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Julep Maven Review & Free Box Coupon Code – March 2016

Chris Acree
ByChris AcreeMar 12, 2016 | 17 comments

julep_mar2016_bigbox

Julep Maven
3.8 overall rating
176 Ratings | 76 Reviews

Julep Maven is a monthly nail polish and beauty subscription box. They make all their own products, so subscribers get a good value each month – over $40 retail worth of product for $24.99 a month.

And, if you sign up for 3-months up front, you get the $19.99 rate.

Each month Julep releases a new collection on the 20th, and you can decide which box you want, you can upgrade to the entire collection, or you can skip that month.

My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

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The Subscription Box: Julep Maven

The Cost: $24.99 a month ($19.99 a month with a 3-month subscription)

NEW COUPON — Use this link to get a free box when you sign up for a 3-month subscription!

The Products: Nail polish plus beauty items.

Ships to: US and Canada

Check out all of our Julep Maven reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your Wish List or Subscription List!

julep_mar2016_lightenup

This month I could not decide which polish colors I wanted in my box. I loved them all! I went back and forth trying to choose during the entire selection period. This is the second time this has happened in the almost 3 years since I have been a Maven. Last time that happened, I decided to go with the Polish Lover Upgrade and get all the colors. This time I told myself that if I couldn’t decide by the last day, it was either go big or go home.

Since you are reading this now, you can guess what I decided. I will get to that more in a minute. In the meantime, I should also mention I wanted 2 add-ons.   

julep_march2016_addons

Since I wanted to try 2 eyeliners from this month, I decided to add them to my box as well. The add-on price was $6.99 each, but I opted to use 600 Jules (Julep points) each instead so I added these at no out-of-pocket cost to me.

When Pencil Met Gel – Ocean Blue – Retail Value $16 

When Pencil Met Gel – Electric Teal Shimmer – Retail Value $16 

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Here are the eyeliners swatched. Ocean Blue is on the left; Electric Teal Shimmer is on the right.

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Clean Slate Conditioning Nail Polish Remover Refill – Retail Value $10

If you pick 3 or more add-ons, you get a free bonus gift. Since I was already getting 2 add-ons, I decided it was a good time to also pick up a nail polish remover refill since this is my favorite polish remover and I could use some more. The add-on price was $5.99, but I opted to use another 600 Jules instead so there was no out-of-pocket cost to me. My bonus gift was Julep Nail Color in Nayely – Retail Value $14, a papaya nectar crème color, which I didn’t have before.

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Okay, back to the regular box itself. The back side of the card had a quote I liked

by Kevyn Aucoin (who, incidentally, had a palette in the Neiman Marcus POPSUGAR Must Have Box 2015 box which is awesome).

julep_march2016_quote

The upgrade to receive all the polish is an additional $30 on top of the regular box price.

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When I went with the Polish Lover Upgrade, I received all 10 polishes this month and the Pearl Gem Decals.

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Pearl Gem Decals – Retail Value $6 

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I haven’t tried the decals yet, but probably will later this month with my daughters.

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Here are the first 5 colors included in the collection as pictured above from left to right:

Julep Nail Color in Abby – Retail Value $14 (honey almond sheer crème)

Julep Nail Color in Sage – Retail Value $14 (green tea chrome)

Julep Nail Color in Monique – Retail Value $14 (mother of pearl chrome) 

Julep Nail Color in Charlene – Retail Value $14 (hint of lavender chrome) 

Julep Nail Color in Kenna – Retail Value $14 (dove grey crème)

I really like almost all of the colors! Kenna is my least favorite of the bunch and the most difficult to work with though.

And the same colors in that order on my fingers, starting with my pinky and working counterclockwise:

julep_march_2016_1-5

Continuing on with colors 6-10 above (listed there in order from left to right):

Julep Nail Color in Skylar – Retail Value $14 (harbor blue chrome) 

Julep Nail Color in Trudy – Retail Value $14 (botanical teal crème) 

Julep Nail Color in Cecile – Retail Value $14 (Caribbean breeze holographic jelly) 

Julep Nail Color in Yen – Retail Value $14 (concord grape crème) 

Julep Nail Color in Yiyi – Retail Value $14 (pink freesia holographic jelly)

The holographic jellys are so pretty on their own and would make great topcoat! This is the first time I have tried them and I will definitely choose them again. 

And the same colors in that order on my other hand, starting with my thumb and working counterclockwise.

