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Subscription Sunday | Top 10 Julep Polishes for Fall

Posted on August 25, 2013August 25, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Back in July I shared with you my favorite Julep nail polishes for summer (see that post HERE). Now that it’s getting cooler and September is just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to post my top 10 Juleps for fall! If you’re a Julep Maven subscriber like I am, you probably have some of these polishes in your collection already. Get ready to bust out these great polishes again!

First up is Eloise, a dark blue creme polish. Eloise has an amazing formula that applies well and is opaque in two coats. I love how pigmented Eloise is. While this polish is very dark, the blue tone shows up really well. It’s a great alternative to a neutral shade!

My next pick is Helen, what Julep describes as a “smokey lavender creme.” I see Helen as a pink shade, and I sure love it! This polish has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. Plus, it is work appropriate, and quite feminine. Helen is such a classy nail polish, and I can see it paired with cozy sweaters this fall.

Next up is Janel, a raspberry pink metallic polish. Janel also has a great formula and is opaque in two coats. I just love the high gloss finish, and think the metallic sheen is perfect for the fall. I like that it is edgy but girly at the same time. Janel is definitely an underrated Julep polish!

Another Julep that is perfect for fall is Keira, a deep red creme that leans towards purple. Keira has a good formula, but is prone to streaking so careful application is key. Besides that issue, Keira is a great polish. The color is stunning, and the polish is opaque in two coats. I wore this polish at least twice last year, and I’ll be sure to use it this year, too!

Next up is Lisa, a grey creme polish with a hint of green. Lisa has a flawless formula that is opaque in two coats. It is the perfect neutral color, and also works well in nail art! Sometimes I just don’t want loud nails, and Lisa is a great option. It is also work appropriate, and looks quite polished.

Melissa is next, and is a gorgeous opalescent polish. I got Melissa gifted to me from the blogger My Vanity Basics way back when I first started blogging. Melissa is one of the most popular Julep polishes, and it is stunning! I applied three coats to achieve the look in the photos. I love that this polish reflects every color of the rainbow depending on the light. Melissa is a must have in every polish collection!

Up next is Nikki, a green-yellow creme polish. Nikki doesn’t have the perfect formula, but it is still a really unique color. I applied three coats to achieve opacity. Nikki is definitely a different kind of polish! I think it is great for the fall, and can be layered over a white if you would like a brighter result.

Next up is Nora, one of the suede finish polishes from Julep in a purple color. As you can see, the suede polishes dry to a matte finish, and look just like suede fabric! Formula wise, Nora is a great polish. I applied two coats to achieve opacity. If you love matte finishes, Nora is definitely a great one! It’s so pretty for the fall.

My next pick is Piper, a mint green metallic polish. Piper has a great formula, but it is a bit sheer. I need three coats for an opaque finish. I got Piper in my August Julep Maven Box last year, and it is such a great transitional polish from summer to fall. I love anything mint green, and Piper is no exception!

Last but not least is Raegan, a pink creme polish. I absolutely love pink cremes, and I feel like they are always in season. Raegan is truly the perfect bright pink, and the formula is fabulous as well. I could wear this polish on a daily basis — it’s great for every occasion!

All in all, I hope you found this post helpful! I love Julep nail polishes, and I’ve acquired so many since I’ve become a Maven that I try to reuse them all the time. I highly suggest joining the Julep Maven subscription program if you are not a member already. It is only $19.95 per month for a mix of nail polishes and beauty products, and the best part is you can skip any month you do not want to purchase. Julep also offers great discount codes and sales all the time. In fact, you can get your first Maven box for free with code FREEBOX at checkout HERE. You’ll just have to pay for shipping, but this is a fabulous deal!

Let me know in the comments what your favorite Julep polish is for fall!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

What’s Under There? Part Three

Posted on August 22, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! It’s time for another edition of What’s Under There?! In this series, I share with you polishes that I layered under glitters, or used in nail art. Today I’ll be showcasing the polishes that served as the bases in my Kawaii Nail Lacquer post. You can see that review HERE if you missed it. Let me show you what was under those glitters!

First up is L’Oreal Breaking Curfew, a super dark, plum jelly polish. Breaking Curfew is definitely outside of my comfort zone! I got it at Rite Aid a few months ago because I wanted to try something new. Unfortunately, the formula is a bit difficult to work with, but three coats is a full coverage, opaque look. I do love the color, and I think it’s perfect for fall. I might have to try this as a jelly sandwich at some point!

