Julep Mystery Box | Naughty or Nice December 2014

I will start of by saying that I am sorry about the state of these photos.  I took them in a rush on Christmas because I wanted to give about half of the box away to my 15 year old cousin.  She actually asked me if I had heard of Julep because she loved their polish.  So, I let her have three of the polishes from this box, and quite a haul from my dupe box!  All for a good cause.

Julep Memorial Day Mystery Boxes 1 and 10

 Generally Julep's Mystery Boxes are a total and complete waste of money.  Generally they use the boxes to push out old, unwanted and quite frankly ugly polishes.  I haven't taken a Mystery Box since the end of last summer.  However, I was drawn to ordering a few of these boxes because they came at various price points and gave hints of what would be inside.  

Mystery Box #1 cost $40 and the "spoiler" items were the mint green make-up bag (not that I need another bag... but mint <3) and Taryn, a teal glitter that was previously a limited edition from the St. Patricks Day mystery boxes.  The advertised value of this box was $143.  My mom and I decided to order boxes 1 and 10 to share.

The box came with:

All prices reflect the Maven pricing.

Taryn, Lizanne, Diane $11.20 each $33.60

Fredom Polymer Top Coat $14.40

Rockstar Hand Cream $16

Glycolic Hand Scrub $18.40

Moisture Mask Trio $16

Mint Green Bag (no available on its own) $10~

I would personally value this around $5, but Julep likes to inflate their prices.

Total: $98.40 (Maven), Not quite the value they claim, however like I said I am sure they have inflated the value of the bag.

Over all I am thrilled with this box.  Sure, nothing off my wish list was in here, but I love the Mask Trio and the hand scrub.  My Grandma loves Rock Star.  I'd say not tooooooo bad.  The only dud for me is Diane.  I mean who actually would wear a dark forest green?  The only use I can think of for it is for nail art.  Maybe leaves on some floral design.  I would say its too ugly to regift.

My Mom was the lucky winner of the Moisture Mask Trio (She loves paper face masks, and I have two more sets on the way from the Red Marker sale.  More on that later!)  I got the nail polishes, the bag, and the scrub. 

I gave my Grandma a mini of the Rockstar Hand Cream a few weeks ago (It came in the Mothers Day Mini gift set) because she said she loved how it smelled.  Well, when Mom, Grandma and I were opening this I mentioned it was the same as the one I gave her. I offered it to Grandma an she did the typical "Well if nobody else wants it...".  She also mentioned being out of a top coat.  I suggested she take Freedom.  Looking forward to seeing what she thinks of it! 

Diane, Taryn, and Lizanne

I love the golden glitter hidden in with the teal.  Lizanne is much prettier than expected with a pretty, pretty shimmer to it.

Masks!  

The wonderful hand scrub.  Smells wonderful, works great!  I love how soft it leaves my hands.

Teheheheh my Mint Green Bag.  The little leather accents are cute.  

Taryn is swatched in the middle  Reasonably full coverage, loaded with tiny bits of glitter.  I really like it!  This would be great for glitter tips or stripes.

For fun from Left to Right:

Golden Glitter: OPI, from the Wizard of Oz Collection

Purple Glitter: Julep's Clio

Silver: GOSH Holo

Purple: ORLY from a past Christmas set.

Top to Bottom:

Donna - Mystery Box 10 

Lizanne

Diane

Donna was a real surprise for me.  Not a colour I would order, but such a pretty Fall colour.  

Lizanne is a fun colour.  I think it will be my next pedi colour!

I still can't see much to love about Diane.

And Mystery Box 10!

This "box" came in an organza bag on top of the giant pink box that Box 1 came in, both packed up in a giant, giant brown box.  I swear by the size of it, my Dad must have thought that my Mom and I had a problem! 

Box 10 was hinted to have Harriet.  Donna and an emery board were the surprise!  Valued at $33 here is the break down:

Donna $11.20

Harriet $11.20

Emery board $4

Maven value: $26.40

As previously seen, here is Donna!

And Harriet!  I ordered this box for Harriet!  However my Grandma said she thought the colour was pretty, so I gave it to her.  I will just order another one.

