Category Archives: Julep

FabFitFun Winter 2019 Subscription Box Review With Add-ons

This is my Winter 2019 FabFitFun review. I ordered three Winter 2019 FabFitFun boxes and some add-ons, so I have a lot to go over. FabFitFun is a quarterly subscription that releases one box per season. Boxes have over $200 in value. The items are always full-sized and include products from: beauty, wellness, fashion, and fitness lines. Subscribers can either pay $179.99 for an annual subscription ($20 off when buying 4 boxes up front) or $49.99 for a Seasonal subscription. Shipping is free, but sales tax gets charged (in certain states). There is usually a code to receive $10 off your first seasonal box. Those codes are fffa2p6 and FAB10. Members can select add-ons at deeply discounted prices to include with their boxes. All subscribers get to customize some choice options, but Annual Subscribers (select members) get extra choices.

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The Julep Subscription Box Program Canceled Effective February 15th, 2019 But Legacy Maven Benefits Continue

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When I received the email that the Julep Maven subscription program ended on February 15, 2019, I was sad. I knew it was possible when I reviewed my February 2019 Julep Maven Box and even mentioned it in that article, but I had hope that everything would work out. Sadly, the subscription program is gone. Julep was one of the few subscription boxes that allowed members to select all items that went inside the box, and all the items were full-size. Getting the items for a fraction of the price of purchasing them for the shop placed inside the box made the boxes very valuable. Allowing members to skip boxes made it even more desirable. It really was ahead of its time. Who knows, maybe it can return someday, and I will be ready to subscribe again if it has the same benefits it had before.

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Best in Beauty 2018 – Top 10 Products

It’s time for the Best in Beauty for 2018! Part of the reason we try new things is the thrill of the hunt. We all want to discover a holy grail or made for me product and are willing to gamble on the unknown. At times, the risk pays off, and we find things worth talking about. Those are the items we want to shout about from the rooftops. Deal shoppers do not always try things the moment they release, because we like to read reviews and wait for sales. The items on this list were not necessarily released in 2018. I did not discover their greatness until 2018 though. This is a list of the 10 best products I tried for the first time this year and for good measure I have two bonus products. While it is amazing when we find drugstore items that perform as well as high-end ones, and I sample products from low-end to luxury with that goal in mind, this list is only indicative of the best products (not the best in their price range).

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The Best 2018 Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday Beauty Sales and Deals

My favorite shopping event of the year is finally here. This weekend, which kicks before Thanksgiving with some retailers, provides some of the best deals we will see. Traditionally, this is the weekend where most retailers cross over from red to black, and they will do whatever it takes to earn your shopping dollars. Offers are competitive, because almost every retailer will have one. I will update this every time I see an incredible offer through Cyber Monday, so this list will grow over the week. My tastes might vary from yours, so make sure you sign up for emails from all of your favorite retailers. It is also a good idea to check multiple blogs and sites to see what each of them feel is worth mentioning this season. Most of these offers go out to all customers. Of course, there might be some affiliate exclusives or offers targeted to select customers. I am not listing any small offers, because this is the time of year when we can stretch our budget further by scoring just the right deal. Some big offers will not make the cut either, because I cannot list them all.

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The Best Labor Day Sales and Deals This Weekend

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Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894 when Grover Cleveland (some dispute giving him credit) declared we needed an annual celebration of workers and their achievements. This was during the height of the Industrial Revolution, so employees were really making an impact on the economy. It was not uncommon for workers to endure 12 hour shifts, seven days a week. No one was immune, not even children. Since weekends did not exist for these workers, Labor Day was a welcome and extremely brief reprieve for our ancestors who brought us into a new millennium. Though must of us do not have the work ethic of our forefathers, and thank goodness for that because there is more to life than earning money, Labor Day is still an important part of our society.

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Core Collection Spring 2018 Deal Discoveries

Welcome to the place where I like to discuss my favorites from each season that I did not finish. Anything I’ve finished this season made it into my Empties article. Items I am still in love with as I empty them become FabuFinds. While I cannot promise I will ever finish these (some products expire before I can empty them) and I cannot promise I will still love them enough to label them as FabuFinds upon completion, I loved them throughout this season. These are items I reached for many times even though I have plenty of similar items in my stash collecting dust. Many of these items are serious contenders for my Top 10 of the Year. There were six items I reached for constantly this spring.

