Tag: Julep
August Julep Maven Box – Build. Blend. Your Way.
WHOA! This month’s box is all about skin. It’s called “Build. Blend. Your Way.”
The only polish that caught my eye was It Girl “Jonna” – Iguana Green Duochrome. I used 700 Jules to add it to my box, because I wanted the two new skin products: Cushion Complexion Skin Perfector in “120 – Linen” and Insta-Filter Translucent Powder. My choice was good – the Cushion Complexion works as the best under-eye concealer I’ve ever tried. I also used it to highlight – it’s a multi-tasking marvel. Insta-Filter is also the best translucent powder I’ve tried – and I’ve tried a bunch. I wore JUST these two products on my skin over the weekend and that is all I needed. That is WOW. They carry BOTH of these products at Ulta, too.
This box made me SO happy…keep it up, Julep!!
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!
Cheeto Dust
My animosity towards the color orange is well known. It just isn’t my color. But for some reason, I intentionally chose this very orange polish in last month’s Julep box. Why? I do not know.
This is not Construction Paper Orange. This is not Traffic Cone Orange. This is not Tang Orange. This is not Pumpkin Orange. This is not Longhorn Orange. This is not Doritos Orange. This is…Cheeto Dust orange! Not Cheetos themselves, but that delicious dust…the best part really is the licking of the fingers, isn’t it?
This is two coats of Julep “Nadine” over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat and under “HK Girl”.
Hayat
Hayat is the Arabic word for life. “Hayat” gives me life.
Julep “Hayat” (blazing hibiscus creme) was my first pick from this month’s Julep box. After Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat, the first coat seemed impossibly thick. It wasn’t too streaky, but I was concerned that a second coat would be goopy. I very carefully did a second coat and although there were a few goops – it was absolutely user error.
It was the perfect background for these little palm tree decals – also from this month’s box. Peeling those suckers up with tweezers was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It was like brain surgery…my apologies to real brain surgeons. I ever so lightly pressed them down and finished with a thick ole layer of “HK Girl”.
These would look SO good with my flamingo swimsuit!
July Julep Maven Box – Neon Nights
Even though my Julep box was there waiting for me when I got back from vacation, I got distracted by all the goodies I purchased…
July’s theme is “Neon Nights”, and offered a selection of bright summer colors. I chose Bombshell “Hayat” – blazing hibiscus creme – and Boho Glam “Nadine” – tangy persimmon creme (to match my persimmon tree). I also chose the new So Plush Lip Gloss in “werk” – I cannot resist trying Julep’s lip products, even though they go bad before I can ever use them up. Even though I KNOW that it’s because they’re not loaded with nasty preservatives, it kind of irks me that they go rancid after less than a year. I also used Jules to get Palm Tree Nail Decals – so summery!
No candy this month, which is smart given the weather. Instead, I got another sheet of metallic temporary tattoos. I’m thinking Lily will get these.
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!
Marisol
Julep “Marisol” – golden amber metallic – reminds me of a huge hunk of petrified amber, full of glowing bubble that catch the light.
When I picked my Julep box last month, I had no idea how beautiful this polish would be. I just got lucky, I guess
This is two coats of “Marisol” over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat. The polish is smooth, not bumpy – so I finished with “HK Girl”.
Is it me, or is my index fingernail too long? I feel like it’s too long. I just hate to cut a strong nail that’s not chipping.
Jaydra
Plenty of rose, not enough holographic.
Julep “Jaydra” is Tuscan rose sheer holographic, but it’s more Tuscan rose. Don’t get me wrong – it’s a beautiful polish, but the holographic quality is too subtle. I like a little more bling when I go blingy.
This is two coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat and under “HK Girl”. It went on smooth and clean, surprising for such a sheer polish. I got full coverage (no VNL) in just two coats.
It’s a good match for the many rosy nude lipsticks I love so much. It was a good match to today’s color – tarte “Festival”.
June Julep Maven Box – Bask in the Heat
Let me just say, I fucking HATE the summertime. There is NO part of me that is excited to “bask in the heat”. It’s the first week of June and it’s already 95 degrees. Killlllll meeeeeeeeee.
Even though the weather has me grouchy, I can still crack a smile for my Julep box. I went ahead and selected Julep’s new mascara – With a Twist Lash Boosting Bamboo Mascara in “Jet Black”. It’s a decent mascara, very similar to Length Matters, which I love…but I didn’t see any remarkable difference in volume after twisting the brush. I’ll keep practicing…
For polishes, I chose Boho Glam “Marisol” – golden amber metallic – and Classic with a Twist “Jaydra” – Tuscan rose sheer holographic. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve really been digging gold polish. Oh, and I also used Jules to get another love your bare face Detoxifying Cleansing Stick – I love this thing with my Clarisonic.
