny (Bombshell)
Description: “True Black Crème”

Plus Additional mystery items of beauty products and polish
Hurry this offer ends 10/19/16!

MY CUSTOMIZABLE MAVEN BOX

Sadly, it seems these days we can’t get a month without another Julep issue. This collection offered an invisible sunscreen gel called “No Excuses”. It did not live up to its name because like Julep’s other sun-related products, it was delayed and didn’t come in this box. Julep did go big on making it up to mavens, by sending those who ordered the sunblock (myself included) a $50 credit for their site. That seemed like a very generous solution and my only issue was that there was an expiration date to the credit that wasn’t clearly listed. If not for all my Facebook friends who are mavens I might have missed out on using mine.

The Missing Product:

No Excuses Invisible Sunscreen Gel
(Retail $22.00/Maven Price: $17.60)
Description: “completely transparent, fast-absorbing face sunscreen in an essence-gel base that delivers Broad Spectrum SPF 40 protection from UVA/UVB rays. This lightweight gel goes on smoothly and dries quickly to a satin finish, making it perfect to wear under makeup. To use: Apply liberally 15 minutes before sun exposure. Use a water resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating. Reapply at least every two hours.”
Verdict: Isn’t it ironic, don’t think?
Seems like this product is full of excuses. It only became available for sale, fairly recently so I opted not to order this since my Fall/Winter sunblock needs are pretty well met. This product was also not available for the Canadian mavens at all. While I appreciate Julep’s ambition, they need to focus on doing the things they can do very well, rather than attempting things they can’t truly pull off with the resources they have.

Stephanie
(Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Love!
Description: “Juicy cherry holographic”
I’m a sucker for red polishes in general so I had to snap up this holo polish. I think it will be fun come Christmas time.

Zori
(Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Love!
Description: “Cotton candy holographic jelly”
What’s better than a jelly polish? A holographic jelly polish! I find sweet pinks and nudes holos to be super flattering and a more understated way to do holos. This one is just so pretty.

MARCH FREEBIE!

Free Candy!

OVERALL:

Verdict: Good
So this box is a tough one to calculate. If I’d gotten the box I ordered (with the sunblock) it would have had a retail value of $56 and a maven value of $44.80. For the retail polish prices + my $50 credit, I got a $78 value. With the maven value + store credit, we come out to $72.40. I used Jules I’d saved up for this box so I ended up getting it for free. The only reason this box doesn’t have a “hit” rating is because of Julep’s disorganization. I appreciate that they try to make it right, but problems have turned into the rule rather than the exception, and that needs to change. I wish I could tell you that Julep’s problems stopped in August, but there’s more Julep gossip to share in my next reviews, so be sure to come back.

Have you ever tried a holographic polish?
What did you think?

COUPON CODES & LINKS:

Free $132 Always Sunny Beauty Gift with New Subscription
(expires 10/31/16)

Free 8 pc Beauty Gift with New Subscription
(expires 10/31/16)
Get this 8 Piece set when you join Julep!
COUPON CODE: COLOR8

Join Julep and Get Your First Box Free (Limited Time Offer)
(expires 11/3/16)
COUPON CODE: Treat

Save 20% on your julep.com purchase with coupon code LETSGET20. (Expires 10/31/16)
Spring Polishes for $5 each! Check out the great selection here!

THE BACKSTORY
(Just remember this signs you up for a monthly subscription. If you don’t wish to receive boxes you will need to call Julep to cancel. You can also opt to skip a month and you will not be billed.)
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.

Monthly Maven Options:
My Maven Subscription: $24.99 per month – Allows you to customize your box
3 Month Prepaid: $19.99/month

Maven Luxe: $39.99 per month – Gives you access to add on more expensive items
3 Month Prepaid: $34.99/month

The options (Take the quiz here):
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.”
Bombshell – “You’re a confident frill-seeker with magnetic appeal.”
Classic With a Twist – “You’re an iconic beauty with a timeless aesthetic.”
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.

Julep will email you with the contents of your regular box selection, and at that time you can opt to keep it as is, change it, or skip. Every time you purchase a box you get the option of add-ons along with access to Julep’s “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 Julep’s website along with free Shipping.

Julep also has a rewards program that gives you “jules” for taking your monthly boxes and on your birthday. You can use jules to pay for monthly boxes and some other items chosen by Julep.

Julep Maven Luxe: November 2015 – The Switch-Up Collection & A New Mystery Box!

Today brings us back to my quick push to get through the last of my 2015 boxes. It’s time for the subscription that began it all—Julep. For the last few months of 2015, I opted to try out the Luxe subscription option which offers more items in your box and customization. I’ve been using it to hoard, err, stock up on my favorites plus try new things. For November, Julep introduced the Switch-Up Collection that included a new skincare product and an assortment of polishes in the matte metallic finish. Let’s dive in.

MAVEN LUXE BOX

Love Your Bare Face – Age-Defying Cleansing Oil (Retail $28.00/Maven Price: $22.40)
Verdict: Love
Description: This ultra-lightweight, age-defying cleanser melts away even stubborn long-wear makeup in just seconds. Don’t be afraid of oils – this one leaves behind no oily residue, just clean, nourished skin.
This is hands down my favorite Julep product. I use this every night and it melts off my mascara and eyeliner with incredible ease and leaves my skin super soft. It’s particularly great in the Winter when the cold leaves my face raw. If you can only try one Julep product this is the one you need to nab.