Next up is OPI Skull & Glossbones from the Pirates of the Caribbean Collection! Skull & Glossbones is a gorgeous off-white polish with a hint of green. It is the perfect neutral shade, and applies really nicely. I need two coats to achieve opacity. I really love how Skull & Glossbones is understated and classy at the same time. Even though it is from a retired collection, it is still available on Amazon!

ncLA’s Malibu Beach Babe is up next. This is a deep teal creme polish that just screams “fall” when I put it on despite its summery name. Malibu Beach Babe has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. I’ve worn it twice now, and I’m sure I’ll continue to get even more use out of it. ncLA polish retails for $16, but it is worth the splurge for this one!

Last but not least is Julep Brandt, an off-black creme polish. Brandt is one of my favorite dark polishes of all time. It has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, and is edgy without being a harsh true black. Brandt is great on its own, but I’ve also used it for nail art. This is just an all-around fabulous polish!

All in all, I hope you liked finding out more about these polishes! Make sure to stay tuned for more What’s Under There? posts in the future! Also, don’t forget to enter my Back to School Giveaway HERE. Leave me a comment telling me your favorite polish in this post!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Subscription Sunday | Top 10 Julep Polishes for Summer

Posted on July 7, 2013July 10, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I thought it would be fun to share with you my favorite Julep nail polishes for summer. Julep was the first monthly subscription service that I ever signed up for, and I’ve been a member for over a year now. I currently have forty Julep nail polishes in my collection, so I went through and picked ten polishes that are perfect for the summer sun. Some of these polishes have been reviewed on my blog in the past, but I hope you enjoy and discover a new shade that you love!

First up is Blake, a pastel yellow creme. Blake does not have the perfect formula — as with many yellow nail polishes it can be a bit streaky. Luckily I usually get it even in two to three coats, and the result is gorgeous! I love yellow nails in the summer, and Blake is a beautiful shade. While I love neon yellow, a pastel creme is very dainty and works well with many skin tones.

Next is Charlotte, a dusty light purple creme. Charlotte is a one coat formula, which I absolutely love. It applies perfectly, and the finish is very glossy. I think Charlotte is the perfect choice for those who don’t like ultra-bright nails, and it is also a great transitional polish from summer to fall. If you love purple nails, Charlotte is a must for your collection!

Harper is the next polish on my Top 10 list! It is an aquamarine glitter with hints of blue and an opalescent shine. Harper reminds me of a mermaid, and thus it is a must for summer! It is opaque in three coats, or you can layer it over a blue polish for an oceanic look. Harper is great for laying by the pool, and it surely sparkles in the sunlight. Be sure to let each coat dry completely between layers so you don’t smudge the glitter!

Up next is Lynn, a peachy nude polish with a hint of peach and silver shimmer. Lynn is one of the first Julep polishes I ever got, and I still love it! It is opaque in two coats and has a great formula. Some brushstrokes are visible with Lynn since it is a shimmer, but I personally like the finished look. If you’re stuck in the office all summer, Lynn is definitely work appropriate!

If you’re looking for a classic pink polish, Niecy is for you! It is the perfect bright pink, and has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. Niecy goes well with any outfit, and will look great no matter what the occasion. I love pink nail polish, and Niecy is one of my all-time favorites!

Up next is Nina, a bright orange polish with a satin finish. Nina is a bit on the thick side, so be sure to limit the amount of polish you have on the brush when applying it. Nina is also opaque in two coats, and dries to look just like orange sherbet! Summer is the perfect time for orange nails, and Nina is a fun option from Julep. While the formula may not be perfect, the color payoff is worth it!

Next on the countdown is Payton, a bright green creme. Payton has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. Make sure you use a healthy layer of base coat with this one, as it can be staining to your nails. I just love green nails, and Payton is the perfect option for summer. I wore it for about a week in June!

Keeping with the green theme is Susie, a mint green creme. Susie has just a hint of mint pigmentation, and looks almost white in direct sunlight. It has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, and dries very quickly. Susie is wearable any time of the year, but mint is right on trend for this summer. Everyone needs at least one mint in her collection, and Susie is a great option!

Following Susie is Teri, a bright coral creme polish. Teri has a good formula that is a bit on the thick side. It is opaque in two coats, and has a high-gloss finish. I find that Teri is very flattering for my skin tone, and I think it would look nice on everyone! Teri also isn’t too bright, so if you are looking to step into the bright nail polish world, this is a great option for you.