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Finally, swatched on the nail polish bottles themselves:

julep_march_2016_swatches

julep_march2016_BAREFREE

This box also came with bonus candy and a coupon code for a FREE Bareface Cleansing Oil with your next purchase of $30+ (Expires April 30th, 2016.)

Verdict: I’m happy with my selections this month. What do you think of the March 2016 Julep Maven box? Which items did you pick this month?

Starting at $24.99
Active Deal
Get a 12-piece Polish Gift ($160+ Value) with your first box!
Use Coupon Code POLISHGIFT
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Julep Maven is a nail polish and beauty subscription service. Each month you can choose one of five boxes, skip that month, or upgrade to the entire collection of beauty and nail polish products for an additional $30.
Chris Acree
Chris Acree
Chris is a moderator on the MSA forum. Her current favorite subscription boxes are Box of Style, RawSpiceBar, Julep, and My Pretend Place although the list changes frequently. She cannot resist a spoiler.

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17 comments

Alta

I ordered my first Julep March 14th with the promotion of 12 free nail polishs worth $168.00. To my surprise my free gift came in today. I really didn’t think they were sending full size nail polish. Thanks Julep!!!!!!

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Emily

This was my first month with Julep and I am impressed! I was able to sign up with the special choose your first box promotion, which was great because I’m not into nail polish. I got a gel eyeliner in a gorgeous deep plum and an It’s Balm in pink. Both apply like butter and I want more! I also got a giant konjac body sponge. No extras — that seems like a dark road to go down! I also talked myself out of buying anything from the secret store, but it was hard!

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Faye

I got YiYi and I love it. I don’t use it as a top coat. I used 3 coats and it makes a nice pink from far away,and an awesome holographic glitter up close!

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Michelle Chang

Just an FYI – the polishes are still only $14 retail/$11.20 Maven price. I nearly freaked out when I saw they increased to $16! The only things that are $16 retail are the eyeliners.

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chris

You are right! Sorry about that! Cut and paste error…. Thanks!

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Gail

What a great review!! I’m kicking myself for skipping this month (my first time ever doing that).. but bills will be bills. Those holo jellies are breaking my heart for not being in my collection though!!

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mimiretz

I also got the 2 eyeliners. I love teal, and the blue is also pretty. I got a handful of nailpolishes, but offhand don’t remember which ones. I do appreciate you showing them on your nails — it helps a lot more than just seeing them on a card.

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Sara

I soooo wish I would have know that Yiyi was a holo jelly! I just wasn’t paying attention. 🙁 Now it’s sold out.

(I adore jelly polish & sparkles!)

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chris

Yes, this is the first time I have tried the holographic jellies and now I understand why people love them.

Put Yiyi on your wishlist and get it when it comes back! You will be glad you did. 🙂

Cecile is a really pretty version, too. I was thinking next time I should take some pictures outside….

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Sara

Thanks for the advice! I didn’t even know I could do that!!

Kendra

Is this a dumb question? How do you swatch the colors onto the lids!? Do you use another brush?

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Amy

I was so puzzled by this very issue for a long time, until I was reading a review and saw a picture where they had pulled the square part of the lid off, and it separates from the brush!

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chris

Yes, it is really easy once you know the trick. Just kind of wiggle the cover back and forth and pull up slowly and it will come off. (Some of them are tighter than others.) Good luck!

April

Thank you so much for putting all those polishes on and organizing and labeling them all so well for us! I LOVED that! I got Charlene this month and love her, but was also contemplating Monique but it looked too silver on the Julep site so I didn’t (I have 1 billion silvers. lol), but I might come around for it in an upcoming month because it does seem more pearlish like I’m looking for on these photos! I love to see all the colors actually on a non-Julep site/person, just love it! haha So I wanted to say THANK YOU!

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chris

Yay, glad you loved it! You are so welcome. 🙂

I really like Charlene, too! The hint of lavender in the chrome is perfect. You can easily see the pearl in Monique in real life. Julep did a great job on these!

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Ragan

I got the same two eyeliner colors. I have been obsessed with blues and teals lately and I like the Julep formula a lot. Also the two holographic jellies and some other add-ons for the free gift.

I was not so into this month’s polish colors, I think just because I have so many silvers already.

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chris

I like Julep’s eyeliner formula, too. It goes on easily and stays on. How pretty are those colors? Love it!

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