Take a Breather – Sheer Shimmer – Oxygen Nail Treatment: (Retail $18.00/Maven Price: $14.40)
Verdict: Still waiting to decide
Description: Don’t be fooled by appearances—this subtle, glossy pink tint is actually a powerful strengthening treatment that lets your nails breathe. Our nutrient-rich formula also includes nail-boosting Hexanal, anti-aging plant cells, and a protective UV filter.
I’m using a Julep photo for this item because it wasn’t in my box. I actually didn’t even realize it was missing until I started to work on my review. I emailed Julep and they are sending me one asap. I opted to try this because some days I’m just too tired to go through the whole base coat/2 coats of polish/topcoat procedure and this looks like a nice alternative to use in between regular manis.

What Your Skin Needs – Restorative Facial Milk (Retail $38.00/Maven Price: $28.00)
Verdict: Like
Description: This ultra-lightweight facial moisturizer is a high-tech blend of five skin-boosting oils that absorb into your skin in under 10 seconds to treat, hydrate, and replenish. Use daily, gentle enough for all skin types, even sensitive skin.
I love the Bareface Oil so much that I’m always up for trying new Julep skincare products. The first thing that struck me about this was that the packaging felt very luxe. My biggest issue with Julep products in the past has been packaging. I’ve had so many containers that break easily, are hard to use or mess up the product (like how the quick dry drops evaporate at an alarming rate). I tried this out and for me it definitely feels more like a treatment and something I’d use at night because it is a bit heavier. It does a nice job of softening and smoothing so folks with dry skin may be able to use it more frequently.

Cheyenne: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Like
Description: Auburn matte metallic
I figured I had to try one of the new matte metallic finishes so I opted for Cheyenne. It’s a really pretty red brown that sort of reminds me of my hair color.

ADD ONS!

Janice: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Love!
Description: Carnival full-coverage microglitter
This shade was exclusively an add-on and I couldn’t resist the glitter plus the mix of colors. I think this would be so pretty paired with a darker grey and used just on the tips.

NOVEMBER FREEBIES!

We start with some candy – a caramel apple lollipop. It was very tasty!

Melody: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Love!
Description:
Julep offered this as a freebie, you just had to confirm via email in advance that you wanted it. I love it when we get polish as a free gift. This is a fun glitter topcoat that you shake in order to get the coverage you want. Shake it like a Polaroid picture for more glitter coverage, for less just shake it like…a salt shaker? I don’t know, just you know, shake it less.

OVERALL:

Verdict: Hit!
The retail value on this box was a whopping $116.00 and the maven value was $108.40. I paid $50.27 and I got a great skincare set, a nail treatment, a polish and a fun topcoat. That’s an incredible amount of product for the price. I also think my November picks had a nice balance of fun and practical items. Because I use so many Julep products, Maven luxe has proven really cost effective for me. Nearly every product you could want is included in the customization options. If you find you need to restock your Julep favorites regularly, consider a Maven Luxe subscription, it might save you money as well. To lower the cost even more you can prepay a 3 month Maven Luxe subscription for a discount.

I’ve got one just one more 2015 Julep box to finish so be sure to come back for more fun swatches.

Do you find you use heavier skincare products in the Winter months or does your skincare routine stay relatively the same?

JULEP NEWS!

Tote-tally Awesome Mystery Box!
Julep is offer a Tote-tally awesome mystery box featuring two new polishes and a tote. There are 3 Tote options to choose from and the new polishes are Posey, a Lavender fog crème and Andie, a pastel confetti matte glitter top coat.

Personally Andie is really calling my name, but after the Holidays my wallet is telling Andie to shut the hell up. What do you think the of the new Julep new colors? Worth taking a chance on the mystery bag?

THE BACKSTORY

COUPON CODES & LINKS:
Subscription Box Offers & Discounts:
(Just remember this signs you up for a monthly subscription. If you don’t wish to receive boxes you will need to call Julep to cancel. You can also opt to skip a month and you will not be billed.)
Winter Ice Beauty Welcome Box:
Join Julep and get a FREE Winter Ice Beauty Box (just pay shipping)

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.

Monthly Maven Options:

My Maven Subscription: $24.99 per month – Allows you to customize your box
3 Month Prepaid: $19.99/month

Maven Luxe: $39.99 per month – Gives you access to add on more expensive items
3 Month Prepaid: $34.99/month

Julep also has a rewards program that gives you “jules” for taking your monthly boxes and on your birthday. You can use jules to pay for monthly boxes and some other items chosen by Julep.

Julep Maven: September 2015 – Kisses, London Collection – It Girl & the LA Mystery Box!

With my travel, birthday and writing projects I’ve been neglecting some of my tried and true boxes so today let’s catch up with Julep. For September, I opted for the It Girl box from their Kisses, London Collection, and when they offered an LA mystery box featuring a travel kit that was perfectly timed with my California trip, I couldn’t resist

So let’s get to the polish!