Last but not least is my holy grail of the Julep world, Yumi. Yumi is a pink, silver, and holographic glitter polish. It can be worn alone in three coats, but I layered one coat over Teri in the photo above. I love Yumi so much that I will need a second bottle soon! It is perfect for nail art, and can be combined with many different shades for a beautiful look. Yumi is just stunning!

All in all, you can see how much I love Julep nail polish! I love getting a box in the mail every month, and the variety of colors is fantastic. You can join the Julep Maven program and get your first month for free using code FREEBOX at checkout HERE. What I love about the program is the ability to skip any month you don’t want to purchase, and the special discounts that Maven members get. Let me know if you join Julep, and what your favorite Julep polish for summer is!

Some of the above links are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

BB, CC, & DD — How Do They Compare? | Featuring Olay Fresh Effects, Juice Beauty, and Julep

Posted on July 5, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have a new beauty comparison post to share with all of you. I often get questions about what the difference between BB and CC cream is, and now that Julep has released the first ever DD cream, I thought it would be fun to see how they compare. While these creams will vary from brand to brand, the ones I am reviewing are ones that I have used several times before, and are widely available to purchase. First I will give a general overview of each product, and then I’ll show them side by side.

BB Cream = Beauty Balm

Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream

This BB cream is a “skin perfecting tinted moisturizer with sunscreen” that offers six skincare benefits in one step. It smells just like sunscreen, which I happen to like very much (though I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea). I find that this cream is very lightweight, and helps to control the oily skin I get in the summertime. It provides light coverage, so it may not be good if you prefer a thicker foundation. I find the only drawback for me is that this BB cream only has SPF 15, so it needs to be reapplied quite frequently throughout the day if it is your main sunscreen for the face.

Buy Olay Fresh Effects for $12.99: Olay Fresh Effects | Amazon | Drugstores

CC Cream = Color Correcting

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream

This CC cream is “the ultimate color correcting 12 in 1 multi-tasker” with SPF 30. Juice Beauty is certified organic, and is a great option if you are looking for natural beauty products. My feelings on this CC cream are mixed. On the one hand, it makes my skin look flawless when I wear it, and it it lasts all day looking great. The downside is, I cannot stand the smell, and it also is not blendable with other makeup. If you are looking to use this as a foundation substitute with a full face of makeup, I would not suggest it. However, if you are looking for simply natural and beautiful skin, I think you would love this cream.

Buy Juice Beauty CC Cream for $39.00: Juice Beauty | Amazon | Birchbox

DD Cream = Dynamic Do-all

Julep DD Creme

Julep came out with the first DD cream a few months ago. It is designed to diminish skin damage and give the skin a dewy finish. It also has SPF 25 to help with sun protection. This cream definitely stands out from the others — it has golden undertones to give the skin a bronzed, sunkissed look. The benefits of this product is that it is extremely blendable, and can truly be worn as a foundation. I really like this DD creme for the summer months. I love that it is odor free, and transforms the skin to a perfect canvas. While I am not a fan of the dewy look, this is the perfect solution for those that do.

Buy Julep DD Creme for $36: Julep | Amazon

Side-by-Side Swatches

From left to right: Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream in Fair to Light, Juicy Beauty CC Cream in Natural Glow, and Julep DD Creme in Light. It is very clear that the Julep DD Creme is the most golden and bronzed of the bunch!

Each cream has a similar texture, but the Julep DD Creme is definitely the most liquidy, and the Juice Beauty CC Cream is the thickest.

After each cream has been blended, I can only see that the Julep DD Creme has left a golden look to my skin. Both the Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream and the Juice Beauty CC Cream have completely blended into my skin for a light and beautiful coverage.

The Final Verdict

When it comes down to which cream I prefer and would recommend to all of you, it has to be the Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream! It has a stunning finish, it smells great, and it is super affordable. It is definitely the product that I have been reaching for all summer long, and I’m sure it will be perfect during the colder months when I just want to have light coverage. While Juice Beauty and Julep have great products as well, I think BB cream is the original and the best. Let me know which product you love the most, BB, CC, or DD, and what brand is your favorite.

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Bimonthly Beauty Post: New York Jazz Lipstick Trio by Julep

Posted on May 25, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! If you’re a regular follower of mine, you may have noticed that I am a bit behind on my Julep Maven posts. It’s not because I’m no longer subscribed, but just because I didn’t get the chance to review them. I will have the polishes on the blog soon, but today I have a review of the New York Jazz Lipstick Trio that came in my May box. I was so excited to receive a lipstick trio in my box, but was a little disappointed when it arrived. Let me show you the New York Jazz trio!

