Hi Everyone!
When I embarked on my nail escapades in July of 2011, I kept seeing the words "Julep Maven" sprinkled all over the web and of course it peaked my interest, but at $19.99 a month, it seemed a bit excessive and totally unnecessary seeing as how if I wanted nail polishes, I could easily get them at a much cheaper price right in my neighborhood. The promise of being a Julep Maven is that I'll be among the first to experience the newest colour trends of the season and that each month's box will be personalized to suit my tastes. Being a maven also means 20% off anything in the Maven Boutique as well as $40+ worth of product in each box. I finally caved this month when I learned of the Julep Maven Box for one penny promo by typing in "COLOR 2012" at checkout. I couldn't believe it when I saw that my credit card charged for exactly $0.01 shipping included!
After taking a little quiz, I was found to be "Classic with a Twist", but looking back I think I should try to be "It' Girl" which just gives you a 3 or 4 polishes instead of a hair product. I received a creme grey polish in "Meryl" and a sparkly gold polish in "Oscar" in honour of the Oscars this month, hence the fun confetti colours. I also received a hair topcoat which can be used on dry hair after straightening or as a thermal protector on damp hair which is something I use all the time, so it's not like this is a product that will go to waste. I did get a preview of what I was going to get so that if I didn't like my box, I could have gone back and redone it, but I wasn't thinking!
Am I going to keep this subscription? I don't know...with my two yearly subs to Glymm and Loose Button, the Topbox and now Glossybox, I just have a lot of boxes! What's nice about Julep is that there is a "skip a month" option, but I just don't know if I can keep skipping for months at a time. To cancel, I do have to call them which I HATE doing and was what made me hesitate to sign up at all. I did enjoy what I received in my Maven box, the hair topcoat was nice and light and gave my hair a nice sheen. I liked the nail polishes, I found the formulas to be thick and creamy and in shades I'd wear. Unfortunately, I already have a grey creme polish so Meryl is a dupe for me, but Oscar is a new addition that I will wear on Oscar night :-)
So, I guess for now, the Julep Maven box is a maybe for me, but my hesitation is mainly due to price. Anyone else feel this way?
Helloooo!
So, this is Crunchy Frog! First of all, what an incredibly appropriate name for such a cool-looking nail polish! What I love about this polish (and I suspect a lot of the Nerd Lacquers) is that there isn't another nail polish like it! Dupes are not a possibility and if there are, Amanda has done it first! What I've got on is just 2 coats and was super easy to apply with the glittery goodness being deposited in just the right amounts. This is a great polish that everyone should grab!
Hello beauty box lovers!
So, at least we have it, the long awaited Glossybox! I've been eyeing this company ever since I saw what Glossybox UK was giving out to their clients and when I saw that they actually were an international subscription sample company from Germany, I immediately signed up for updates on when Glossybox would be coming to Canada. Now, my Glossybox cherry has been popped!
I know there has been some disappointment between these "press boxes" and us regulars and I do think there really shouldn't have been such a difference because I think all of us were expecting an Essie nail polish or something equivalent. Anyway, I was lucky enough to receive the Essie nail polish even though I am the farthest thing from "press"!
What I REALLY loved which everyone has commented on is the packaging! The box is a pale pink and really solid! The cardboard is super thick and definitely something I could use for storage (yay nail polishes!). Glossybox even included labels so now I can sort my glitter polishes from my creams! I can't wait to get more Glossyboxes! In addition to the labels was a welcome card and a special discount code for Beauty So Clean cosmetic wipes.
And here it is!
In this month's box, I received:
Ahava Mineral Body Cream (full size 250mL for $28)
Elizabeth Grant Skin Care Moisturizing Stick (full size 5g for $12)
Essie nail polish in Neo Whimsical (full size 13.8mL for $9.99)
Oscar de le Renta "Live in Love" Perfume (full size 30mL for $62)
Elizabeth Arden Prevage Day Anti-Aging Restorative Cream (full size 50mL for $160)
*BONUS* Beauty So Clean Sanitizing Wipes and Mist (full size 48 wipes for $12.50 and 125mL for $15.99)
I'm really quite pleased with my Glossybox and I think I still would have been even if I hadn't gotten the nail polish because God knows that I don't need more at my current count of 130+ bottles! Thankfully, it is in a colour that I don't own so it's not a dupe for me. Getting the Ahava body cream was sort of a nice way to complement the Ahava hand cream those of us with Glymm boxes received in December's Glymm box. I do love lip balm so the Elizabeth Grant moisturizing stick will be a new obsession for me I'm sure. The lip balm is flesh-coloured, but goes on clear and gives your lips a silky smoothness. I LOVE mini perfume bottles, but this scent as nice as it is, definitely smells like an older person's scent...I think I'll stick with Prada Candy for now. I'm turning 29 this year, so anti-aging products are always welcome! I'll gladly use my Elizabeth Arden cream! And as for the sanitizing wipes, I actually do have a couple of samples already, but have only used one. I don't know if this is something I would ever buy, but I guess they're nice to have around just in case. I don't think cosmetic wipes are really that necessary unless they are testers or samples...sorry Beauty So Clean...
Ahava - 40mL = $4.48
Elizabeth Grant - 3.5g = $8.40
Essie - full size = $9.99
Oscar de la Renta - 4mL = $8.27
Elizabeth Arden - 7mL = $22.40
Beauty So Clean - 4 wipes = $1.04 and 8mL = $1.02
Total Value of Glossybox = $55.60
I totally think I lucked out with the coveted Essie nail polish or maybe it's because I signed up within hours of Glossybox announcing their presence Canada, I have no idea, but thanks Glossybox and I am looking forward to March!
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