THE IT GIRL BOX

Delores: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Love!
Description: Iris linear liquid holographic
I know a lot of folks complain about Julep’s holos, but I actually really love them and this purple shade is absolutely gorgeous. The photo just doesn’t do it justice.

Aubrey: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Like
Description: Rosewood shimmer
Shimmers are one of my favorite finishes and I really like the unusual hue of this color. I think it’s nice for Fall and will work as an unexpected neutral. I think it will pair really well with rose gold.

Zooey: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Love!
Description: Sea spray crème
This shade was one of the reasons I had to go with It Girl. There was something about this shade of blue that I just fell in love with. It’s got this perfect pale ocean vibe and the formula went on beautifully. If you like pastels, you should definitely grab one of these for your collection.

AUGUST FREEBIE!

Julep sent us a signature polish named…Julep! Free is always great, but I really love it when we get free polish items instead of candy (my waistband also loves that). This is a pretty color and I love having a signature polish in my giant Julep horde.

THE ADD-ON:

Hallie: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Description: Ocean Blue Holographic
Verdict: Love!
Description:
This was available as an add-on for 6.99, and isn’t currently available for individual sale so I’m going to assume the price point is the same as Julep’s other non-sale polishes. I’m obsessed with ocean shades so I had to grab this and it didn’t disappoint. I love the color and if you’re looking to do a “Frozen” inspired mani, this would be an awesome polish choice.

OVERALL:

Verdict: Love!

This box actually looks like a cohesive and awesome collection just on it’s own. I love all these shades and I know I’m going to have fun trying them out. I paid $28.87, and without even counting the Julep freebie polish, my retail value comes out to $56, and my maven retail is $44.80. I think that’s a great value for my box and I can’t wait to pick up some more Julep holographic polishes.

Now onto the mystery box!
I knew it would include a Julep travel case and a new polish shade called Bianca. The rest could be anything!
We had to choose between LA and NY. Since I’m NY pretty much all the time and I’d be visiting LA, I opted for the latter.

THE LA MYSTERY BOX

Bianca: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Love!
Description: Textured silver holographic glitter
This is so so sparkly. It’s like a giant Christmas glitter ornament and I adore it.

Julep Travel Caddy: (Retail $???/Maven Price: $???)
Verdict: Like
Description: Compact design has plenty of pockets to keep nail faves organized on the go.
This case was one of the reasons I decided to grab this mystery box. I thought it would be fun for travel and a nice way to organize some of my most commonly used tools for easy access. I can’t find this on the Julep site so I don’t have a retail value. I’ve included pictures of it closed, open and with tools in it so you can get an idea of the size.

Julep Emery Board: (Retail $5.00/Maven Price: $4.00)
Verdict: Like
Description: Our sturdy, two-sided emery board features a medium-coarse grit for filing and a fine grit for shaping.
These are nice quality emery boards, although a bit pricey. I can always use more even if I wouldn’t normally grab them at full price.

Orange Sticks: (Retail ???/Maven Price: $???)
Verdict: Like
Also not on the website, but they are useful and a nice size for travel.

Becky: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Gift
Description: Oil slick duochrome silk
This is an awesome color, which is why I already own it. I have a friend that I think will adore it so I’m going to pass it along to her.

Julep Plié Wand: (Retail $25.00/Maven Price: $20.00)
Verdict: Gift
Description: An ergonomic nail polishing tool designed to solve common polishing pain points and give you better results.
While I like that this box seems to include tools, a lot of mavens already have this item (including myself). I’m going to gift this to a friend.

Joanne: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Gift
Description: Smoky plum crème
This is a pretty color as we head into Fall and another shade that I own, so this is going to a friend. (Don’t I have lucky friends?)

Brighter Is Better – Oxygen Brightening Nail Treatment: (Retail $18.00/Maven Price: $14.40)
Verdict: Gift
Description: A breakthrough nail treatment infused with optical brighteners that hide discoloration, plus lemon extract that, over time, makes your whites whiter and your pinks pinker. Meanwhile, Oxygen Technology delivers oxygen to your nail beds, encouraging strong, healthy growth.
I already have this..(are you noticing a theme?) and I think this work well in a Christmas gift rather than languishing in my stash as a backup bottle.

OVERALL:

Verdict: Hit!

I really liked that this box included tools since they paired well with the featured travel kit. I thought the colors were nice for Fall, but I wasn’t quite getting an LA vibe. I would have liked to have seen something bright or more beachy as one of the polish choices. I paid $29.99 for the box and am satisfied with what I received. Without knowing the cost of the travel caddy it’s hard to come up with a retail value, but excluding it we get a maven value of $46.40 and a retail value of $58.00 so I think the 29.99 was well spent. Even though I can’t use a lot of the items, they are going to make great gifts.

I’ve got lots more Julep boxes on the way, including trying out their Maven Luxe option, so be sure to check back!

Have you ever tried the Julep Plié wand? If so, what did you think?

THE BACKSTORY

COUPON CODES & LINKS:
Subscription Box Offers & Discounts:
(Just remember this signs you up for a monthly subscription. If you don’t wish to receive boxes you will need to call Julep to cancel. You can also opt to skip a month and you will not be billed.)