The trio arrived in adorable packaging. I love the black and gold designs, as it fit with the Roaring Twenties theme that Julep aimed for. As expected, the trio was three mini lipsticks. Although Julep marketed them as full size, my mom picked up that the item description noted they were “little” lip colors. It turns out she was right! These are definitely mini size, but they come in a great little cigar-style box.

The trio came with two sheer lip colors, and one statement red lipstick. From left to right, the shades are Tea for Two, Satin Doll, and Lady in Red. Tea for Two is a very sheer nude lipstick with shimmer. It is so sheer, in fact, that I can barely see any color payoff whatsoever. Since it is not very moisturizing, I don’t think Tea for Two will work as a tinted lip balm or a lip color. It is my least favorite of the trio. Satin Doll is a very pretty coral shade, and a flattering color for me. While still very sheer, it is pigmented just enough to provide a nice color that is perfect for daytime. Last but not least is Lady in Red, a bold red lipstick with a matte finish. Lady in Red is quite drying, but it is the perfect red shade. I won’t be wearing it often, but it is a great red to have in my makeup collection!

All in all, I am a bit disappointed that the New York Jazz Lipstick Trio was mini size, but I am absolutely loving Satin Doll. I wish Tea for Two was more pigmented, but other than that the lipsticks are decent quality. I was quite happy to receive this trio in my May Maven Box even if it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. You can join Julep today and get your first box for free with code FREEBOX HERE. Stay tuned for my nail polish review for the April and May shades!

What’s Under There? Part One

Posted on April 16, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today’s post will feature the nail polishes that I’ve used for the base color of some of the glitter manicures on my blog. I often review glitters, but I don’t always have the chance to show you the base color underneath and let you know about that polish in depth. I thought I would review some of those polishes for you today and let you know what I had on under those glitters! I hope this will be a recurring series on my blog, so let me know if you like it! Let me show you the polishes I recently wore under some glitters by Shimmer Polish!

First up is Virtual Violet from Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear. Virtual Violet is a metallic light purple nail polish with blue undertones. The formula is sheer, but buildable. I achieved opacity in two coats, but added a third for a stronger duochrome effect between the purple and blue. I absolutely love the look of Virtual Violet! It has an amazing glossy finish with no top coat needed. I love such a bright duochrome polish, since most are darker colors. Virtual Violet can be purchased at your local drugstore for around $3.

Next up is Fashionista Lisa from Wet ‘n Wild Wild Shine. Fashionista Lisa is a fun purple nail polish that leans towards magenta. This polish has a good formula, but is a little patchy. I needed three coats to achieve opacity. Fashionista Lisa has a beautiful satin finish that I love! While this polish retails for just $0.99, it is a part of the limited edition Saved by the Nail collection that came out last fall. You may be able to grab one at your local Ocean State Job Lot store! I heard they were spotted there!

Last but not least is Julep Morgan, a dark purple nail polish with blue shimmer. Morgan is a fabulous polish, and is opaque in two coats. It dries quite quickly, and has that great Julep formula that I have come to expect. I got this in the It Girl intro box back in August, but Morgan is still available on Julep’s website HERE for $14 (or $11.20 for Maven members). While this is definitely a splurge purchase in my book, I think it is a great dark purple and I love the shimmer! If you can, grab this during a sale!

As it turns out, this post of What’s Under There? was actually a purple edition! I didn’t plan that out, but I hope you enjoyed seeing these different purple polishes. Don’t forget, all of these polishes were used in glitter manicures as well! To see how I used them with Shimmer Polish, simply click HERE. Stay tuned for more What’s Under There? posts in the future!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Dare to Compare Week! Day Three – Mint Green

Posted on April 3, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Dare to Compare Week here at Adventures in Polishland continues with one of my nail polish obsessions, mint green. Mint is such a trendy color for spring that I made sure to include it in this week’s comparison extravaganza. I’ll let you know up front that I didn’t find any dupes, but I did discover some beautiful options! Let’s see what is up in the mint green color family.

From left to right, the polishes are Julep in Susie, China Glaze in Keep Calm, Paint On, and Zoya in Neely. These polishes do look similar in the bottle, but I could tell they wouldn’t be exactly the same on the nail. I still wanted to see the comparison, though. First I’ll show each polish alone, and then I’ll show them side by side.

