[Review+Swatch] Julep Maven May 2014 Bombshell Box

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Hi!♥ I haven't been taking my Julep Maven boxes, so I decided get this month's. I was drawn to the lively colors and these didn't disappoint.

Julep Maven: October 2013 Modern Beauty Box

I Bought This

Happy Friday!  Today I'm sharing with you the contents of my October Maven box!  Sorry about the washed out tube. :/  It says "Mask Noir" on it, which I'll talk about later.  There was also a packet of candy corn in here, but it was promptly gobbled up by my siblings.  I actually don't like the taste of candy corn.  Am I weird?  Haha.

I actually liked this month's selection of items in the beauty box.  Usually, there's only one product I really want to try, but this time I was excited about both products.  I adore masks and eyeliners, so this was perfect for me.

First, a closer look at the sharpener, included with the eyeliner.  You can pull both ends of the plastic cap off the sharpener, which I imagine would make it easy to clean.  The sharpener also comes with a little pick.  I haven't tried this sharpener yet, so I can't really comment on it.  Because I already have a good sharpener, I wasn't inclined to try it. ^^;  But I did try everything else in the box, so read on! :)

Kajal Eye Glider

Above is the new dual ended eyeliner from Julep.  Here is Julep's little blurb on it:

Two intensely pigmented colors—carbon black and brown shimmer—that glide on smoothly and blend like a dream. 

Features & Benefits of Kajal Eye Glider: Two colors Ideal for inner rims, tightlining, and smoky eyes. Blends like a dream—won’t drag or pull on delicate skin.

See below for swatches and comparison!

 1. Urban Decay Perversion / 2. Julep Kajal Carbon Black / 3. Julep Kajal Brown Shimmer

So the uppermost black is Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Perversion.  I believe it's one of the blackest black eyeliners out there, so I swatched it next to the Julep's Carbon Black for comparison.  I found that one swipe with Carbon Black was softer and less pigmented than Perversion, but still fairly pigmented.  The brown was a bit lacking however.  Several swipes later, Carbon Black came pretty darn close to Perversion.  The brown, on the other hand, reached about moderate pigmentation.

Formula-wise, the pencil is very soft and does not drag or pull as advertised.  I haven't worn the black on my eyes yet, but I have worn the brown.  While both the black and brown are very easy to blend, my main gripe with them is that they don't really set.  I did a rub test 5 minutes later (shown above), and as you can see, both pencils have easily smudged.  In stark comparison, UD's Perversion hasn't budged.  Granted Julep didn't make any long-wearing claims, but they did say that it would be great for tightlining and inner rims.  As the formula never really sets, this doesn't seem plausible (at least for my eyes).

So the great thing about my eyes is that they are mismatched. T__T  Sadness.  My left eye has a thick double crease, while my right eye has a thinner one that folds all the way in.  So while the brown liner wore well on my left eye (all eyeliners do), half of it smeared right off my right eye after a mere 5 minutes.  It also did not stay well on the waterline.

In the end, I would recommend this liner only if you have thick double-creased eyelids.  If you have eyelids that crease all the way in or monolids, I would stay clear.  People with oily lids may run into some trouble as well.

Mask Noir

Now the mask, which in my opinion is the highlight of this box.  Mask Noir is a "peel-off mask of gentle kaolin clay and black volcanic ash."  The features and benefits according to Julep: 

Black volcanic ash boasts anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial peptides. Kaolin Clay is as gentle as it is deep-cleaning. 

Incredibly clean, visibly brightened skin upon removal Enriched with Julep’s proprietary Power Cell Complex™, a trio of skin-boosting superstars: 

• Rosehip seed oil – a nourishing oil (and natural source of vitamins A and C) that helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and post-acne marks. 
• Contains natural fatty acids that bond moisture to skin Malvaceae Lipid Extract™ – a lipid complex that provides immediate and long-lasting hydration and works to rebuild skin structure from the inside out. 
• Green coffee bean oil – a natural anti-inflammatory that promotes cell turnover.

First off, no packaging worries with the mask.  It was completely full and there is a good amount in it.  When you squeeze it out, the mask is thick and has the consistency of, well, sludge.  However, it can be thinned out if you work with it.  Since it starts drying right away, I recommend working it onto your face in small sections.  Also, make sure to clean your hands by wiping the excess off onto a paper towel.  Then wash your hands.  It will be a lot easier to clean.

Once it's on your face, you'll feel it tighten as it dries.  There is a slight fragrance to it, but it just smells like clay.  I think I left mine on for about 30 minutes before taking it off.  This mask is super easy to peel off.  Even the thinner sections will peel right off in one piece.  Whatever's left is easily washed off with warm water, so you don't have to worry about making a mess.

The results for me were pretty good.  My skin felt softer and smoother.  Not necessarily more hydrated, but definitely not dry.  Also, this may be a bit gross, but I was touching my nose after washing my face, and felt a few tiny beads come off it.  Looking at it closer, I realized that the mask had pulled free some of the gunk in my pores.  I know, gross, but it made me like the mask even more.  However, it doesn't do much for blackheads.