November Birthstone Welcome Box :
Join Julep beauty box and get the November Birthstone Welcome Box FREE ($58 value) – just pay $2.99 shipping

4-piece Metallics Welcome Box:
Join Julep and get the 4-piece Metallics Welcome Box FREE ($50+ value) – just pay $2.99 shipping

4 Piece Brave Pretty Bold Eye Welcome Box:
Join Julep today and get the 4-piece Brave Pretty Bold Eye Welcome Box FREE ($58+ value)

4-piece Brave Pretty Red Lips Welcome Box
Join today and get the 4-piece Brave Pretty Red Lips Welcome Box FREE ($58+ value)

Bridal Welcome Box
Join Maven now and get the Bridal Welcome Box FREE. ($58 value – just pay $2.99 shipping)

4-piece Ombre Welcome Box
Join Maven and get the 4-piece Ombre Welcome Box FREE ($50+ value) – just pay $2.99 shipping

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.

Monthly Maven Options:

My Maven Subscription: $24.99 per month – Allows you to customize your box
3 Month Prepaid: $19.99/month

Maven Luxe: $39.99 per month – Gives you access to add on more expensive items
3 Month Prepaid: $34.99/month

Boho Glam – “You’re a dynamic free spirit with a creative eye.”

Bombshell – “You’re a confident frill-seeker with magnetic appeal.”

Classic With a Twist – “You’re an iconic beauty with a timeless aesthetic.”

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.

Julep also has a rewards program that gives you “jules” for taking your monthly boxes and on your birthday. You can use jules to pay for monthly boxes and some other items chosen by Julep.

Julep: Jewel Heist Mystery Box

So it’s been a long day of switching out my summer clothes for my winter, (a necessary evil for apartment dwellers in the northeast) and now it’s time to get caught up with one of my box reviews.

Last month Julep featured their Jewel Heist Mystery Box which offered an opportunity for some lucky mavens to win the entire birthstone collection in a lovely gift box. I wasn’t lucky enough to nab the jewels, but I did get some products. Now let’s dive in and solve this mystery.

Night Night Overnight Repair for Hands
(Retail $48.00/Maven Price: $29.99
Verdict: Hit!/Gift
Description: “Luxe Repair Skin Serum: A rejuvenating skin serum that delivers deep hydration and essential nutrients to help rebuild skin structure from the inside out. Use on hands, nails, face, or anywhere skin needs repair.
Luxe Care Hand Crème: An intensive moisturizer that offers relief from dry, chapped hands and leaves skin indulgently soft.
Now I have a ton of Julep polishes and products, so the main reason I nabbed this mystery box was to pick up some birthday and Christmas gifts (and maybe find myself a little something too). This is a really nice kit and I’m going to be adding it to a beauty Birthday gift I am putting together. I think this item alone makes the box worth it.

Julep Lip Vernis in Peony
(Retail $???)
Verdict: Miss/Gift
Description: “Luxe Repair Skin Serum: A rejuvenating skin serum that delivers deep hydration and essential nutrients to help rebuild skin structure from the inside out. Use on hands, nails, face, or anywhere skin needs repair.
Luxe Care Hand Crème: An intensive moisturizer that offers relief from dry, chapped hands and leaves skin indulgently soft.
This addition is a miss because this is a very old gloss. Julep no longer uses this packaging and this gloss isn’t available on the Julep site any longer. It’s pretty obvious that this is a cleaning inventory moment. I have a ton of Julep glosses (the newer ones with the nicer packaging) so I can’t use this for myself. I will probably just add this as an extra to a gift or swap.

Faye: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Gift
Description: Liquid bronze shimmer
I don’t have this shade but it just didn’t speak to me. It’s kinda got this babypoop brown vibe going on. I think I’m going to gift this to someone who will enjoy this color.

Nadia: (Retail $14.00/Sale: $4.99)
Verdict: Gift
Description: Sun-kissed golden frost
I already own this polish so it’s going into the gift stash. It is a bit of a summery shade though so I do wish it matched the current season more, though I’m sure I can find someone who’ll enjoy it.

Padma: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Like
Description: Royal plum crème
I don’t have many purple polishes so I’m hoarding this one for myself. It’s a super dark purple that can come across almost black. This will be great for edgy Fall mani.

Francis: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Gift
Description: Celery green crème
This is another one I own so this is another gift polish. I like this shade but it screams out Spring. I know this is a mystery box, but I feel like either the polishes should line up with the season or the theme of the box. In this case it matches neither.

OVERALL:

Like
This box was on sale for $24.99, but I was able to use a coupon and bring that cost down to $15.00. According to my calculations and excluding the gloss that is no longer for sale, this box came out with a retail value of $104.00 and a maven/sale value of $68.58.

The only reason I gave this a “like” rating is because of the low price I paid, in conjunction with the hand kit. I would have happily paid $15 for that kit by itself, so the value worked out for me. However, if I’d paid full price I would have been disappointed.

Many folks were unhappy that the boxes didn’t feature jewel-toned polish, but Julep’s mystery boxes almost never match the “theme” of the box. Personally I’d prefer that Julep put more effort into making cohesive mystery boxes. If they aren’t going to follow a theme, they should at least feature polishes from the appropriate seasons.

Supposedly Julep has taken this feedback into consideration for their latest mystery box. This month they’ve introduced the Trick or Treat Mystery Box, which is supposed to be Halloween themed so theoretically we shouldn’t see them filled with more celery green polish.

Have you tried any of the Julep mystery boxes? If so, were you happy with the contents?

JULEP NEWS!
Julep has a fun offer for new maven subscribers. You can get a Free 4 Piece Halloween Welcome Box.

THE BACKSTORY

COUPON CODE: If you love Julep’s products, you can try out a box for free just use the code: FREECOLOR
Just remember this signs you up for a monthly subscription. If you don’t wish to receive boxes you will need to call Julep to cancel .

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.

Monthly Maven Options:
Maven Subscription: $19.99 – Monthly Maven box where you choose from the boxed sets in each category.

My Maven Subscription: $24.99 per month – Allows you to customize your box
3 Month Prepaid: $19.99/month

Maven Luxe: $39.99 per month – Gives you access to add on more expensive items
3 Month Prepaid: $34.99/month

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.

Julep will email you with the contents of your regular box selection, and at that time you can opt to keep it as is or change it. Every time you purchase a box you get the option of add-ons along with access to Julep’s “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 Julep’s website 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.

Julep also has a rewards program that gives you “jules” for taking your monthly boxes and on your birthday. You can use jules to pay for monthly boxes and some other items chosen by Julep.

Julep Maven: August 2014 “Mani-versary Box” –The Wanderlust Collection & Julep Truth or Dare Vanish Mystery Box

So if you’re a maven (or if you just read Julep’s facebook page) you’ll be aware that August 2014 is the month that shall live in Julep infamy. Julep has been experiencing more issues than the National Geographic and their ways of dealing with those problems have caused even more.

So before I get into the maven box, I’m going to do a quick review of Julep’s Truth or Dare Vanish Mystery Box. I actually had no intention of getting a mystery box. And it came about as a result of one of Julep’s (now commonplace) errors. Julep had a red marker sale in which I placed an order for a few assorted items for myself and a couple of gifts. According to my Julep account, the order is placed, my checking confirms it was charged and I have a shipping notice. Each week the dates on the shipping notice change. Almost a month goes by and I decide it’s time to call. Apparently, my order just never shipped. Despite, being placed, charged and receiving a shipping notice, someone just decided never to send it and their computer system decided to just cover that lazy dude’s tracks.

Since I was so patient in waiting for my box, by now, a few of the items I ordered are sold out. One was the Vanish drops that I had picked out as a gift. I noticed there was a Truth or Dare mystery box that included it and I was told they couldn’t split it up. So I swapped my missing polishes and Vanish drops for the mystery box. I figured I’d guarantee myself the item I wanted to gift and maybe pick up some other things to add to the package (or for myself).

So enough boring backstory, and let’s get to the mystery box:

VANISH TRUTH OR DARE MYSTERY BOX:

Vanish Cuticle Softener & Remover: (Retail $18.00/Maven Price: $14.40)

Verdict: Gift

Description: “This conditioning formula quickly removes overgrown cuticles, clearing the way for a cleaner, prettier mani (or pedi). Over time, you’ll notice a dramatic decrease in cuticle regrowth.”

I own this and really enjoy the product. Not only does it remove cuticles but helps with any nail stains you might have. This item was the reason I purchased this box.

Cleanup Tool: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)

Verdict: Gift

Description: “Designed to clean under nails and wipe polish off skin.”

I already own this so it’s being added to the nail kit I’m gifting.

Julep Color Fan: (Retail $8.00/Maven Price: $6.40)

Verdict: Gift

Description: “Take a spin on the color wheel while organizing your favorite colors! Twenty-two nail spoons in a convenient fan to swatch your collection.”

I purchase nail swatches on Amazon for much cheaper and the shape on them is a bit better than these and they are easier to move around. To keep my collection uniform, I’m going to add these to that nail gift I am putting together for my friend.

Fiore: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)

Verdict: Gift

Description: Espresso brown crème

I already own this one so I’m adding it to my gift pile.

Tatiana: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)

Verdict: Gift

Description: Golden burnt orange microglitter

Tatiana has been a staple in the last few mystery boxes, so I’m guessing Julep is trying to unload this shade. I don’t own it, but it just doesn’t work for my complexion so I’ll be gifting it to someone who can pull it off.

Valerie: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)

Verdict: Gift

Description: Teal with iridescent microglitter

I own this one and have worn it a few times. I’m a sucker for teal and this has a lovely micro-shimmer. Another one for the gift package.

Brielle: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)

Verdict: Like!

Description: Deep autumn orange crème

Finally, an item for me! I don’t have this polish or anything close to it. Oranges are tough for me, but this deep shade looks great with my vampire complexion and it’s a perfect color for fall.