Polish Name: China Glaze in Keep Calm, Paint On

Price: $6.99 at beauty stores, or $3.32 on Amazon [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 2

Formula: Good, but on the thick side.

Color Description: Mint green with green and pink shimmer.

Bonus: I love the name of this polish!

Polish Name: Zoya in Neely

Price: $8 [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 2

Formula: Good, but a bit patchy.

Color Description: Dusty mint green.

Bonus: Zoya is a vegan friendly, and long-lasting brand!

Polish Name: Julep in Susie

Price: $14 [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 3

Formula: Okay — formula a bit streaky and patchy, but evens in three coats.

Color Description: Pale mint green

Bonus: I got this in my first Julep Maven Box! It’s an all-time favorite.

Now we have all three side by side! From left to right is the Zoya, the China Glaze, and the Julep. Susie from Julep stands out as the lightest shade of the bunch right away. Zoya Neely and China Glaze Keep Calm, Paint On are very close, but the shimmer in Keep Calm really makes it stand out. I personally prefer the light shade of the Julep, but would choose Zoya Neely over the shimmer in the China Glaze. I prefer a pure, creme finish! In the end, when it comes to mint green I don’t think you can go wrong no matter what shade you choose!

Which do you prefer, bright pastels or dusty greens?! Do you like polishes with an added shimmer?!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. Some of the links above are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Dare to Compare Week! Day Two — Bright Pink

Posted on April 2, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! It is Day Two of Dare to Compare Week here at Adventures in Polishland. To celebrate the start of spring, I am comparing three bright pink nail polishes today. I just love pink, and I feel like pink nails never go out of style! I hope you enjoy this comparison as much as I do! Let me show you what’s up today.

These bright pinks look quite similar in the bottle! From left to right, they are: Julep in Niecy, Chick in Flicker, and Wet ‘n Wild Wild Shine in Pom Pom Kelly. First I’ll show you each polish alone, and then I’ll compare them side by side.

Polish Name: Wet ‘n Wild Wild Shine in Pom Pom Kelly

Price: $0.99 [Good luck finding it!]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 3

Formula: Great application! Jelly formula with sheer coverage and a satin finish.

Color Description: Bright pink that leans towards neon, but isn’t too “out there”.

Bonus: This is from the limited edition Saved by the Nail collection! I was able to score myself a set, but they were very hard to find. I did hear that they were spotted at Ocean State Job Lot stores recently!

Polish Name: Chick in Flicker

Price: $8.00 [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 2

Formula: Good — there was something “off” but I can’t explain it! Beautiful high gloss finish.

Color Description: Bright pink creme

Bonus: Chick is made in the USA and vegan friendly!

Polish Name: Julep in Niecy

Price: $14 [Buy HERE]

Coats Needed for Opacity: 2

Formula: Great formula and application! Glossy finish!

Color Description: Bright pink that is almost neon.

Bonus: This came in my first ever Julep Maven box! It’s one of my all-time favorites!

Now let’s take a closer look at these polishes side by side! From left to right is the Wet ‘n Wild, the Chick, and the Julep. While they are not dupes for each other, they are quite similar. Pom Pom Kelly from Wet ‘n Wild is definitely the brightest and most neon of the bunch, with Chick Flicker the darkest. It’s unfortunate that the most affordable polish in this bunch is also the hardest to find, because Pom Pom Kelly is my personal favorite of the three even though I need three coats for opacity. However, I would happily settle for the $8 price tag of Chick’s Flicker since it is vegan and made in the USA. All in all, you can’t really go wrong with any bright pink, especially in the warmer months!

Which bright pink nail polish is your favorite?! Would you pay more for a nail polish if it were vegan?!

My March Julep Maven Box!

Posted on March 27, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I finally have a review of my March Julep Maven Box, just making it in before the month is over! This month Julep had some technical difficulties, and for some reason my box got missed during the original shipment. Luckily Julep emailed me to let me know of their mistake, and I got my box in the middle of the month. I decided to go for the It Girl box this month, and received three beautiful spring shades. Let me show you what was inside my box!

This month the theme was pastels, and each maven got a bonus strawberry mint lip balm in her box. I love lip balms, and was happy to get that as a bonus! I’m also loving all of the polishes this month!

