Julep Maven - Introductory Box Review

Julep Maven is a subscription beauty-box program featuring nail polish/polish supplies that I recently discovered.  Their polishes are "4-free” and do not contain formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, or DBP (a plasticizer that's used in adhesives and printing inks).  (Who wants to put unhealthy stuff on your hands/body when you can avoid it?).

For only $19.99/mo (shipping is free), Julep Maven sends you $40 worth of product.  I just received my Introductory Box (for which I paid only $ .01 for by using the promo code "color2012").  This is my review of my Intro Box.  You can check the Julep Maven website out by clicking on the following link:   http://www.julep.com/?r=23718117.

Here's what my intro box looked like:

  

The way the program works is that you take a "Julep Maven Style Quiz".  Based on the results of your Quiz, Julep Maven (JM) selects products every month to best complement your unique style profile.  The results of my Style Quiz determined I was "Classic, with a Twist", which I would say is accurate.  If you don't agree with the results of your Quiz, you are able to select a different "style" and receive selections from the alternative style instead.  I LOVE this aspect of JM!  And, the site allows you to select which style you would like to receive for your upcoming monthly shipment too (so basically, you get to pick the color of polishes you will receive).  LOVE!!

Here's the Description of the Program and Style Cards that came in my box:

Now onto what you really want to see - the products!!

The first thing that got my attention (and was VERY important to me) is that everything was SEALED!! The polishes were enclosed in plastic tear-off coverings and the Pedi Creme was sealed within as well.  (I'm not trying to catch any nasty funk from a product that has been opened/used by someone else).  All of these items were sealed up tight!

I received 2 polish colors in my box - "Kate" (the white polish) and "Rose" (the watermelon red polish).  I also received a 2 fl oz tube of "The Best Pedi Creme Ever" (I'll be the judge of that),  an 80% post-consumer recycled tote bag (environmentally friendly - LOVE IT!!), and the Welcome and Style Cards (shown above).  All-in-all, a FANTASTIC deal for only 1 penny!!  However, that's not what's going to get my regular $19.99/mo in future months.

"Kate" - If only I had seen some blog photos before I selected a choice that had this color in it.  I figured it would be a light, iridescent white color that would give a little bit of sheen to my nails, but not much else.  Boy was I wrong!  The directions on the JM bottles say "Apply 2 coats nail color over base coat, follow with top coat for durability and shine".  I couldn't find my clear, base coat polish, so I went right for the two coats of polish.  Here's how it looked (please excuse my pitiful polish job.  I did this early this morning and was still half asleep):

I like the iridescent shimmer of the polish.  However, the color reminded me of a marshmallow or white out.  It was really bold in person and just wasn't what I was looking for.  It went on really streaky as well.  In fairness to JM though, the bottle did say to apply 2 coats!  OK, so not really a fan of "Kate";  onto "Rose"....

"Rose" went on really smoothly!  The color is a gorgeous, watermelon red color.  LOVE IT!!  In fact, I actually took off my favorite gold polish (see 8/28/12 blog entry) and put this on to wear today.  (I am in the heart of Buckeye country after all and there's a football game on today) :).  Even without the top coat, it still has a lovely, shiny finish.  This is definitely a polish I will wear a lot in the future and would recommend to everyone!

Last, but not least - "The Best Pedi Creme Ever".....

First of all, I like the size - 2 fluid oz.  It's small enough to throw in my purse or my make-up bag, yet contains enough product for me to adequately sample it to see if this is something I want to buy in the future.  Second, the smell is nice - very peppermint-y.  The bottle says:  "Exfoliate with AHA's (not sure what those are).  Hydrate with shea butter and coconut oil (I like those items).  Nourish with essential oils and vitamin E".

The texture is nice - not watery, but not too heavy either.  It feels a bit greasy when first applied (which I've found is common with shea butter), but absorbs nicely.  I applied it all over my feet and after about an hour, my feet feel softer, including my heels.  However, I don't think I'd say this is "The Best Pedi Creme Ever" as the product name states (but then again, I've only ever tried 3 or 4, so my frame of reference is still expanding).  The bottle says to "expect noticeable results in just 1 to 2 uses".  My feet do feel softer, so that claim is accurate.  This is definitely a product I'll continue using to see exactly how noticeable/great those changes are.  

