Julep June 2014 Box Review

Hello peepsicles!

I've been feeling crappy the last couple of days and also the world cup so I didn't post this Julep review as soon as I should have. It might be on the brief side (well, in comparison to my long winded soliloquy-stylez other reviews) because I'm seriously crappy/tired but hopefully my next review will be back to a solid three hour read (I'd never really do that to anyone who would take the time to read anything written by lil ol' me. Or would I?)

Note: I have like 2 box pics so I've decided to pick up a couple from Julep and I don't own those images, I'm just using them to illustrate the colors I was sent.

Now on to the good stuff:

Left to right: Phia, Jennine, and Savoy.

Ok, so this was my first box back after months of a sub-less desert of life and I don't think I even made any selections during the selection period (20-24th of the month). I was automatically sent the 'it girl' box since that's my profile. Don't worry, you don't get a box if you don't want it since you can skip any month you want or you can change your choice/profile monthly. It's really a kind of no-frills box with no add-ons or extras, just the standard 3 nail colors.

 Now, I looooove Julep so I still liked the colors I got but I hope we get a super summery and bright (maybe neons and pastels? I'm all about bright colors right now) collection next month and maybe some lip products because yessssss. Before I forget, this collection's moniker is 'Three Wishes' which does seem in tune with the tones (mad rhyming skills, yes?!).

Julep Nail Color in Phia

Phia is described as an 'alluring orchid iridescent chrome' and it really is. It's actually my manicure today and one coat looks good, two coats perfect. It looks sheerer than it really is (it applies almost full coverage with one coat) and the shimmery purple is so much better looking on my nails than what I originally expected. The formula was great too. It applied smooth, no gloopiness, and no streaks (a miracle!). It might be my favorite this month. 10/10

Julep Nail Color in Jennine

I'm a sucker for glitter and anyone who has read any (seriously ANY) of my other reviews knows this. Plus, if I see a 'stardust finish' sticker, I get excited like a dog with a bone. Julep describes it as a 'full coverage borealis blue stardust (matte glitter)'. I feel like it reminds me more of mermaids because of the sea reminiscent color (and I recently watched 'The Little Mermaid' and I'm just really feeling mermaids this month) and it is pretty cute. I don't know what to really mix it up with combination wise but I DO know that applying a glossy topcoat takes away the texture and cool matte glitter look so don't do it! It'll just look like a standard glitter and no one wants that, right?? It really is full coverage and one coat won't show through but I always do two (or three only when I really can't get a color right where I want it and then I'm worried that it'll just peel off....) and the formula was great for a glitter! It wasn't horrible to apply like glitters typically are and there was no thickness or gloop. Ugh, I just makes me crave that mermaid theme box at birchbox so much which I can't even dream of because it retails at $44.00 and I am poor as a $2 whore (assuming she's not working much). Overall, I don't know if I'd typically pick up this color for myself but I'm very glad I did get it because it's a lot cuter than I expected by the looks of the bottle. I'm starting to think nail polishes are like shoes, you really have to try them on to really know if you love them or not. 10/10

Julep Nail Color in Savoy

So, first of all, this one I feel like I have many dupes of but I still love the shade because I love metals. Unfortunately, the color I expected to be my fave was delivered in what seems like a partially opened or broken or poorly manufactured bottle. The inside of the top started cracking when I opened it and nail polish was all over the top and the sides. It suuuucked big time. I love the color and I still swatched it but due to it's being freaking open, the formula was super thick and streaky. I don't really think this is the case for anyone who got a clean bottle but it was a major disappointment for me and my metal loving ways. Fortunately, Julep has great customer service and I got in touch with them so we'll see what happens. 1/10


Overall, the June box was solid and the colors cute (except for the open bottle because whyyyyy) but it wasn't the most amazing box I've gotten (there have been some *amazing* ones). I almost forgot to mention that there were a couple of Pixie sticks added in as an extra and I realized I'd never tried them before (like ever!) and it was a good introduction to these crazy ass little sugar straws but I only got to taste one because my sugar fiend of a father (shout out to my pa' because it's father's day and I love him sooo much! He's sick right now and I hope with all of my heart that he'll get better because I'm pretty sure I don't and can't love anyone as much as I love him) was gifted the other. In the end, I'm sooooo happy to have been able to get this box in the first place and I'm already giddy and excited for next month. So hopefully I'll be extolling on the virtues of Julep for a while.

7/10 (thanks to the open bottle and just so you all know, there is no actual mathematical averaging going on, I just pick numbers on a 1-10 scale ;P)

Box:

Julep Maven

Frequency:

Monthly

Price:

$19.99 (add-on prices vary and are added on to the $19.99 base price) 

Perks: 

Ability to earn free boxes, ability to use earned jules to pay for add-ons, etc.

Recommend? 

Yep. I liked this month's box and Julep has made me a happy Leslie just by sending me one. Their CS is pretty great (especially if you call in because emails may take a while to get a response) and their variety of offered items gets better and more varied (to be redundant) every month. It used to be a straightforward nail polish sub but with the addition of other nail polish-less profiles, you can get different items each month without having to get polish at all. I think I might take that up sometime when I'm not in the mood for that month's nail colors (since you can change your choice every month). In conclusion, I'd say try a month if you're really interested and need/want more nail colors in your life . You can always (and should!) cancel if you're not in completely in love like I am.

As always, don't spend your hard earned cash on something you're not 100% in love with!