…and an Atomic Fireball. Fuck you. Yup, grouchy again.
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!
Magical Bag
Did I need more liquid lipstick? No, but I wanted it. Same thing.
I’ve been jonesing to try the Ofra Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick ($17) since it dropped at Ulta a few weeks ago. I’d been admiring “Emerald City” – not a duochrome, but a trichrome – for quite some time. I also picked up “Versailles”, because I need more rose gold in my life. “Versailles” is very close to Jeffree Star “Pussy Whipped”, but not quite as peachy. “Versailles” looks better on me, TBH. I haven’t tried “Emerald City” yet. The Ofra formula is nice and smooth and not drying.
I also decided to try Ulta Adjustable Coverage Foundation in “Fair”, which is very affordable at $14. I’m pleased with the performance. it’s light coerage, but a good match for my skin. I also picked up the new Ulta New Hue Shadow Switching Pan. I know I just paid $9 for a sponge in a tin, but this damn thing works like a champ. I don’t know that I could’ve made my own at home for cheaper. I spent just enough on Ulta products to get a FREE Deluxe palette, one of those ones with ALL the products – 24 shadows and blush and lip stuff. I might never use it, but free is free. I used a code for $5 off $15 in Ulta products, so I got all those goodies for a steal.
I also threw in a Zoya Remove+ for shits and giggles. My free sample pack had Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Aging Micro-Sculpting Cream Moisturizer and Jack Black Double-Duty Face Moisturizer (for my man).
The real star of my order was the FREE 24 product beauty bag that I got with a $60 purchase. It was packed so full, I can barely get all the stuff back in it!
Inside this magical bag: philosophy time in a bottle repair serum (love this stuff, but too pricey); DevaCurl Buildup Buster Gentle Deep Cleansing Serum; it Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer (I’ve heard good things about this stuff); Sexy Hair Long Sexy Hair Shampoo, Conditioner and Detangler (I don’t have long hair anymore, so I must be patient); NYX Total Control Drop Foundation (4 shades, surely the lightest will work); Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Intensive Eye Contour Cream; Clinique BIY Blend It Yourself Pigment Drops (very interesting concept); Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (Finally! I’ve been wanting to try this); Ulta Mattifying Balm (another one I’ve wanted to try); Too Faced Mascara Melt Off Cleansing Oil (another genius idea); Jimmy Choo L’eau; Tory Burch Love Relentlessly; Benefit Hoola Quickie Contour Stick; Julep love your bare face Hydrating Cleansing Oil; Unwash Bio-Cleansing Conditioner; First Aid Beauty Oil-Free Mattifying Gel (another WOW product I want to try); Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea (I stuck it in the fridge for a hot nasty day); Organic to Green Coco Oil; Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate; Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss in “Butter Scotch”; Vitabath Spa Day Body Wash in “Lavender Chamomile”; COOLA Classic Sunscreen White Tea Moisturizer; StriVectin Hair Deep Repair Mask; and Smashbox Cover Shot Golden Hour Eye Shadow Duo. Phew, finger cramps. Oh, and another $5 off $15 Ulta coupon.
Bree is Blinding
Looking for a polish that will look great with yellow-stained nails…and I came across Julep “Bree”.
“Bree” is from last December’s Julep box – not sure how I passed this one by. Julep describes this one as golden gardenia multidimensional glitter. Not sure where the gardenia part comes in, but yeah – it’s gold glitter, alright. I’m quite a fan of full coverage glitters and this is one of the fullest coverage glitters I’ve ever used. This is just two thin coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat and under “HK Girl”.
“Bree” lasts and lasts…I wore it for a full week (Sunday through Saturday) with minimal edge wear. The best part…”Bree” melted right off when I went to remove it – no scrubbing!
Marina
Oh Marina…
I am in total love with Julep’s matte shimmer formula – even more than the Sinful Colors Kylie ones. This is my other pick for May – Julep Classic with a Twist “Marina”. I’d expect an ocean-y blue color for “Marina”, yet Julep made it royal raspberry matte shimmer. Whyyyyyyy?
This is two coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat. It lasted for a decent amount of time, even with no top coat. Go “Marina”! I am loving this color on me.
“Marina” also makes a better Raspberry Beret than the one I did last year. Just sayin’.