My overall impression of Julep Maven - so far, I like it.  The intro kit was really nice (retail value $50 - $22 for the Pedi creme and $14 each for the polishes), especially for 1 penny!!  (You can't beat that)!!  I like the recycled tote bag, Welcome and Intro cards, and the Pedi Creme.  Not so much a fan of the "Kate" polish due to the streaky application (not sure if the iridescent finish had something to do with that) and the bold, white color, but I'm excited to see what future shipments hold - especially since I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the watermelon red "Rose" polish!!  I will definitely continue this program (at least for another month or two to get a real feel for it/the JM products). 

Product Junkie in the City and Kitty approved!!

Hope this review helps!

Best Foundation for Combination Skin - Mary Kay TimeWise Matte-Wear Liquid Foundation

I feel like I have tried every type of foundation out there - the powders, the liquids, the mineral kind, and the spray-on ones as well.  So far, my favorite (and current choice) is Mary Kay's TimeWise Matte-Wear Liquid Foundation. (I wear color Beige 4).

This foundation comes in a 1 fluid ounce tube that retails for $20.00 thru the Mary Kay website or thru your local Mary Kay representative.  Yes, it's pricier than the drug-store brands, but for my skin type (combination), I've found this to be the longest-lasting foundation.  

See my "before" photo above where I have no make-up on.  (Please disregard the wonky right eye.  I didn't realize I had one screwed up eye until I took this photo.  This blog may have saved me.  Mental note - see how much it would cost to get this fixed.  I'm sure it's more than I can afford on a Social Worker's salary, but it's worth a shot!).  

Here's me with the foundation on.  Still have the wonky eye, but at least my complexion looks smoother.  This foundation is great with those of us who have red undertones and freckles (that show up from sun exposure).  It goes on smooth and doesn't streak.  The bottle touts "buildable coverage", but I find one coat does the trick.  It also claims it's "suitable for sensitive skin", which I have.  I can attest this foundation does NOT irritate my skin.  It's also lightweight enough that I don't "feel" it on my skin throughout the day.  I hate when I feel the heaviness of foundation makes you feel like you're wearing a mask!  I definitely don't feel that way with this product.

This last photo is me 11 hours later.  I did not put any powder on during the day so you could see how long/well this foundation lasts.  My face does show signs of oil (and my hair, well, that's another story).  However, overall, the coverage is still there.  

So, to recap:

The pros - long-wearing, lightweight, great coverage, perfect for sensitive skin, and my Mary Kay rep delivers it right to my house (though some may see this as a con since you can't hop on over to the mall or drug store and buy it).

The cons - price (it is a bit more expensive, but not over the top)

On a scale from 1-5 (with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best), I give it a solid 4.5.  I'm still seeking the perfect unicorn of foundations that covers well and can absorb the amount of oil my face puts out in a day, but so far, this is the best I've come across.  I would definitely recommend this product to other ladies with skin like mine!

Best Nail Polish of the Summer - L'Oreal Paris "Because You're Worth It" #580

Here it is....  My favorite nail polish of the summer - L'Oreal Paris' "Because You're Worth It" - Color # 580.

I stumbled across this little beauty at Walmart.  It can be found at your local drug store, grocery, online, etc.  The best part - it was only $5!!!!!  I had never purchased L'Oreal Nail Polish before, but found it to go on very smoothly (no streaks).  It dries pretty quickly too, which was an added bonus.

Here it is with one application:       

                       

And with 2 applications (this is how I normally wear it):

This polish looks great on most skin colors and can be worn year-round.  I've worn it all summer and am excited to wear it for the winter Holidays as well!

What's my FAVORITE nail polish find this summer? Find out tonight....

My first post - my favorite nail polish find this summer.  And guess what - it's inexpensive...