OVERALL:

The cost on the Mystery box was $24.99 and it guaranteed $100 worth of products. The retail value came out to just under that at $96.00 and the maven retail was $76.80. I can’t tell you exactly what I paid since I swapped out missing items for it. I think maybe I got $2 off the regular price when swapping my products for their red marker value. I think the box is nice for $24.99, but I do think Julep should have hit the $100 they promised. If anything throw in some buffer blocks or a buffer sticks.

Mystery boxes are a great option for the folks building their collections or who aren’t mavens and want to try some new colors. For folks like me with a Julep hoard, it’s mostly going to be repeats. I got a lot of nice items for my gift pack and a polish for myself so I think I did pretty well.

Now moving on to the August Maven Box and the Wanderlust collection. Now this is where we get into the real drama. It seems that the super popular August collection became the catalyst for an epic Julep meltdown. From the start, entire boxes and products were sold out within hours of the window opening. And from there on it was all downhill.

The Wanderlust collection was filled with bright colors that really were more Indian/Sari inspired. I was super disappointed to find that once again the Modern Beauty box featured an old item. This time it was the eye palette that had been featured in all the maven boxes just a few months back. Since I had some jules I opted to use them toward Julep’s special Mani-versary box that featured Queen Anne, their anniversary polish and a few other items. Once again I opted for a choice that would allow me to gift a few things and keep a polish for myself.

“MANI-VERSARY” BOX:

Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum: (Retail $28.00/Maven Price: $22.40)

(Photo from Julep.com)

Verdict: Gift

Description: “Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum’s secret weapon to transform dry and damaged cuticles almost overnight. Plus, get visibly stronger, smoother nails with fewer ridges and less splitting and brittleness in only 2-3 weeks.

For some reason I forgot to take an individual pic of this item, so I grabbed one from the Julep site. I already own this so it’s going into the gift package. I do think it’s a bit overpriced (even with the Maven discount) so I thought this box was a great way to pick it up at a more reasonable cost.

Ta Da! Quick Dry Drops: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)

Verdict: Houston, we have a problem

Description: “these game-changing drops will leave your manicure touchably smudge-free in just a few minutes.

I love these drops and use them regularly so I grabbed this one as part of that lovely gift…except the fill line on this is super low. As you can see the bottle is sealed and the contents are well below the pink label. The issue with these drops is that the packaging allows for a lot of evaporation. But Julep’s faulty packaging doesn’t mean that I’m going to settle for a package with over a quarter of the product missing.

Cleanup Tool: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)

Verdict: Houston, we have an even bigger problem

Description: “Designed to clean under nails and wipe polish off skin.”

This item was left out of the box (although you can see a pic of it above in the mystery box). After some sleuthing on different forums it seems it was left out of nearly all the mani-versary boxes.

Queen Anne: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)

Verdict: Hit!

Description: Lilac confetti microglitter

Lilac isn’t usually my first choice but the glitter on this is lovely and the hint of gray to it makes it very wearable.

FREEBIE:

Screen Cleaner

Julep included this nifty phone screen cleaner and a note that we can get extra jules by downloading their app on our phone. I thought this was a cute, useful bonus and I will definitely be taking advantage of that app.

OVERALL:

Lucy, you got some s’plaining to do

Well, once again I sent Julep an email, waited about a week to not hear back from them and then followed up with a phonecall about my cleanup tool and Tada drops. At first the customer service lady said that that fill line was the normal one for the Tada drops, but I knew that was incorrect having received them previously and having seen others. They said they’d mail me out the missing tool and the drops.

The saddest part of all this is that those mistakes are not even close to the worst I’ve seen from Julep this month. There were folks that received empty boxes, boxes missing polishes, boxes filled with random extra products, boxes with tons of wrong items, boxes with 5 duplicates of the same polish, boxes where polishes had been replaced with random choices because the current collection was “out of stock” and my personal favorite, a box that included a chewed up pen. Some folks still haven’t gotten their boxes, others had their boxes sent to old addresses they haven’t used in some time.

In combating the shitstorm of issues, Julep customer service choice various tactics. Some folks got 1900 jules for late shipments, others were told they couldn’t get refunds when they didn’t get a box or polish and that they had to take jules instead, while others got refunds. Some got giftcards for a polish, others got sent random “replacement” polishes without any input on whether the choices were appropriate. Some were told products were sold out and more would not be made, while others were told they would be sending replacement of those same out-of-stock-never-to-be-seen-again items.

A few days ago, those of us with the mani-versary box finally got an email acknowledging that problem and saying the missing item was being sent. Today was the first time Julep made a statement referencing the insane amount of problems and what Julep is doing about them.

The retail value on this box was $74.00 and the maven value was $54.60. My only issue with this box is about the packaging problems and lack of communication from Julep. I like the items included and think the anniversary polish is lovely.

I’ve decided that everyone deserves a second chance and I’m going to give Julep the opportunity at redemption with my September box. I really do love their products and before the muddied up the Maven program with all these changes it was so much fun. I don’t mind delays or hiccups, I just want clear communication and a set policy for all customers with issues.

Are you a Julep Maven? If so, did you have any problems with your August box or was it smooth sailing?