First up is Teri, a gorgeous peach creme that leans towards coral. Teri is opaque in two coats and has a good formula that is a bit on the thick side. This polish is a little streaky, but the color is so gorgeous that I don’t mind. Teri is perfect for spring! I put this on as soon as I opened my box this month and got a few compliments on it at school!

Next up is Simone, a pastel lilac that leans towards pink. Simone is also opaque in two coats, and has an amazing formula! My one disappointment is that the blue shimmer effect that is prominent in the bottle is very subtle on the nail. Nonetheless, Simone is beautiful and a great color for all skin tones.

Last but not least is Shenae, a shimmery mint green polish. Shenae is opaque in two coats and the formula is great! I had no problems whatsoever with application. As you know, I love mint greens, and this is the first I’ve tried with shimmer. This is an all-around great polish, and the color is just stunning! Shenae is definitely on trend for spring.

All in all, I’m very pleased with my March Julep Maven Box! Each polish is beautiful, and the formulas are amazing for the most part. If you would like to join the Julep Maven program and get a box of polish and other goodies each month, you can sign up HERE! Your first box is free with code FREEBOX at checkout, you just pay shipping. The best part is you can skip your box each month if you don’t like the colors, or if you don’t have room in your budget. You can also cancel at any time. Let me know what you think of my March box!

My February Julep Maven Box!

Posted on February 20, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

After a disappointing January box, Julep more than made up for it this month! With a few added bonuses, I was so happy that I didn’t end up skipping my box. While I do have a few gripes with the extra products, I loved the two nail polishes I got. I’m sure you will agree that I got my money’s worth this month! Let me show you my February Julep Maven Box.

Look at all of those goodies in one box! This month I got my style profile box — Classic With a Twist. Inside were two nail polishes, the Oxygen Nail Treatment, the Freedom Polymer Top Coat, an eyelash curler, and two chocolate hearts. For all of these products, minus the curler and candy, the total retail value is $64! As a Maven, I only paid $19.95. How awesome is that?! I even love the two polishes I got!

Up first is Helen, what Julep calls a smokey pastel lavender. Helen has that fabulous Julep formula that is opaque in two coats. Helen has a beautiful creme finish, and leans toward a feminine dusty rose color. It is perfect for a professional and chic look! I love Helen — it’s different than any other polish in my collection!

Julep Claudette is the other polish in my February box. This red brick color is a one coat polish! That’s right — what you see in the photos is opacity with just one coat. I was blown away with the quality of Claudette’s formula. I love that the red tone is not as bright as a true red polish, but it’s still perfect for awards season. If you aren’t a red girl like me, this is the one you want to actually keep in your collection! As a one-coater there is no reason to not own it! It’s perfect for when you need a red.

The next item in this month’s box is the Oxygen Nail Treatment. This product baffles me a bit. Why? Well, it is supposed to be worn 1-2 times per week, but without any other nail polish. Since most nail polish aficionados have polish on every day, it’s difficult to find the time to put on this treatment up to twice per week. The directions also don’t say how long you’re supposed to wear the treatment. I wore mine overnight and into the next day for about thirteen hours. Above you can see my nail before (left), during (middle), and after (right). I think the treatment did help to whiten my nails, but I’m not sure that I saw much of a difference. Maybe if I did wear this treatment for an extended period of time I will see more results.

Last but not least, the Freedom Polymer Top Coat was one of this month’s extra items in the box. This top coat is advertised to dry in five minutes in natural light, and in two minutes under a 60-watt light bulb. The finish is supposed to look like a gel manicure, and it to be long-lasting. I included a photo above of Shimmer Polish Karina layered over Claudette. I used the Freedom top coat for that manicure, and as you can see, the finish is great! Plus, the top coat did dry extremely quickly. However, this top coat chips off in a day! I almost never see chipping on my nails, but I used this top coat 3-4 times and my polish chipped like crazy! You also have to make sure your nails are completely dry before you apply this top coat, or your nail art will smudge. I only plan on using Freedom when I am in a rush.

All in all, February was a great month as a Julep Maven! I loved both of the polishes I got, and it was fun trying the nail treatment and top coat. While I am a bit disappointed with the top coat, I still see myself using it in some occasions. I will even try the nail treatment a bit more, too! If you would like to become a Julep Maven, sign up HERE and use code FREEBOX at checkout! Your first month will be free — just pay for shipping! Julep is a fabulous program for just $19.95 per month, and you can skip any month you don’t want or cancel at any time.

Tell me what you love about Julep in the comments, and don’t forget to enter my Baby Lips Giveaway HERE!