The Mask Trio is from Box 1, but here is the emery board which went to my Mom!

Over all, my Mom, Grandma and I were all very satisfied with these boxes.  The only dud was Diane.  We have decided that we will order another one in about six months.  Still waiting on Box 2 which my boyfriend ordered me.  Can't wait for the blush and brush!

On a note unrelated to the contents of the boxes, it took So.  Long.  to show up.  Just over 3 weeks! I am pretty fed up with Julep's shipping lately.  Its insane.  I still haven't seen last month's Maven box!  I called and they gave me some extra Jules.  They need to work on their shipping to Canada. 

Did you order a Memorial Day Mystery Box?  What did you think of it?

Julep Memorial Day Mystery Box

Ah, the Mystery Box.  I ordered my very first Mystery Box from Julep last August.  It was the "Big Picnic Mystery Box which retailed for $39.99 and included the mini lip stick trio and a handful of polishes that I was indifferent to.  I really enjoyed Evie (the hot pink with gold shimmer) and Dianna (teal).  I know I gave Vanessa (glitter top coat) to my little cousin, and the rest ended up in my collection or in my mom's.  Wile the retail value of the goods was $126, the "Maven" price was $100.  Pretty decent value for $40, but I did not really love $40 worth of product.

Big Picnic Mystery Box

Fast forward to today.  Mystery boxes have come and gone and I have always resisted the temptation.  I almost went in for the St. Patrick's Day box, but I resisted.  I have really enjoyed my monthly boxes, and have taken advantage of the odd deal here and there.

Something about these mystery boxes caught my eye.  There are ten different boxes, priced at $10, $15, $25, and $40.  Each box features an item or two that will be included in the box.  This means that we get a peek at what is inside, while leaving something to the imagination.

Feeling a bit jaded that I missed out on the pretty pink gift with purchase a week or two ago, I was instantly drawn to box #1, with the minty green bag.  I was also interested in #4 (cuticle remover) and #10 (Harriet).  I called up my mom, and she agreed to split a box with me. Yay!

I should also point out that I was interested in #2, but I need another blush and make-up brush like I need a hole in the foot.  No seriously, I will do a post about my favourite blushes, or my whole blush collection.  I'm pretty proud of me :D

We decided on #1 (She's not interested in the minty green bag so its mine!), and then I added on #10 for myself. I had been thinking of ordering Harriet on and off for a bit, so I figured why not!

Box #1 Hint: Tips in Top Shape

Taryn is included in Box #1

Box #1 has a $143 value.  I'm not sure what they value the mint bag at, but I hope they don't screw us and make it high.  Given the tip, and that a glitter polish is included, my bet is that "The Party's Over Glitter Nail Polish Removal System" will be included ($28).  That would be fun to try!  I will be keeping my fingers crossed for the Moisture Mask Trio, and some make up brushes.  I don't know what use I will have for Taryn, so if it ships on time it might find its way into my cousin's birthday gift!

Box #10 Hint: File Under Guava-licious

I also decided to add on Box #10.  I want to give Harriet a go, after skipping the March Box, and figured I was spending $40, so what is another $10!  This box is valued at $33.  That leaves $19 in mystery...my bet is on some sort of nail or foot file, and a lip gloss.  Maybe Darring?  I actually like their lip glosses, so that could be nice!

Harriet swatch from Julep.  Perfect pedicure colour!

What I find interesting is that none of their boxes will have any of the same items.  This means I won't be getting: the sparkly clutch, big blush brush, peach blush, no beach tonic (which I really don't want), cuticle softener, cuticle pushing tool, face oil or sponge, pedi cream, toe separators, Oxygen, or Roz, Missy, Sheila, or Taylor.

I am thankful that the beach tonic will not make its way to my box.  I would love to give the blush brush a try, maybe if it is a decent price in the secret store one day.

OH AND THE BEST PART.  Most Julep codes don't work on these boxes.  But if you add the Bare Face Oil to your cart, plus $25+ of product, use the code "OILPERK" and the oil will be free.  I added that to my order since its free, and free is good.

Very excited to see what comes my way.  What about you?  Did you order a box?