Overall, I would totally recommend this!  Especially if you love masks like me.  The only downside is that it is a bit pricey for the amount you're getting.  If you use this over your entire face, you may not get too many uses out of it.  I think mine will last me 1 or 2 months, since I only use it on my T-zone.

Phew, so much writing in this post.  If you read all of it, props to you! :D

Mavens, did you get your October box?  If you did, let me know what your favorite item from your box was!  Also, if you're not a Maven but want to be one, you can get your first box free through my referral link!  Sign up here. :)

♥ Liz

Julep Maven Box: June 2013 Modern Beauty

Hey guys!  I got my June Maven box in the mail today, so here it is.  I got Modern Beauty this month (two full size beauty products) since I wasn't too interested in the polish.  I was actually going to skip, but I was curious about their new DD creme and decided to try out their concealer as well.  There was also some saltwater taffy as a treat (yum). :)

Julep Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum + Invisible Dry Shampoo Review

Hey all!  One of my readers requested a review of the Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum I got in my April Maven box, so here it is. :)  I've only used these for a few days, so please note that this is more like a first impressions review.

Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum

First off, I just want to say that I love the packaging for both the box and the cuticle pen!

I love this sleek design, but it is a little bulky.  Compared to their previous rollerball cuticle oil, this one is roughly twice the length.

When you open the cap, you'll see that the applicator is a brush.  The other end twists to release the oil into the brush.  I had to twist mine like crazy at first to get the product to come out.  Once it starts coming out though, you only need to twist it once or twice.  The oil itself has no fragrance and the brush does a good job of evenly applying the oil to your cuticles.  Actually, I don't even think it's an oil, so I probably shouldn't call it that.  It's really a serum like it says, so it dries quickly once applied.  You don't have to rub it in, and it doesn't make your cuticles oily.

At this point, I can't really tell you how effective or moisturizing this is.  It does seem to temporarily take care of dryness if you need to quickly mask it.  However, I will need to test it longer for long term results.


Invisible Dry Shampoo

I tried this for the first time yesterday and thought it was okay.  I've never used dry shampoo before, so I can't really give you any comparisons.  However, based on my experience, I would say that the Invisible Dry Shampoo is satisfactory.  It doesn't have any added fragrance to it, so it basically smells something like hair spray.  It doesn't smell bad and it's not overpowering.  When sprayed to my roots as directed, I noticed that it did a good job of absorbing the oil.  In terms of volume, it didn't add much, but I also have really long hair.  After I was done, I didn't notice any white residue as long as I sprayed it close to my roots.  For reference, I have black hair.  I did see some white residue when I accidentally sprayed some directly on my hair.  But for the most part, it was invisible when used correctly.


Hope you find this product review helpful!  Have you tried any of these?  Let me know in the comments! :)

Liz

Nail Mail: Julep Maven April 2013 + Nfu Oh Haul

Hey all!  I got my Julep Maven box and some Nfu Ohs in the mail today!  Up first is my Maven box: Modern Beauty.  I liked the colors this month, but opted for the all product box instead.

The two products I got in my box are Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum and Invisible Dry Shampoo.  I'm excited to try out both!  I love their other cuticle oil, so I have good feelings about this one.

And now the Nfu Ohs!

This past Monday, I got an email from FabulouStreet that Nfu Oh will be discontinuing their Opal Glitter Series line (aka the flakies).  You can read more about it here, but a new series will replace these colors.  As of yet, we don't know if Nfu Oh will keep any of the current colors from this line.  When I read this, I kind of went crazy...

 But I managed to calm myself down and only buy the ones I really wanted. ^^

The ones I got are (from left to right): 51, 52, and 56.  I've been eying these for forever, so I'm glad they're finally mine.  So sad Nfu Oh is discontinuing these.  Hopefully the new line will be something just as awesome. ^^

You can still grab Nfu Oh flakies at FabulouStreet for $11.50.  I'm not sure what's left, but I think they still have a lot of the polishes.  You can check out what they have and will restock one last time (here).

Hope you enjoyed this post! :)


Liz

Unboxing Julep Maven IT GIRL (March 2013)

Hey all!  I was super excited to see my Maven box in the mail today.  I skipped last month, so it felt like I hadn't gotten one in a long time.  Isn't this box so cute?  I'm a sucker for spring colors, so I love both the packaging and the pretty cards.  This month I got It Girl since I wasn't into the new hand cream.

Julep Jodie

Hi guys!  Today I have a quick swatch of one of my older Julep polishes.  I think Jodie came in my very first Julep Maven box, but I don't really remember.  On Julep, it's described as a "rosy mauve with gold shimmer."  The shimmer is very fine and more subtle than I wish it was.  I think it looks pretty in bottle, but on the nail it only adds some extra shine.  Overall, the polish was easy to apply and became opaque in two coats.  I think this is a discontinued color, since it's out of stock on Julep.  It's an okay color, but I don't think it will be missed.

What do you think?


