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Julep Leaf It Behind Mystery Box Review & Free Box Coupon Code

Jessica Hapak
ByJessica HapakAug 22, 2018 | 17 comments

closed Julep box

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.

Julep recently released two new mystery boxes—the Keep It Shining Mystery Box and the Leaf It Behind Mystery Box.

This is a review of the Leaf It Behind Mystery Box,which is fall themed and no longer available.

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

Julep Fall Mystery Box review

About This Box

The Subscription Box: Julep Leaf It Behind Mystery Box

The Cost: $24.99 + $3.99 shipping

Julep is offering this 12-piece nail polish FREE set with a new subscription!

Use this link and coupon code POLISHGIFT at checkout to add the 12 piece Nail Polish Set to your cart. 

The Products: Sunshine is fine, but fall is all mine! This seasonal mystery box is full of beauty & nail surprises.

Ships to: US

Julep Maven Leaf It Behind Mystery Box Review

Be Strong Oxygen Nail Therapy,

Be Strong Oxygen Nail Therapy, Full-Size! Retail Value $18

This nail treatment is made with an oxygen nail formula to allow nail beds to breathe, botanical extracts to fight breakage, and hexanal to harden nails. I have had acrylics for almost three years (ignoring a spat with a hand mixer, but that is a different story), and I will probably have acrylics until the day I day. Yes I know, I should let my nails *breathe* and acrylic *damages* them, but I just do not feel like myself unless I have a coat of acrylic overlay on my natural nails. Anyways, the point is that I do not use treatments like this but I have a plethora of friends who do, and this will be happily received by whoever I end up gifting it to. In my pre-acrylic days I religiously used nail strengtheners like these as base costs and my nails responded well to that, so I can see the value of including this in the box.

Eyeshadow 101 Crème-To-Powder Eyeshadow Stick in Burgundy Shimmer,

Eyeshadow 101 Crème-To-Powder Eyeshadow Stick in Burgundy Shimmer, Full-Size! Retail Value $18

This port wine shimmer eyeshadow is exactly the kind of jewel-tone shades I think of when I think of autumn, but while I love the idea I thought the execution was a bit lacking. This is creamy to apply, but it definitely does not have "huge color payoff" as stated in the description. This needs a good eyeshadow primer in order to get a good color payout, but even then it isn’t going to look like the online swatches.

When Pencil Met Gel Eyeliner in Soft Black,

When Pencil Met Gel Eyeliner in Soft Black, Full-Size! Retail Value $16

This is a charcoal matte eyeliner that is super smooth to apply, and once it sets it does not budge. I guess this “soft” black is different from the “regular” black eyeliners that subscription boxes love to include, but I wish instead a shade like fig or forest green shimmer was chosen instead to really fit the fall theme.

It’s Balm Full Coverage Lip Crayon in Almond Nude, Full-Size! Retail Value $20

This chubby lip crayon has a hydrating treatment core packed with sunflower oil and Vitamin E, and it really does make this lip crayon feel nourishing while also giving some full-coverage color. Almond Nude is a bit too camel for my fair skin, but I think this should work for a wide variety of skin types that aren’t super pale like me.

Here is the lip crayon swatched below the eyeliner and above the eyeshadow.

Julep Nail Polish in Gabriella,

Julep Nail Polish in Gabriella, Full-Size! Retail Value $14

Gabriella is described as a warm vanilla sheer crème, and sheer is definitely an apt description. With two coats this was almost at opacity, but if I went for a third coat the layers of polish would have been too thick. The formula itself is somehow milky, yet thick at the same time, and it did drag when I went to apply my top coat. Honestly, the best word I can think of to describe this polish is squishy, but that isn’t really what I look for when I am painting my nails. Also, normally the black tops of the polish can be removed from the lid, but this one refused to budge.

Julep Nail Polish in Yvonne,

Julep Nail Polish in Yvonne, Full-Size! Retail Value $14

There are literally so many things wrong with this polish that I do not know where to begin. I'll start by saying that most matte-formula nail polishes are problematic because they are designed to be used without a top coat (top coat = shine). The best matte nail polishes I have found is the Zoya Matte Velvets line, but other than that most matte polishes will fall short—Yvonne included. This formula was thick and lumpy, and it really showed brush strokes—issues that would be solved with a top coat. Honestly, if you want a matter nail look, reach for your favorite regular polish and a bottle of my holy grail matte top coat to get the look you are going for.

Here are the swatches, with Gabriella on my ring finger and Yvonne on the others. Honestly, do these colors scream fall to anyone? I felt like I was reviewing a wedding themed box with these nail polish shades, not an autumn themed one. Based on the gorgeous jewel shimmers shown in the advert for this box, as a consumer, I am very disappointed in the shades chosen.

Julep Buffer Blocks, 4 pack – Retail Value $5

To round out the box we have a four pack of buffer blocks, an at-home manicure staple. These have different grids on each side for maximum smoothing and shaping, and I like using the thicker grit side to smooth out any sharp edges my nail shape may have.

The Verdict: Honestly, this box was a letdown. If I wasn't disappointed in the color selection, I was disappointed in the formula. While it is great to get 7 full-size items in a box if you had shown me what the contents were prior I would not have purchased the box. I guess that is part of the risk you take with a mystery box, but I just feel like Julep could have done better. Value-wise, I calculated a value of $105.

To Wrap Up:

Can you get this box if you sign up today? No, this box is sold out.

ACTIVE DEAL: Get a 12-piece Polish Gift ($160+ Value) with your first box!
CODE: POLISHGIFT

Value Breakdown: This box cost $28.98 ($24.99 + $3.99 shipping), and I calculated a value of $105. That means you are paying approximately the following per item:

  • Nail Treatment: $4.97
  • Eyeshadow: $4.97
  • Eye Liner: $4.42
  • Lip Crayon: $5.52
  • Gabriella: $3.87
  • Yvonne: $3.87
  • Buffing Blocks: $1.38

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

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

What did you think of the Julep Leaf It Behind Mystery Box? Are you still enjoying summer or are you ready to “leaf” it behind?

Starting at $24.99
Active Deal
Get a 12-piece Polish Gift ($160+ Value) with your first box!
Use Coupon Code POLISHGIFT
Subscribe Now
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.
Jessica Hapak
Jessica Hapak
I am a staunch believer that pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza and when I’m not working as a family law attorney I enjoy hiking the Louisiana trails (alligator sightings are a favorite!) or relaxing with Duchess, my cat. I’m a sucker for anything labeled a mystery box and I’ve never met a bath bomb I didn’t like.

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17 comments

misstina36

I have not even received my box yet, and its been nearly two weeks, still waiting, and its very annoying

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Anna

Here’s a link to Julep’s blog with the videos.

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Anna

My link didn’t paste the first time so there’s a comment waiting for review with it.

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Anna

Julep has some great videos with tips for the eyeshadow 101, maybe try that. The only products work well especially if you use them per Julep recommendations. I have six of the eyeshadows and love them.

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Laura

I also would have been so disappointed if I had received this box. I debated quite a while and eventually decided not to purchase. Are you also going to review the other option they had, Keep It Shining?

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R

I think the review for that particular box was posted yesterday 🙂

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Anna

I got the exact same things in my box, the matte shade is just too clumpy it makes it look ugly. I’ve tried the off white on for designs and it’s really nice.

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Lori

Weird, I got different polish shades, but the same everything else.

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Rachel

Wow, I was so tempted to get this mystery box because I love fall colors and I’m so glad I resisted the temptation. Those colors are not fall at all and nothing like the colors advertised.

I usually love the Julep nail polishes, but have gotten several recently where I had similar problems with clumping and not being able to get a smooth finish no matter what I did. Seeing reviews with similar problems (and all different colors so I don’t think it’s just one bad batch) it’s starting to make me reluctant to buy any more from them.

I think I’m going to get one nail polish in my current box, but if it’s another dud, I’m not sure I’ll purchase any more.

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TheGirlWhoLived

Your review is exactly how I felt getting this box. Fall is my favorite season and I don’t feel it was captured with this box.

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Jeannette

Not a great box. Though I have that eyeshadow and I get good color out of it. The light vanilla color nail polish is something I would never wear.

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Cyndi

I agree with you, Jessica. I would have been very disappointed to receive those shades. The makeup shades definitely not usable for me and the nail polishes do not say fall to me either.

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A.M.

Back in the day, Julep’s mystery boxes were awesome- 4+ polishes, plus makeup, brushes, tools, etc. Often over a $200 value.

They also used to have ‘golden ticket’ boxes, with both the monthly & the mystery boxes, where the recipient would be sent the entire collection for the month or $50-$200 gift certificates. I received several & it really made Julep the sub box I most looked forward to each month at the time

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Lesly

I agree, I used to love the mystery boxes. I didn’t feel duped and discovered some really cool items on the site (like my favorite makeup bag from them).

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JA

You could try using a matte top coat as a base to help with streaks then finish with the matte topper.

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Jessica Hapak

Hi JA!
You’re right, I definitely could— but I feel like that defeats the point of making a matte polish to begin with. Thus the Crux of the issue

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Cristina

I loved every item in this box!

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