Like my FabuFinds, these are items I consider great deals. The deal discoveries do not need a discount to earn their value (although I will always try to find one if I can). Most of the time they are new to my collection. That is mostly due to the large amount of new products I try each year. Sometimes, they are items I’ve tried in the past but love more upon rediscovery. While I try to edit mini reviews into any article I mentioned these items in, I like to dedicate more time and attention to items I feel are worth the extra effort. They are core items to my collection.

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Julep Maven 2018 Birthday Gift Review Free Nail Polish – Zodiac Collection Passionate Pisces

Julep used to award 200 Jules for your birthday. Read my last subscription box review to learn about Jules and how they work. When my birthday passed and my Jules did not arrive, I reached out to customer service to see if they eliminated the birthday gift. The main reason was to update my master list of birthday beauty offers, but I am almost always willing to place an order when the deal is right. Customer service responded that Jules are no longer awarded for your birthday. There is a new birthday offer for 2018, but I had to write back to see what it was. I never received any birthday offers from Julep at all this year.

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Julep Zodiac Collection Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Capricorn

I spent all of 2014 and 2015 collecting the Julep birthstones. My plan was to collect every birthstone in 2016 as well. Julep decided to forgo the Birthstone Collection this year to focus on the Zodiac Collection. Each sign released before the introduction to the new period. Julep sold a new set of Zodiac polishes for 2017, but I have not purchased any of those yet. Pisces may land in my collection, but I am unsure if I want to own all the others yet. These are from 2016, but are still available for purchase. Thus, I decided to round out my series on this collection with the last 3 polishes. Any other nail polishes I collected during my blogging break are only swatched in their respective Nail Polish Swatch article. I am not writing any articles on them.

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FabuFinds October 2016: Product Spotlight

Every month, I review my Empty Products. Some products are not worth thinking about once the month is over. Others are wonderful and seem like they’re made for me. Those are FabuFinds, and I generally devote a little more time to discussing them. They are items I have repurchased and will continue to repurchase even at full price if I could not find a good promo code. Items I am loving but cannot finish any time soon make it into Deal Discoveries.

To eventually spotlight all of my FabuFinds, I will never repeat items already mentioned in a past article. That does not mean they lost their magic. It is also possible an item not spotlighted in a past Empties article may get promoted as I try it more and fall deeper in love. Other times, it is because I had a lot of FabuFinds in a previous month and decided to condense the article. There are five products I consider FabuFinds in my October Empties that I have not discussed yet.

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Monthly Manicure Reviews Featuring Nail Polishes: Smith & Cult Dark Like Me, Julep Katie, Joni, and Nicola

My nail polish collection is large, and thanks to my Julep Maven subscription, I keep adding to it. That means Julep polishes represent my biggest percentage, but I own a lot of brands. Once a month, I will share all of my monthly manicures listing the polishes I used, how many coats of each I used, and how long each lasted. This should give me an opportunity to use my polishes more often and actually review them. Since my polish collection keeps growing rapidly, I am not going to list them all in one place. Swatches and descriptions of every polish I own go into an article listing all polishes in the same color family. Typing the name of the polish you want to see in the search bar will pull up its respective article if I own it. If you have any requests on polishes I own that you want reviewed, please list them in the comments. As long as the polish you want reviewed is close to the color or finish I am looking for when I paint, I will consider it.

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Nail Polish Restoration

I do not believe in nail polish expiration dates. Microbes typically cannot survive in polish, and the period after opening number on some nail polish bottles is merely a formality. They are there for governments or consumers who like them. Surely there are exceptions, but polishes that are well taken care of generally last a long time. Store them away from heat and light, and make sure you close them as tightly as possible after each use. Keeping air from penetrating the bottles is key. Bottles that are not tightly closed will go bad quickly, even if they’re brand new. Over time, some polishes break down faster than others. The brands I am mentioning in this article are guilty of this. Before tossing polish, it is always a good idea to attempt restoration. If your polish is so hard that you cannot pull the brush out, restoration gets a lot more difficult. Tossing those is probably best, although not necessary.

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Julep Meet Your New Beauty Bestie Maven Meet-Up Exclusive In-Store Event at Ulta, Clearance and GWP Offers

See Targeted GWP Offers for 2018.