Liz

Julep Nora

Hi all!  Today I have the other suede matte from my November Julep Maven box.  Nora is a suede purple with silver metallic shimmer.  It can look a bit dirty and muddy in some lightings, so I prefer it glossy more than matte.  The formula was the same easy two coat formula that Julep Hailee had.  I would recommend applying this in medium coats and working quickly if you're finding application tricky.  However, it's the easiest matte formula I've come across so far.

Isn't it prettier with top coat?

If you're interested in joining Julep Maven, you can do so by signing up via my affiliate link.  Be sure to use code PENNY at checkout to get your first box for only penny. ^^

What do you think of Nora?  Do you like it matte or with top coat?


Liz

Julep Hailee

Julep recently came out with some matte suede finishes in their November Maven box.  I've always admired the OPI suede shades, so I was excited to see these.  I got It Girl for this month, which came with two suede mattes.  Hailee is one of them and is a smoky khaki with metallic silver shimmer.  It has a great formula, especially for a matte shade.  I'm wearing two coats here without top coat.

Here's Hailee with top coat.  I like how it looks both ways.

What do you think of Hailee?  Are you a fan of suede finishes?


Liz

Julep Maven Unboxing: September 2012

I got my Maven box in the mail today!  It came really early this time.  I kind of unwrapped this mindlessly while watching tv, so all of the wrappings are undone in my pics.  The polishes came in a cute polka dot tissue bag. :)  Okay, so let's see what I got!

First off, there were two info cards and a cute magnet.  This month's box carried Julep + Trina Turk collaboration shades.  The colors were inspired by Trina Turk's Modernist Maverick Collection; hence, the fashion design theme.

The products I received were two nail polishes and a mascara.  The two polishes are Gunta (royal blue creme) and Popova (kelly green creme).  I think these colors are gorgeous, especially since I love blues and greens.  They did, however, remind me of two shades from China Glaze's Safari collection.  I quickly went through my stash for a bottle comparison and here's what I found out.  As far as I can tell, Popova is more green than CG Exotic Encounters, while Gunta leans more navy than CG Man Hunt.  So I compared Gunta to CG First Mate and they look almost the same.  Of course, I'm don't know how they will compare on the nail, but in the bottle they were quite similar.

Here's the mascara in Espresso Brown.  On the packaging, it says: "Instant glam for any look plus lash growth enhancement ingredients as your secret weapon.  Micro fibers lengthen, strengthen, and plump to boost the luster of every lash.  Super-fine applicator smoothly separates and coats with emollients, antioxidants, and conditioners to lock in moisture and protect from breakage."  Whew, that's a lot.  Hopefully it lives up to all that.  I am excited about trying this, but I do wish that the mascaras kind of followed the Trina Turk theme as well.  I wouldn't mind some blue mascara!  But I guess not everyone would like that. :P

If you're interested in becoming a Maven, you can use my link to sign up at Julep Maven*.  Please note that your first box will be an introductory box.  I believe you can use code PENNY to get your first box for only a penny. :)

So what are your thoughts?  Have you received your Maven box yet?  Which product are you looking forward to the most? 


Liz

Links followed by an * are affiliate links.

Julep Maven August 2012 Unboxing & Piper Swatches

 My August Julep Maven box came yesterday, right on the dot. :)  It came in a cute pink box!

Paper Crane Nail Art

I've always loved paper cranes.  Folding them out of squares of pretty paper is childhood memory, and I love how whimsical they look.  Naturally, I had to attempt a paper crane mani.  How could I not?  Don't worry, I didn't try to draw a 1,000 of them. ;)

First I started out with gradient using Julep Sasha and Milani Beach Front.  I also brushed on Skinfood Pedicure Sparkle in 01 Sparkle Gold between Sasha and Beach Front.  I think this provided a nice transition, since I painted the gradient on rather than using a sponge.  I finished off the gradient by dabbing on some Milani Jewel Fx Gold.

On my thumb, I outlined a simplified image of a paper crane in white.  Then I went over the outlines in black and colored the crane white.

What do you think?  Let me know in the comments! :)


Liz

Julep Maven August Boxes

Mavens, which box are you getting this month?  I'm usually Boho, and I'll probably stay with it.  I'm kind of on the edge with month's boxes.  I'm not a big metallics fan and none of the colors besides Piper really call out to me.  (I'm a sucker for mints).

You can see swatches of these colors on Julep's blog.

If you're not a Maven and would like to join, you can use my link to visit Julep Maven*.  Please note that your first box will be the introductory box.  I believe you can use code PENNY to get your first box for only a penny. :)


Liz

Links followed by an * are affiliate links.

July Julep Maven Boxes (Free polish this month!)

Here are the previews for this month!  P.S. Julep Maven* is giving away a free polish this month! So excited. :)  (Please note: If you join this month, you won't get this box.  You'll get the intro box.)

How cute are the free polishes?  You get either America the Beautiful or O'Canada depending on where you reside.  I love both of them!

What do you think of the boxes this month?  I usually get Boho Glam, but I'm thinking of getting Bombshell.  I need to see swatches!  Hopefully Julep will put them up on their blog soon.  Which one are you getting?  Let me know in the comments! :)

**update: Julep's July swatches can be found here.


Liz

Links marked with * are affiliate links.