Tag: julep maven

Simple Saturday: Julep Isla

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I’ll be showing you a polish I wore as the base color for one of my holiday manicures. You’ve already seen it in THIS post topped with Cameo Colours Lacquer in Tangled Lights, but Julep Isla is so beautiful it deserves it’s own moment on the blog! Here’s a simple post to highlight this polish.

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Julep Isla is a white, metallic polish. It has a beautiful shine to it, and a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I love Isla because it has a creamy look to it. Plain white is boring, but Isla’s metallic finish is a complete manicure on its own. Plus, it is perfect for layering. It adds an extra bit of shimmer and shine to any glitter top coat! I got Isla in my July Julep Maven Box (join the Maven program HERE), but I think it is perfect for the winter months, too. It looks just like snow shining in the sun! Julep Isla is an all-around great nail polish!

Have a fabulous weekend!

My December Julep Maven Box!

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I will be posting about my December Julep Maven Box, and the three beautiful nail polishes I received inside. I want to start this post by informing you that Julep will be retiring the offer that has stood for quite some time now that if you sign up for the Maven program you get your first month for one penny. There is no official end date yet, but I highly suggest you join Julep as soon as possible to take advantage of this amazing deal! I will post more information about the Julep program at the end of the post, but if you would like to join for one penny, enter code PENNY2012 at checkout HERE.

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This month, I chose the It Girl box from Julep. I got three nail polishes in my December box, and all are glittery and shiny for the holidays! I also got the supplies to make my own nail polish ring, but I just can’t decide which polishes to use on it! I will be sure to post a photo of my finished ring at some point. For right now, I’ll show you the polishes!

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First up is Harper, a stunning turquoise glitter polish. I used two coats of Harper to achieve opacity, and I am just in love with the stunning color! Julep describes Harper as “mermaid blue,” and I definitely agree with that description. I felt as if I had mermaid scales on my fingers! Harper has opalescent glitters mixed in, so it really catches the light. I can definitely see myself wearing this polish over and over!

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Up next is Ivy, a shiny blue polish. Ivy has a metallic finish, and is sprinkled with micro-glitters. Only two coats are needed for opacity, and Ivy is extremely long-lasting! The color is absolutely stunning, and appears to change shades depending on the lighting. I was very impressed with how gorgeous this polish is. If you are a blue fan, Ivy is a must!

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Last but not least is Vivien, a golden glitter polish. I applied one coat of Vivien over Ivy to get the look in the photos. Vivien is full of small, gold hexagonal glitters with fine gold glitter throughout. Julep does call this polish full-coverage, but I think it would take at least four coats to wear this alone. It is very pretty as a glitter top coat, though! I love that I can wear the polishes from my Maven Box together to complete a fun manicure!

All in all, I love the It Girl box that I got in December! Julep is such a great subscription program, and if you love trying on-trend nail colors I highly suggest you join before the penny promo is up. Typically a Julep box costs $19.99 per month, which is already a fantastic deal as each polish retails for $14 each. But, with promo code PENNY2012, your first month is just one penny! I love the Julep program because you can always skip your box if you can’t afford it that month, and you can cancel at any time. Be sure to join HERE and feel free to ask me any questions!

On Wednesdays We Wear Pink!

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

This post is dedicated to all of the Mean Girls fans out there! If you’ve seen that movie you know that every Wednesday it is mandatory to wear pink. Otherwise, you won’t get to sit at the lunch table with Regina George and the rest of The Plastics. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, make sure to go watch Mean Girls right now!

In honor of Pink Wednesday, I have two nail polishes to show you. Both are, of course, pink! I normally wear bright pink nail polishes a la Barbie, but I tried out two pale pinks recently, and I love the understated look. Today you will see both of these polishes alone, and at some point in the near future you will see what glitter top coats I added on top!

 

 

 

The first pink I have to show you is Pink Wishes from CND Colour. This is a brand that is new to me. This polish was a gift from a fellow nail blogger, but it retails at around $7. Though not the most affordable polish brand on the market, you are certainly getting a good quality product! Pink Wishes has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I really like the application, and was surprised at how much I enjoy the light pink color. It reminds me of cotton candy! My only gripe with Pink Wishes is that you can see brush strokes a little on the finished manicure. Other than that it is a great polish!

