Julep Maven February 2014: The Dramatic Collection

This month's maven boxes include bold colours, shimmers and glitters, and a new finish called "Stardust".  My interest was piqued when I found out the monthly beauty product was a cream shadow.  For those of you who haven't heard, Julep had some PR issues in how they communicated some changes to their Maven program.  Existing Mavens (like me!) are "grandmothered" in. In other words we get to keep our skip option.  However new Mavens can only earn 1 skip every 6 months.  This was poorly communicated in the form of a "Note from Jane" on their website.  No email notice.  Nothing.  Just a post on their blog.  They claim is makes things more simple, though that is a bit of a stretch.  I understand that one can abuse the free shipping offer by constantly skipping the box, while remaining a Maven.  I think they (or... well Mavens) would be better off to say if you skip your box 3 months in a row you lose Maven/free shipping status.  Maybe I will email that to them...

This month I ordered "Classic With a Twist" and then added on the Stardust polish.  Julep also included "Love" as an additional free polish for Mavens who took this box.  Probably to help smooth over their PR disaster.

I must admit, when I first saw "Love" (far left) online I wasn't too excited.  But its growing on me.  After I put it on, I was thrilled, and oddly enough my boyfriend loved it too.

From Left to Right:

Love - Gold, fuchsia and pearl microglitter (Jane's Gift)

Greta - Loganberry multidimensional microglitter (what on earth is that?!?) (Classic With a Twist)

Cameron - Silver lilac stardust (matte glitter) (Boho Glam add on)

Octavia-Smokey indigo crème (Classic With a Twist)

I like Octavia.  It is a pretty, classy colour, but I found it a bit streaky to apply.

I LOVE Cameron.  I could just wear it forever.  With one coat it is fully opaque, and my nail became a glitter bomb.  I tried it out as an accent, and I liked it.  I would love to wear it full out to a fancy event.

I gave Cameron and Octavia a try.

And then I had tea.  It was a good day.

I'm not as thrilled with Greta.  It is a pretty shimmery pink, that's about it.  Nothing special, except for its absurd description. I didn't wear her outside.  And none for you Greta-Co-Co.  Mean Girls references are always valid.  Also I looked up what a loganberry is- it is a raspberry-blackberry combo that looks like an elongated raspberry.

I have been wearing Love for the last two days and I don't have any plans to take this gem off.  So that should give you an idea about how I feel.

To show you how much I love Love, I have been typing this post with it on.  So much pretty.  I love the gold sheen and pink flecks and the nude shimmer.  So much to love about Love.

I love, love, LOVED getting to select my cream eyeshadow colour, and ended up with Warm Fig.  Dusty Taupe is my go to eyeshadow colour so I wanted to reach outside of the box.  And I am so glad I did.

 The product is smaller than expected, maybe the size of a loonie?  But a little goes a long way with this baby so I don't think it will get finished any time soon.

Here is Warm Fig in various states of blending.  You really only need the tiniest of bits of this product.  When I first applied it I was shocked.  I looked like I had a black eye.  So I began to blend and blend and blend and put some "Kitten" by Stila (champagne shimmer) on top.  Here are the results!

I used "Warm Fig" to contour, and "Kitten" by Stila everywhere else.  I used the still liquid pen liner in dark brown and the Marc Jacobs mascara.  "Warm Fig" has a certain Naked 3 quality about it.  I like it!

Over all I am much happier with this box than I thought I would be.  The colours look lovely on my nails, and the cream shadow is so pretty.  I wasn't excited about Greta when I selected Classic With a Twist, and I still don't love it.  I may end up giving it to a friend who said she thought it was pretty.  Greta at least deserves to find a nice home.

I can't wait to see what they have next month!  Right now they have some mystery boxes, but I think I will have to abstain.  They also threw in a "buy one get one free" coupon code this month for nail polish which was a nice touch.

On top of that, because this was my 3rd month in a row taking my box I got a code for a free polish of my choice.  The lucky winner was Clio, which is pink, lilac and silver glitter which would look great on top of another polish.  So much free Julep :)

Boho Glam or Classic With a Twist? Selecting my November Julep Box!

Ever since becoming a Julep Maven I have a new found excitement for the 20th of every month.  That's right!  Time to select my box!

This month's theme is "Right at Home" which immediately conjured up images of Glade scented air freshener, Bath and BodyWorks candles, and Christmas.

With the spoiler, I knew I wanted my lip gloss to be "Charming" (the nice mauve one).  Alas, with each lip gloss assigned to a box (5 lip glosses, 5 boxes, well played) that meant carefully factoring in the two nail polish colours, and the lip gloss.

Decision time!

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Charming comes with the "Boho Glam" box.  I tend to sit right on the "Classic With a Twist" and the "Boho Glam" line, leaning a bit more towards "Classic With a Twist".  In other words, if I don't like the offerings for "Classic With a Twist" I almost always go for "Boho Glam" (except for last month when I just disliked all of the colours and opted for "Modern Beauty").  I love that Julep lets you PICK your box every month rather than just assigning you the profile.  Really, I just one Julep.

But...I just didn't love either of the "Boho Glam" colours enough to make up for the lip gloss.

So back to my usual "Classic With a Twist"

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I love, love, love the "Desert Sand" (re: Gold!) Micro-glitter.  And although red doesn't top my favourite colours, this orange-red "Cherry pie" colour should go nicely with my favourite lipstick, MAC's "Lady Danger".  It looks like a classic colour that will be perfect for Christmas parties and little black dresses.

As for the lip gloss in "Glowing" it seems nice?  Nothing too special.  Natural?  Part of my wants to use it so I can review it.  Part of me wants to potentially add it to my "give-to-friends" box.  Maybe I will review it with a disposable tester so if I am not in love with it I can pass it on sans guilt?

And then I saw the add-ons.

I really, really thought about adding on "Charming".  But $13.99,  really?  So I can have two lip glosses I don't need?  Gah I wish I could just trade it out. After debating on and off I decided that I have enough mauve lip products, and can manage with out this one.  I'll just keep my fingers crossed that it ends up in the Secret Store in a month or two.  Or hey, maybe even this month!

I did end up adding on "Lola" a "Moonlit Night Blue Satin" polish.  I'm interested to see what this one turns out like, because any of the coloured polishes I have from Julep are "crème" polishes, which are quite nice.  This should be fun!

I love the add on polishes because at $4.99 they are so cheap.  Its hard not to get one.  Some  of the other products?  Eh, not so much.  The lip primer looks interesting.  But I just can't bring myself to.  Maybe I'll get one at Sephora.

I also considered using my Jules, apparently you get a free polish every three months in a row of getting your box?  That means a free polish in December!  Yay!  But I want to hold off and get a new, full priced polish.  Why to get the most bang for your Jules?

I'm looking forward to reviewing these when they arrive.  Also?  Can't wait for the Secret Store.  12 more days!

And finally some self promotion.  If you want to sign up to be a Julep Maven, use the code "FREECOLOR" (Note the American spelling) and get your first box for free!  The intro boxes are pretty cool right now- especially the Modern Beauty box.  And if you do sign up, please use My link! If you do, I get some Jules, and you get my gratitude!

Until next time!

PS.  How legit would it be to be able to order this?  So much lip gloss... so much nail polish... so much money!  I can dream!  Maybe one day.  But actually, $75...  I would have to be in love with an entire collection.  And by in love, I mean head over heels in love.

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