THE BACKSTORY

COUPON CODE: If you love Julep’s products, you can try out a box for free just use the code: FREECOLOR

Just remember this signs you up for a monthly subscription. If you don’t wish to receive boxes you will need to call Julep to cancel .

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.

Monthly Maven Options:

Maven Subscription: $19.99 – Monthly Maven box where you choose from the boxed sets in each category.

My Maven Subscription: $24.99 per month – Allows you to customize your box

3 Month Prepaid: $19.99/month

Maven Luxe: $39.99 per month – Gives you access to add on more expensive items

3 Month Prepaid: $34.99/month

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.

Julep also has a rewards program that gives you “jules” for taking your monthly boxes and on your birthday. You can use jules to pay for monthly boxes and some other items chosen by Julep.

Julep Mystery Box: Naughty & Nice – December 2013

Happy New Year! 2014 is going to bring some fun, new features to this little blog, so stay tuned. I’ll also be featuring a review of the top 13 items from all of my subscription boxes of 2013, so be sure to come back for that one.

For right now, I’ve still got some late December boxes to show you. This is another of Julep’s mystery boxes entitled “Naughty and Nice.”

Julep periodically offers mystery boxes where they guarantee a special polish or two and then the rest is a big old surprise. Sometimes there are various price options for different size boxes. This time there was only one size box, priced at $24.99. If you purchased this box you were guaranteed two new polishes: Aviva and Brenda, and that you’d receive an assortment of products valued at $125+.

Let’s start with our promised polishes….

This are not currently available for individual purchase on Julep’s site, but I’m sure eventually they will show up for sale so I’ll use the standard pricing for polishes.

Aviva:(Estimated Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Descripton: Purple with silver full coverage holographic glitter
Verdict: Love!
Despite my rapidly growing polish collection I have very few purples and none that include glitter. I think this will be a lot of fun to use.

Brenda: (Estimated Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Description: Blizzard white microglitter
Verdict: Hit!
I think this will be look great layered over different shades of white polish.

Green Tea Facial Blotting Papers (Estimated Retail???/Bonus Item)
Verdict: Hit!
I don’t see this up on Julep’s site and I have received it before as an extra in one of the past Maven boxes so we’ll call this a bonus and not include it in the overall value. It’s a nice little addition that you can throw in your purse for daily touchups.

Luxe Samples (Estimated Retail???/Bonus Item)
Verdict: Hit!
Included are a few samples of the luxe serum and hand cream. I’m always happy to see samples from Julep so that I get a chance to try stuff out before I commit. The luxe serum is a liquid, so personally I’d probably use it during my nighttime skincare routine.

Timeless Lip Gloss((Retail $22.00/Maven Price: $17.60)
Verdict: Hit!
Description: Sheer nude
Unfortunately my gloss came broken, but on the bright side, it was all contained in its own box so my other items were unaffected. I have Julep’s “Charming” gloss and use it frequently, both on its own and layered over lipsticks. It’s light, not too sticky and has a nice vanilla-y scent. I know when I get my replacement product (which Julep customer service is shipping to me as we speak), I will end up using this a ton. I can’t find this product for sale right now on its own, so I’m using the individual pricing they featured previously. Julep currently has a great sale on the full set of glosses and plumper, which is what I’ve linked to above in case you’re interested.

Kajal Eye Glider & Sharpener:(Retail $22.00/Maven Price: $17.60)
Description: Two intensely pigmented colors—carbon black and brown shimmer—that glide on smoothly and blend like a dream.
Verdict: Gift
I don’t use pencil liners very much and almost never use black so this is going to my gift pile. If someone does use pencil liners its dual sides and sharpener make it a nice buy.

Rock Star Hand Cream:(Retail $20.00/Maven Price: $16.00)
Description: Anti-aging, emollient blend of shea butter, glycerin, coconut oil, and vitamin E keeps hands hydrated, even after washing.
Verdict: Love!
I’ve been wanting to try out this cream so I’m psyched to receive it. I’m adding it into my manicure kit and it will make its appearance the next time I do my nails.

Blank Canvas Mattifying Face Primer: (Retail $28.00/Maven Price: $22.40)
Description: This age-defying primer creates a smooth, even canvas for gorgeous makeup that lasts all day.
Verdict: On the Fence
Most days, I use a CC cream that has a built in primer so I’m not really in the market for a separate primer, but now that this one arrived I’ll give it a try and see if it makes all that much of a difference with my makeup.

Alaina:(Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Description: Driftwood taupe crème
Verdict: Love!
I’ve been wanting to pick this one up because I think it would look fabulous underneath some of the cool topcoats.

Joanna:(Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $2.99)
Description: Lilac frost
Verdict: Hit!
Now this a color I would never have picked up based on the pics on the Julep site. I’m not really a pastel person, particularly lavender. But this shade really turns a pretty gray and I think it will look great paired with a lot of items.

America:(Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $2.99)
Description: Sterling silver stars with shiny red and royal blue glitter
Verdict: Miss/Gift
Despite my now giant Julep collection, this was the only duplicate polish shade I received. I love this topcoat but I really don’t need another one. It will go into the gift pile for someone else who loves glitter.