 

 

The other pink polish I have to show you today is Jennifer from Julep, one of my favorite brands! While Julep retails for $14 per bottle, there are many ways to get this amazing polish at discounted rates. You can join the Julep Maven program HERE to get a box of goodies for $20 per month, plus keep a lookout for promo codes on Julep’s Facebook page HERE. I got Jennifer for $5 through a group order with other nail polish fans — quite the bargain! Jennifer is a beautiful pale pink that I expected to have a cream finish, but it is actually quite sheer. I have on two coats in the photos, and as you can see it is not fully opaque. Because I knew I would be layering glitter over it, I didn’t add another coat, but even with just the two I think it looks gorgeous! Jennifer is perfect if you don’t like overstated or “loud” manicures, but still want to be polished.

I hope you enjoyed my Pink Wednesday post! What are your favorite pink nail polishes?

My November Julep Maven Box!

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

You may be wondering why it took me so long this month to get up my review of my Julep Maven Box. To be honest, it is a combination of the fact that I did not receive my box until November 8th and with how busy I have been with school and other polish reviews. Let me show you what I got in the November box, and tell you more about Julep’s new changes.

 

Since the last time I posted about Julep, a lot has changed! The company completely re-vamped their website, and unveiled a new rewards program that lets members earn Jules, or points, in a variety of ways. Although these changes are for the better in the long run, Julep struggled a bit with the launch of their new site, and I think that is why I didn’t receive my box for so long. Nonetheless, my box was just as wonderful as usual when it arrived. I got the It Girl Box, which came with two of the coveted Julep suede nail polishes, a matte top coat, and a few nail polish remover wipes. I apologize for the photo quality — I forgot to take a picture with my camera, so this is from Instagram!

 

 

The first polish I got this month is Hailee, a khaki green suede. A suede polish is just as it sounds — it has a matte finish that is multidimensional to look like suede fabric. Hailee is very pretty, but I think it looks more of a grey or silver than a green, but it depends on the lighting. In terms of formula, Hailee is great! It is very easy to apply, and is opaque in two coats. Hailee also dries very quickly. I would not wear this polish every day, but it is definitely a unique color that I haven’t seen before.

 

The other polish I received in my November box is Nora, what Julep calls a “silver, aubergine suede.” In other words, Nora is a gorgeous deep purple! Just like with Hailee, Nora’s forumla is great. It is opaque in two coats, and dries quickly. Nora is definitely my favorite of the two polishes. I am much more into purple polishes than khakis!

All in all, I did like my November Julep Box. I wish I had gotten it earlier in the month like I have in the past, but hopefully Julep has figured out their issues now. I do have to say that I am really excited for the December Julep Box. They were released today, and are all gorgeous, holiday glitters! Join Julep today and enter code TWOFREE at checkout. Not only will you get your first box for a discounted price of $14.99, but you will get two bonus nail polishes for free! Click HERE to sign up now!

My October Julep Maven Box!

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy October! Today I will be reviewing my Julep Maven Box, and I am excited to tell you about the three new polishes I got. Let me begin by telling you about the special box that was offered in October. On the 20th of each month, Julep releases the five boxes that will be available to choose from. When September 20th rolled around, I was quite disappointed. The October Julep boxes were to feature crackle nail polishes, along with a line of gorgeous cream finishes in fall shades. While I do enjoy crackle nail polish, I couldn’t believe that was the product Julep was featuring. Crackle is no longer on trend, and Julep usually keeps up with the times. I, along with many other Mavens, took to the Julep Facebook page to let the company know how much I love their products, but how disappointed I was with the October offerings. Guess what? Julep listened! They created a special box called Maven’s Choice, which included three cream polishes and excluded the crackles. I could not have been more pleased. Julep really listens to its customers! Let me show you what I got in my Maven’s Choice box.

 

At first I was surprised to see how small the Julep box was this month, but don’t judge a book by its cover! Not only did I get three beautiful polishes this month, but Julep threw in some extras! The polishes (from top to bottom) are Lisa, Eloise, and Keira. The little pots you see are glitter pots in the colors orange and black to keep it Halloween themed! Finally, Mavens got some candy corn as an added Halloween treat. For some reason my box was missing the paperwork that usually comes with each Julep Maven box to highlight that month’s colors and trends. I guess that was the trick to my treat! I couldn’t wait to try out these gorgeous polishes!

 

 

First up is Keira, a beautiful deep burgundy polish. I am not usually a big fan of dark colors, but Keira is really nice. I used two coats of this polish, and as usual the Julep formula was amazing. I did experience some trouble with linen marks on my nails hours after applying the polish, but I am going to attribute this to high humidity. To be safe, give yourself a little extra drying time if you use Keira. This polish is quite pigmented, and leaned towards brown on the nail. This color is perfect for fall, and is work appropriate. Also, did you notice how short my nails are?! I needed to try something new!