I love all things Ulta and all things Julep. When I received an email from Miriam at Julep stating she was going to Ulta on 10/08/16, I decided I wanted to check out the event. The Julep event I attended on 08/29/16 was a lot of fun. This event was in a store, instead of a restaurant, so I went in knowing it would be a different experience. According to the email, I’d get a chance to play with some Julep products, have a tutorial, and a GWP if I decided to buy anything. I responded to the email to see if she needed an official RSVP. Miriam said I did not need to RSVP as long as I came in between 12 and 6:30.

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Julep Yumi and Zodiac Collection Libra Review

I spent all of 2014 and 2015 collecting the Julep birthstones. My plan was to collect every birthstone in 2016 as well. Julep decided to forgo the Birthstone Collection this year to focus on the Zodiac Collection. Each sign releases before the introduction to the new period. That means we can expect each sign to release before the secret store opens. Thanks to a great code in my September Julep Subscription Box, I was able to place this order before the item hit the secret store.

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Monthly Manicure Reviews Featuring Nail Polishes: Deborah Lippmann Prelude to a Kiss, Julep Virgo, Ulta Pro Green and Wear It, AND a Call to #Putthenailinit

One in four women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime. This story of Fernando is a reminder that men are victims, too. Someone I love very much is in an abusive relationship she is not ready to leave yet. I am sure there are other loved ones in past or present abusive relationships. My heart breaks for all victims, whether I know them or not. This is an epidemic that Safe Horizon wants to call attention to. Visit safehorizon.org to learn more about Moving Victims of Violence from Crisis to Confidence. To join the movement and call attention to the cause, write #putthenailinit on social media, and paint your ring finger purple. You can also donate to or share this cause from putthenailinit.com.

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Tips For Getting the Best Deal When Shopping Julep

Julep canceled its subscription program on February 15, 2019, which was a fantastic way to save money. There are still some tips for getting the best deal at Julep I can offer. Anyone who had a Maven subscription when the program ended was grandfathered into the Maven deals listed below other than the box itself and the Jules, which were eliminated. I removed the information regarding the subscription box and Jules once they were canceled.

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Core Collection August 2016 Deal Discoveries

There are so many products I fall in love with but will take a while to finish. Instead of waiting until I can mention them in a FabuFinds article or waiting to see if they make the Top 10 of the Year, I want to go over items from my Core Collection. These are items I consider great deals (even at full-price, although I will still try to get them with a deal). If I ever finish them, I will probably replace ones that do not already have back-ups. Sometimes, they are items I’ve had for a while and just tried or items I tried in the past but love more upon rediscovery. Occasionally, I purchase items I love that do not fit into an article other than this one. When I try something from a recent acquisition where I wrote an article, I will always edit a mini review into the original article (love, hate, or anything in between) or mention it in an Empties article (if I finish it quickly). A single product review in the original article will not always depict how much I love it compared with other items I tried that month. This lists my Deal Discoveries from August 2016 that I am not even close to finishing.

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Julep Zodiac Collection Virgo Review and Voila! Nail Polish Thinner

I spent all of 2014 and 2015 collecting the Julep birthstones. My plan was to collect every birthstone in 2016 as well. Julep decided to forgo the Birthstone Collection this year to focus on the Zodiac Collection. Each sign releases before the introduction to the new period. That means we can expect each sign to release before the secret store opens. Thanks to a great code in my July Julep Subscription Box, I was able to place this order before the item hit the secret store.

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Where in The World is Jane Park: Las Vegas Julep Maven Meetup

I am a huge fan of Julep. The brand makes my favorite nail polish, and I love a lot of the beauty products from this line. When I got an email that Jane Park, the Julep founder, was coming to my City, my fangirl senses started tingling. It takes a lot to bring out the fangirl in me, because while I admire a lot of people, I realize that at the heart, they are just people. People we admire are usually those who have the drive and desire to pursue their dreams. That in and of itself makes them special. If their dreams and desires align with yours, it is more likely to turn you into a fangirl when you meet them. My expectations for this event and what came to pass were a lot different from what I imagined.

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Monthly Manicure Reviews Featuring Nail Polishes: Zoya Zuza, Ulta Baby Doll, and Julep Leo

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My beautiful niece, who passed away on 02/18/15, would have been 10 today. Although it is nowhere near as substantial as anything she used to write, I dedicate this article to Sammy. I love and miss you more than I can ever express. If your Mom lived closer, I’d give her a great big hug today.

My nail polish collection is large, and thanks to my Julep Maven subscription, I keep adding to it. That means Julep polishes represent my biggest percentage, but I own a lot of brands. Once a month, I will share all of my monthly manicures listing the polishes I used, how many coats of each I used, and how long each lasted. This should give me a great opportunity to use my polishes more often and actually review them. Since my polish collection keeps growing rapidly, I am not going to list them all in one place. Swatches and descriptions of every polish I own go into an article listing all polishes in the same color family. Typing the name of the polish you want to see in the search bar will pull up its respective article if I own it. If you have any requests on polishes I own that you want reviewed, please list them in the comments. As long as the polish you want reviewed is close to the color or finish I am looking for when I paint, I will consider it.

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Core Collection July 2016 Deal Discoveries

There are so many products I fall in love with but will take a while to finish. Instead of waiting until I can mention them in a FabuFinds article or waiting to see if they make the Top 10 of the Year, I want to go over items from my Core Collection. These are items I consider great deals (even at full-price, although I will still try to get them with a deal). If I ever finish them, I will probably replace ones that do not already have back-ups. Sometimes, they are items I’ve had for a while and just tried or items I tried in the past but love more upon rediscovery. Occasionally, I purchase items I love that do not fit into an article other than this one. When I try something from a recent acquisition where I wrote an article, I will always edit a mini review into the original article (love, hate, or anything in between) or mention it in an Empties article (if I finish it quickly). A single product review in the original article will not always depict how much I love it compared with other items I tried that month. This lists my Deal Discoveries from July 2016 that I am not even close to finishing.

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Julep Zodiac Review Leo

I spent all of 2014 and 2015 collecting the Julep birthstones. My plan was to collect every birthstone in 2016 as well. Julep decided to forgo the Birthstone Collection this year to focus on the Zodiac Collection. Each sign releases before the introduction to the new period. That means we can expect each sign to release before the secret store opens. Thanks to a great code in my July Julep Subscription Box, I was able to place this order before the item hit the secret store. This was the first order I’ve ever paid sales tax on. The August selection email notified everyone in my state and about 10 others that we will start paying sales tax, so I expected this.

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Monthly Manicure Reviews Featuring Nail Polishes: Rococo Flower Child Creme and Julep Kimberly

My nail polish collection is large, and thanks to my Julep Maven subscription, I keep adding to it. That means Julep polishes represent my biggest percentage, but I own a lot of brands. I started a nail polish challenge around the beginning of 2015 to put more of my polish to use. Sadly, my challenge got derailed when life got in the way. Halfway through this month, I decided to start regularly painting again. Instead of challenging myself to paint my nails at a specific time, I will just paint when I feel like it. Once a month, I will share all of my monthly manicures listing the polishes I used, how many coats of each I used, and how long each lasted. This should give me a great opportunity to use my polishes more often and actually review them. Since my polish collection keeps growing rapidly, I am not going to list them all in one place. Swatches and descriptions of every polish I own go into an article listing all polishes in the same color family. Typing the name of the polish you want to see in the search bar will pull up its respective article if I own it. If you have any requests on polishes I own that you want reviewed, please list them in the comments. As long as the polish you want reviewed is close to the color or finish I am looking for when I paint, I will consider it.

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Julep Cancer

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I obviously love Julep nail polish, but I think a lot of items in their lip range are equally impressive. When I saw they were releasing a new product, a Lip Butter for the July 2016 Maven box, I decided to order two. My Julep Maven Subscription Boxes usually arrive between the 5th and the 9th with a few anomalies in either direction. On 06/29/16, I received an email stating my box was delayed with a code that offered 20% off as an apology. Usually Julep just gives added Jules as a delayed shipping bonus, so this coupon code was different. The email said this code, JULY20 works on anything, even items in the secret store.

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Julep Maven June 2016 Subscription Box Review and Gemini from The Zodiac Collection

When it comes to nail polish, I am a huge fan of Julep’s five free formula. These polishes chip less than most, and the polishes themselves are a good deal when you have a Maven membership. They are quality polishes, so I would probably purchase them at $14 each if I did not have my Maven membership. Luckily, I do not have to pay that much. The color selections and polish finishes are more vast than almost any other nail polish line. Every month, they release seven to nine new colors (and at times re-release 1-2 from the vault). I have not skipped a box since I first subscribed in May 2014, because I find something I want every month. More often than not, the nail polishes are what draw me in, but I like to try Julep’s beauty products as well.

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Julep Aries and Taurus

I spent all of 2014 and 2015 collecting the Julep birthstones. My plan was to collect every birthstone in 2016 as well. Julep decided to forgo the Birthstone Collection this year to focus on the Zodiac Collection. Each sign releases before the introduction to the new period. That means we can expect each sign to release before the secret store opens. Thanks to a wonderful Leap Day sale that did not exclude codes, I was able to get two polishes free with this order.

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Nail Polish Swatches Greens

My nail polish collection is large. Polishes kept in good condition (away from heat or light) can last a long time, longer than the two years many people quote. A good thinner (I use Seche Vite) can also revive them. I have tossed polishes when thinner cannot save them or they have obviously gone bad, but it is rare. When I started collecting polishes again, I tossed all polishes older than the summer of 2013. To avoid ordering duplicates, I created a spreadsheet. Swatching them with these spoons I purchased from Amazon will help me compare the colors, finishes, and overall quality. All polishes only have one coat, because I wanted to spot the difference between my sheer and opaque polishes. We’ve all seen polishes that look dark in the bottle only to need 3-4 coats for opaqueness. No polishes have base or top coats either, because that can change the way the polish looks.

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Nail Polish Swatches Salmon and Wines

My nail polish collection is large. Polishes kept in good condition (away from heat or light) can last a long time, longer than the two years many people quote. A good thinner (I use Seche Vite) can also revive them. I have tossed polishes when thinner cannot save them or they have obviously gone bad, but it is rare. When I started collecting polishes again, I tossed all polishes older than the summer of 2013. To avoid ordering duplicates, I created a spreadsheet. Swatching them with these spoons I purchased from Amazon will help me compare the colors, finishes, and overall quality. All polishes only have one coat, because I wanted to spot the difference between my sheer and opaque polishes. We’ve all seen polishes that look dark in the bottle only to need 3-4 coats for opaqueness. No polishes have base or top coats either, because that can change the way the polish looks.

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Nail Polish Swatches Treatments, Base Coats, and Top Coats

My nail polish collection is large. Polishes kept in good condition (away from heat or light) can last a long time, longer than the two years many people quote. A good thinner (I use Seche Vite) can also revive them. I have tossed polishes when thinner cannot save them or they have obviously gone bad, but it is rare. When I started collecting polishes again, I tossed all polishes older than the summer of 2013. To avoid ordering duplicates, I created a spreadsheet. Swatching them with these spoons I purchased from Amazon will help me compare the colors, finishes, and overall quality. All polishes only have one coat, because I wanted to spot the difference between my sheer and opaque polishes. We’ve all seen polishes that look dark in the bottle only to need 3-4 coats for opaqueness. No polishes have base or top coats either, because that can change the way the polish looks.

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Nail Polish Swatches Yellows and Golds

My nail polish collection is large. Polishes kept in good condition (away from heat or light) can last a long time, longer than the two years many people quote. A good thinner (I use Seche Vite) can also revive them. I have tossed polishes when thinner cannot save them or they have obviously gone bad, but it is rare. When I started collecting polishes again, I tossed all polishes older than the summer of 2013. To avoid ordering duplicates, I created a spreadsheet. Swatching them with these spoons I purchased from Amazon will help me compare the colors, finishes, and overall quality. All polishes only have one coat, because I wanted to spot the difference between my sheer and opaque polishes. We’ve all seen polishes that look dark in the bottle only to need 3-4 coats for opaqueness. No polishes have base or top coats either, because that can change the way the polish looks.

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Nail Polish Swatches Sheers and Whites

My nail polish collection is large. Polishes kept in good condition (away from heat or light) can last a long time, longer than the two years many people quote. A good thinner (I use Seche Vite) can also revive them. I have tossed polishes when thinner cannot save them or they have obviously gone bad, but it is rare. When I started collecting polishes again, I tossed all polishes older than the summer of 2013. To avoid ordering duplicates, I created a spreadsheet. Swatching them with these spoons I purchased from Amazon will help me compare the colors, finishes, and overall quality. All polishes only have one coat, because I wanted to spot the difference between my sheer and opaque polishes. We’ve all seen polishes that look dark in the bottle only to need 3-4 coats for opaqueness. No polishes have base or top coats either, because that can change the way the polish looks.

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