Nellie: (Retail $14.00/Maven Price: $11.20)
Description: Pink fuschia crème
Verdict: Hit!
For some reason I don’t usually gravitate toward fuschia, but it’s a fun color and it will be nice to try something new. It’s a great shade come summertime.

Overall
The retail value of my items was well over $100 even using maven values and counting the samples and blotting papers as bonus items. I was able to use a coupon so I only paid $16.04 for this whole box. I got a couple items that will be gifts, a few I will get a ton of use from and a few more that are new things for me to try out. It seems like the perfect mix of a mystery box.

What do you think? Was this box more naughty or nice?

THE BACKSTORY

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:

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.

Coupon: To try out a box for free, use the code FREEBOX
(you’ll just have to pay for shipping this time). 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.

Julep Galaxy Mystery Box – September 2013

I’ve got info about Julep’s monthly maven box subscription below along with a coupon code. But first let’s get to the review of their September mystery Box. This one is galaxy themed.
There were three options offered:

Pluto Mystery Box for $19.99, with a retail value of $50.00+
or
Cosmic Mystery Box for $24.99, with a retail value of $75.00+
or
Supernova Mystery Box for $39.99, with a retail value of $129.99

The Cosmic and Supernova Boxes guaranteed the new and exclusive polish, “Estelle” described as
a “full-coverage black holographic glitter that’s out of this world”.
Julep also included giveaways of $100 gift cards each day the mystery boxes were available.

I opted for the Cosmic mystery box because I’m becoming a polish hoarder and I figured it best to avoid the largest box. According to my packing slip I received Cosmic Mystery Box Version 1.

Moisture Mask Trio: (Retail Price: $20.00, Maven Price: $16.00)
Each Trio includes three single-use treatments: Nail Moisture Mask, Hand Moisture Mask, and Foot Moisture Mask.

Verdict: Hit!
I’ve tried this set before and I loved the foot and hand masks, although I didn’t care for the nail one. They are plastic slip on masks so it’s an easy clean up. I do wish Julep would offer these in sets of each type so that you could stock up on just the one you want, rather than having to buy all three kinds.

Hand Model Set: (Retail Price: $40.00, Maven Price: $25.00)
Three piece set includes:

Glycolic Hand Scrub (1oz): This “facial for hands” packs a 10% glycolic acid punch. Whisk away dirt and oil and reveal noticeably softer and younger looking hands after just one use.
Rock Star Hand Crème (1oz): Anti-aging, emollient blend of shea butter, glycerin, coconut oil, and vitamin E keeps hands hydrated, even after washing.Oxygen Nail Treatment: Complete nail care and make-up all in one bottle. Made with a patented Hexanal formulation, nails are restructured to a stronger, thicker, and smoother condition in just one stroke. Results are nails that are structurally stronger, and less prone to breakage and splitting.

Verdict: Hit!
I own a larger size of the Glycolic Hand scrub and it’s wonderful. While I tempted to keep this set for myself, it’s packaged perfectly for a gift so I think this is going to my Christmas present stockpile.

I received eight polishes including Estelle. In order from left to right:

Nicolette: Opaque french white crème. (Retail Value $14.00; Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Hit!
I’ve been wanting to try my hand at some nail art and I don’t have a simple opaque white to use as a base. This will be perfect.

Amity: White gold metallic (Retail Value $12.50; Maven Price: $10.00; Currently, you cannot buy this color on its own, it’s only available in sets. I chose the cheapest set of two that included it and divided the price.)
Verdict: Hit!
I don’t have this color and actually don’t have too much in the silver category. Not sure I would do a whole manicure with this, but it looks like a great accent color.

Stefani: Gold flecked grey metallic. (Retail Value $14.00; Maven Price: $7.99)
Verdict: Hit!
I adore edgy polishes and love anything that resembles a gunmetal shade. Happy to add this one to the collection.

Adele: Golden reflective top coat (Retail Value $14.00; Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Hit!
I was really excited to see a topcoat included in the box and can’t wait to try this one with different polishes.

Dakota: Rose gold metallic chrome (Retail Value $14.00; Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Hit!
I probably wouldn’t have chosen this on my own, but I’m happy I got it because I think it will make a nice complement to other shades I have.

Raegan: Electric dark pink crème. (Retail Value $14.00; Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Hit!
This is a cheerful, fun shade and I don’t have any other Julep like it. I can’t wait to try it out with a bright green accent nail.

Tracy: Sparkly ocean blue sea salt (Retail Value $14.00; Maven Price: $11.20)
Verdict: Gift
I adore this polish and I think it’s a must have for any polish wardrobe. I already own it, so I’m adding it to my gift collection.

Estelle: Full-coverage black holographic glitter (Currently not available for sale, but we’ll estimate it at the regular retail and maven prices; Retail Value $14.00; Maven Price: $11.20).
I knew this one was coming and I don’t have much glitter so I was psyched to get it.

Overall:
I paid $26.74 (including tax) for this box. The retail value of this bag was $170.50 and the “maven” value (with the maven subscription discount) was $126.19.
I am thrilled with this box. I only had one duplicate and got an amazing selection of products that I can’t wait to use.

The Backstory

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.

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.

Julep Big Picnic Mystery Box

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)

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:

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.

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.

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