 

 

Next up is Eloise, what Julep calls a “smokey indigo blue.” Let me begin by saying that I took these photos on day three of my manicure. As you can see, there is very little wear! I used two coats of Eloise without topcoat. I absolutely love this polish! I was most excited for this one to come, and it does not disappoint. The blue shade is really unique from anything else I own, and I love that it is deep, but not dark. Eloise is one of my favorite blue polishes, and I plan on wearing it quite often!

 

 

The last polish in my October box is Lisa, a grey that leans towards brown. I was least excited to try out Lisa, and to be honest I am not a huge fan of the color on me. The polish, however, is really nice. You can get away with one coat of Lisa for full coverage, though I still applied two in the photos above. The formula was amazing, and dried almost instantaneously! This is a great neutral shade if you are looking to stay away from beiges and tans. It is definitely work appropriate, and good for those of you who don’t like bold colors.

All in all, I loved my Maven’s Choice box! Julep always manages to impress me every month, and their customer service is right on. If you are looking to try out Julep polishes, I definitely suggest the Maven program. Not only do you get great discounts on their polishes every month, but you get your first box for one penny! Just click HERE and enter code COLOR2012 at checkout! Here is some more info about the Maven program if you’ve never heard of it before:

  • Julep is a monthly subscription program for $19.99 each month
  • You begin with a style quiz so Julep knows what polishes you may like, but you have the option to choose any box you want each month
  • Don’t have the cash? Don’t like your box? You have the option to skip your box each month and you will not be charged!
  • Mavens get access to special discounts on Julep products, and added freebies throughout the year
  • You have the chance to win the Golden Box each month — the complete Julep collection for that month!
  • You can cancel at any time if you decide you don’t like Julep
  • Your first box is a penny… who can pass that up?!

I hope if you join Julep you love it just as much as I do!

Saran Wrap Nail Art

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Have you heard of the nail art technique that uses saran wrap to get a funky design? I saw THIS pin on Pinterest, and just had to try it out! Since I am not great at nail art, I was thrilled with how easy this technique is. Plus, we all have some saran wrap in the kitchen. Let me show you how my saran wrap manicure turned out. Please note that the photos in this post were taken with flash to showcase the design.

To get this look, first paint your nails in any color you want. I chose Julep Brandt. Make sure your polish is completely dry before moving onto the second step. Next, get out your saran wrap and your second polish color. It is easier to work with smaller pieces of saran wrap. Take your second polish (I chose Julep Sophie) and paint one coat directly over your original manicure. Then, bunch up the saran wrap and lightly dab all over your nail while the polish is still wet. Continue these steps on each nail and finish up with a top coat. Voila! You now have a super cool manicure!

The design reminds me of acid wash jeans! I definitely can’t wait to try out this technique with other colors and finishes. I think it would look great with glitter polish! Be warned that this technique can get a little messy when you’re dabbing with the saran wrap. A little clean-up is needed, but it’s definitely worth it. Be sure to try it out!

Don’t forget, you can get your first month of Julep for just one penny with code MAVENINTRO at checkout! I heard a rumor that they are also throwing in two bonus polishes at the moment. Sign up HERE!

My September Julep Maven Box

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

By now you all must know how much I love the Julep Maven program! I can’t wait to show you what I got this month. Julep teamed up with fashion designer Tina Turk to create a nail polish line that coordinates with her fall clothing line. For the first time since I’ve joined Julep, I actually stayed with the style that I got by answering the quiz — Classic with a Twist. I had a little surprise when by box came in the mail, too. A bit of the packaging was coming out! Luckily everything was safe inside, and the packaging was adorable as usual.

 

This month each Julep Maven member got a magnet of a girl wearing clothing inspired by Trina Turk’s new line. It was a nice little surprise! Of course, I also got two nail polishes and a mascara. Both of my polishes this month were neutral shades, but are gorgeously pigmented and creamy. I can’t wait to use them over and over this fall! Let me show you both of them.

 

 

First up is Brandt, what Julep calls “off-black.” And it’s true! I wasn’t sure how good Brandt would look with my fair skin tone, but since it wasn’t a true black it looked great. The formula on this polish was a dream, and it was opaque in two coats. As with all Juleps, it also dried really quickly. I really liked that Brandt is not a harsh color, but is still considered to be in the black color family. I plan on using this on a regular basis!

 

 

Sophie is a neutral color that Julep calls “truffle mushroom.” I would describe it as a greenish brown color, but it is so pretty! Just like Brandt, Sophie has an amazing formula and was opaque in two coats. It is a perfect neutral for fall! I can also see it teamed up with a fun neon color for a nice contrast.

