Wednesday, April 25, 2012

April Julep Maven Intro Box

I am SO weak!  I signed up for Julep Maven.  SIGH.  Actually, I can't complain because I only paid $0.01 for this first box (thank goodness for coupon codes!).  

Julep Maven is another subscription box that is available to Canadians but based out of the United States.  For those interested, it looks like they ship out of Seattle, Washington.  For $19.99 a month, which includes shipping and handling charges, you will get anywhere between 4-5 manicure and pedicure items.  You will be able to preview your box and change your style (and box) and add on extras the 20th of every month and boxes ship on the 27th of each month.  You can also skip a month for free.  Julep products are also supposed to be formaldehyde, DBP, toluene, paraben and sodium laurel sulfate free.

After taking the style quiz, I'm Classic with a Twist.  BUT, you can change your boxes if you don't like what is included with that box.  To make things even more tempting, you can also purchase the previous month's box of whatever style that interests you.  For example, for the month March, say I decided that I really liked the Classic with a Twist box, but I also really liked the Boho Glam.  Well, I can keep my Classic with a Twist and when all the boxes have shipped, I can purchase the Boho Glam box approximately a week after from the Maven Boutique.  These boxes are only available for about two weeks after they are released.  Alternatively, you can "add on" to your current box.  Julep will have the individual items in the other boxes available for add on around the same time you are picking your box for the month.  The only limitation is that you are restricted to only adding on two items.  The item prices range from $4.99 - $9.99, though I'm guessing it really depends on the product, it could be more expensive.  I really like this concept and the ability to preview the products in your box.  Once in a while, they also offer mystery boxes.  I think that these boxes are released per season or special holiday.  These are pricier - weighing in at $60 for the box and is available in limited quantities.  You are supposed to receive approximately $200 worth of goodies.


In my intro box (this looks like a standard box that everyone of that particular style receives) contained two polishes, nail file and "great big thing of hand treatment".  I'm not a big fan of doing hand treatments, but I guess that I'm going to have to start (or keep it for a giveaway when I hit 50 followers!).  I received a full sized "facial for hands" - glycolic hand scrub.  It has an unique double-exfoliating action of glycol acid and apricot seeds that leaves you with noticeably softer and younger looking hands after just one use.

 
The two nail colours that I received were "Kelly" and "Anne". "Kelly" is a light blushed white creme polish that goes on quite sheer and a little too pale for me.  I like it, but just not suitable.  Either be white or be light pink!  "Anne" on the other hand is a bombshell.  Unfortunately, my camera does not capture how beautiful this shade is.  Julep describes it as an ultra saturated violet.  Yes. Yes, it is.  It's gorgeous and opaque but you'll still need two coats.  Without a top coat, it dries to a matte finish and once you add the top coat, it takes on this vibrant shine that just adds that much more to the shade. 












One thing that I do have to say is that the shipping kind of sucked.  No, really, it sucked for me.  It shipped via USPS and there was a tracking number, but it stopped working once the item crossed the border.  Well, no, that's a lie. It just didn't work.  It was stuck at "pre-shipment information received". So I never knew where my package was at (it also took about two weeks to reach me)...which really worried me because my shipping email was strange - it had Chinese characters!  Even though I'm Chinese, it doesn't mean I can read it!  And there was definitely NO WAY that Julep knew I was Chinese!  :P I seriously thought that it was a virus!  I'm hoping that my next box will be different. 


Intro Box Rating : 3 out of 5 stars.


Don't forget!  BlogHop #7 is still happening!

19 comments:

  1. I have the exact same box. I was happy to get the 2 nail polish and didn't really care for the " Facial for hands" scrub. But to my surprise, I started to use it last week and I love it. You should definitely give it a try.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You can still track your package once it crosses the border. Just enter the tracking number with Canada Post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooooohh!!!! I didn't know that! Thanks for the info! I'm going to do that RIGHT NOW with my other Julep box that is slowly making it's way up here!

      Delete
  3. I love that purple shade so pretty!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I absolutely love it! Too bad I have a really ugly broken nail right now so I can't wear it yet... :(

      Delete
  4. ooh your first Julep box, how fun :) I wonder when I will take the plunge.. haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No! Don't do it!!!!! R...e...s..i...s..t...!!! If and when you do, just remember to look up coupon codes! :)

      Delete
  5. I've been able to resist the urge to get one so far! It looks really nice tho love that purple color :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you like that purple colour, wait until I put up my post on what I got in my mystery box! ;P

      Delete
    2. Can't wait to see it! I played a Warlock in WOW so I'm partial to purple haha

      Delete
    3. sweet! I'm a pally, so you'd think I'd be partial to pink. Not this time! :)

      Delete
  6. ANNE is AWESOME! Haha, no worries, I'm Chinese, can't read Chinese, but got that crazy email too! I thought I was infected at first too! I haven't had an issue with shipping yet and I usually get things in about 10 business days, so I guess about two weeks. I don't recall having tracking at all, but then again I shop online so much that I just write down when I've ordered things on Google Calendar and refer to it every week to see if I should be emailing someone about a missing package! With five shipments I've had with Julep, everything has made it to me safe and sound! Can't wait to see how your next box goes!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was really scared with that email because shortly after, my hotmail account was hacked (it's okay now)...but yeah! Talk about scary!

      Delete
  7. I’ve nominated you for the Sunshine Award! Check it out on my blog :)
    http://inherdaydream.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hmmm, now I am tempted to get one! Thanks for sharing dear.
    Oh btw, I just checked, I am on your list... can you see me? Something similar happened to me a few weeks ago and I thought I lost the whole list of followers because no one showed up... so I had to e-mail blogger to find out what went wrong. Please lemme know if you can see me... if not, I am going to following up on it!

    xoxo,

    http://icycrystalgalleria.blogspot.ca/

    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah Blogger was having a sick day! It's all good now! Thanks for following!

      Delete
  9. awesome :)

    http://yuliconversations.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete