Julep Maven Bombshell Welcome Box Review

I finally gave in and decided to join the Julep Maven subscription bandwagon! They have a code for your first box free (code: FREEBOX) so that also tempted me. For those of you interested, you first take the quiz to find out what your style profile is and if you don't like it, you can choose to change it. I got Classic with a Twist but I preferred Bombshell so that was the box I got :) You can take the quiz using my referral link.

This welcome box comes with 2 nail polishes (Kendra and Zelda) and the Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum. For some reason, my box came with the colour Jane instead of Zelda so I emailed Julep about it. My box also came with a 50% off welcome code and some free buffer blocks.

Before signing up for Julep Maven, I received an email saying that I could get choose from a selection to get 2 free polishes with the code FREEGIFT. I chose Lizanne and Harriet and then got Myriam for the $4.99 add-on. Since I wasn't a Maven yet, I had to pay for shipping and the add-on but this entire order ended up being just $14.99! This ended up being in U.S. dollars so with the exchange rate, I was charged $16.87.

Harriet - Guava coral crème
Lizanne - Sea green shimmer
Kendra - Army green frost
Jane - Full-coverage rose gold multi-dimensional glitter
Myriam - Casino red crème

 

Left to right: Harriet, Lizanne, Kendra, Jane, Myriam

I swatched Harriet, Lizanne, and Kendra but not the other 2 because I think I will be either giving them away or trying to sell them. The formula is really nice and requires 2 coats to be opaque but it is not as 'fast drying' as it claims.

I really like the concept of the 'Swatch Me!' sticker at the top! These polishes have an overcap so that's where the sticker is. My only issue with these Julep polishes are that the packaging seems very excessive. Each polish comes in a cardboard box and then these boxes also come in a sleeve. I understand that this probably helps with shipping, but I think they should just use the sleeves and skip the individual boxes.

Besides the mix-up with the Jane and Zelda polishes, I like the ones I got. Another good thing about this box is that you can see what you can see what's in each box before hand and change which box you will be getting. Mavens also get 20% off at www.julep.com and free shipping :) If you would like to join, feel free to use my referral link to take the style profile quiz!

Topbox April 2014 Review

This is my 3rd Topbox so far and unlike the last one, I have mixed feelings about this box. I put the dermalogica Privé box on my Topbox wishlist but ended up with the regular Topbox again. Also a bit disappointed that I didn't get the Murale box but oh well. For those that aren't subscribed, Topbox is a montly beauty subscription box that lets you "get 4 hand picked deluxe samples delivered to your door for $12 per month."

Products:
- LA Splash Nail Spash in Mystique (full size - $7.50)
- Thierry Muglar Alien Eau Extraordiaire (6 mL - $7)
- Sweet Pea Soap Honey & Oats (half size? - 2.98)
- Miracle 10 Skincare Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 (50 mL - $38)

I'm happy with the Miracle 10 since it is a full size and I don't currently have a face sunscreen for the summer! I'll be trying this within the next few weeks to see how it does :) The SPF could be a bit higher but even a bit of SPF is already good enough, right?

The Alien perfume is decently sized but it is one of those dab type applications. I'm not really sure how those smaller 3 mL samples can have a spray application, but a slightly bigger bottle doesn't :/ Another downside is that I'm sensitive to stronger perfumes so I'm not sure what to do with this.

I also have mixed feelings about the nail polish because I have a similar colour and it seems a bit too shimmery for my liking. This will probably be gifted but it does seem like a wearable colour.

And lastly, I really like the soap! It contains almond fragrance so it smells sweet and nutty but there is also a hint of something else to tone it down (probably the oats). The soaps on their site don't seem as small so this probably isn't a full size but the ingredients seem like it could be a nice, moisturizing soap. Ingredients: coconut oil, olive oil, palm oil, castor oil, distilled water, sodium, hydroxide, honey, oatmeal, and almond fragrance oil.

Total Value: $55.48
Paid: $13.56

This box was definitely a great value! Despite 2 of the products not really matching my tastes, I got a full sized product I think I will actually use so this was still a fairly valuable box to me. What did you get in your April Topbox?

Sephora VIB Sale 2014 15% off

For those other Sephora VIBs out there, today is the start of the VIB Early Access Event where all in store and online purchases are 15% off! Today is also the only day to get the limited-edition cosmetic bag (in-store) :)

VIBs should have gotten an email a few days ago so check that one to get your in-store coupon, or use the promo code VIBTICKET for online orders. The offer is good April 3 - 11th. I'm not sure if this is replacing the usual 'Chic Week' but I really hope not and that they will have the sale later on for regular Beauty Insiders. I think VIBs can also bring a friend so make sure to share the love with other beauty lovers out there :D

I've been anticipating this sale for a while so I already have a wishlist compiled ;)

- Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush

- Ole Henriksen Cleansing Clothes: Oil-Free Pore Refining

- Tarte Clean Slate Poreless 12-Hr Perfecting Primer

- Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo or Perfect Brow Pencil

- Benefit Cosmetics Posietint

- Ole Henriksen Walnut Complextion Scrub

- Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup

Has anyone tried any of these products before and if so, how did you like them? What's on your wishlist for this sale? :)