All in all, I really loved my September box! I got two nail polish colors that are great to have in any stash, and can be used often. I’m never disappointed with Julep! Don’t forget that you can join Julep Maven and get your first box for just one penny when you use code MAVENINTRO at checkout. Just click HERE and start shopping! Enjoy!

Favorite Friday: Cloud Manicure with Julep Polish

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

It’s Favorite Friday! That’s when I use one of my favorite nail polishes, or recreate one of my favorite manicures! I’ve been wanting to do something fun with my nails, but I am not very good at nail art. I decided that this week I would recreate the cloud manicure I did a couple months ago. My nails were already painted with Julep’s Claire, so I used two other Julep polishes to upgrade my mani.

 

Not only do cloud manicures look really cool, but they are easy to achieve! All you need is three colors of nail polish, and some patience. With a steady hand you can easily master this technique. The best part is, people will be so impressed with your nails! You can get full instructions from my original cloud mani post HERE.

 

For this mani, I began with Julep’s Claire (blue) and then added on Morgan (purple) and Blake (yellow). Too be honest I’m not so sure how I feel about this color combination together. I think the clouds look great, but the yellow on the tips was a bit off for me. I will definitely do this manicure again with different colors!

What do you think of my cloud manicure? Have you tried this technique?

Julep Maven Intro Box Review & Giveaway!

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

If you are a blog follower of mine, you know how much I love Julep nail polish and being a Julep Maven member. Though the nail polish retails at $14 a bottle, the Maven program is a great way to get their polish at discounted prices. In order to let my readers try this great product at no cost, I wrote to Julep. They sent me an intro box to review for all of you, and they are giving one away for free! First, let me show you what comes in a Julep Maven intro box.

The packaging is always so cute!
My new polishes!

Each month Julep offers five different Maven boxes, and you choose the one you like the most based on your own personal style. The “It Girl” box always has three nail polishes in it, while the other styles have two polishes and another product (such as lotion, nail polish remover, lip gloss, etc.). I decided to pick the It Girl style to show you! The polishes I got were Morgan, Claire, and Blake.

Morgan is a beautiful deep purple polish with a hint of blue and red shimmer. None of my photographs could capture how stunning it is in person! I used two coats of this polish. The formula was perfect! I love the frosted look it has, and the shimmer adds a lot of dimension. I love purples, so Morgan will be used frequently I’m sure.

Claire is a gorgeous sky blue cream polish. I also used two coats, and again had not problems with the formula. I love cream polishes, and this one is no exception. This polish is great for people who aren’t sure if blue nails are right for them, because the color isn’t bright, but a nice pastel. This is the perfect color for spring!

Last but not least is Blake, a yellow cream polish. I loved the color of Blake, but I did have some formula issues, which is very unusual for Julep polish. My first coat was very uneven, but a second coat helped to even it out. If I did add a third coat it would have probably cleaned up the manicure, but with two coats I could still see brush strokes on some nails. Other than that small issue with the formula, the polish was really pretty. Yellow is actually a great color for nails!

Now that you’ve seen my It Girl intro box, it is time to win one of your own! To enter, you must click HERE. It will bring you directly to the Rafflecopter site. Julep is running the giveaway for me, but if you have any problems entering, don’t hesitate to contact me. The giveaway is live until September 7th. If you want to join Julep right away, you can get your first box for just one penny by entering the code MAVENINTRO at checkout. Go HERE to sign up!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

My August Julep Maven Box!

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

I’ll be honest with you. When I first saw the Julep boxes online for August, I wasn’t thrilled with the options. I went ahead and chose the Boho Glam style anyway, as I had a free credit to use. I can’t pass up free polish! Now that I’ve had the chance to use the polishes I received, I am thrilled with my August box! Let me show you what was inside.

A pink box to celebrate Julep’s one year anniversary!

All August boxes came with a reusable tote bag.
From left to right, Isla, Piper, and nail polish remover.

I haven’t tried out the nail polish remover yet, but I did get the chance to use the new polish. I thought Piper and Isla would look perfect together, so I decided to a “Carly” manicure inspired by LacqueredLover.com! This style combines at least two different nail polishes in a unified look. I used two coats of each polish. One coat was very sheer, but a second coat achieved opacity. Piper is a metallic green, which I love. It is almost the metallic version of a mint, but a bit darker. Isla is a metallic white. I love the way they are both shiny and frosty. I never thought I’d be so impressed with these polishes! Here’s a cool Instagram photo of my manicure:

 

I love Julep products, and being a Maven member. If you’d like to join this monthly subscription, click HERE. Be sure to enter code COLOR2012 at checkout to get your first month for a penny!