[Subscription Box] Julep Maven September 2015

Julep Maven September 2015 Monthly Subscription Box

I have skipped the past few Julep Maven boxes, but the September colors drew me in.  I think I swapped out one item, added on one item with my Jules, and received a bonus polish for free.

Julep September 2015 Maven Box, featuring (l-r) Cassandra, Rayma, Aubrey, Zoey, and one polish labeled "Julep 5226"

Cassandra - A dark wine crelly

Rayma - A deep berry cream

Aubrey - A berry metallic

Zoey - A dusty seafoam green cream

Julep 5226 - A dusty purple-pink cream, similar to Essie Splash of Grenadine but darker and more gray for autumn, which was the bonus polish

Julep September 2015 Maven Box Swatches:   (l-r) Cassandra, Rayma, Julep 5226, Aubrey, and Zoey

I have not yet worn any of these polishes on my nails, so I don't know how they truly apply or wear, but I have swatched them on my nail wheel, and all the polish formulas seem fantastic as usual.  Most Julep polishes are thick (but not goopy), apply easily without pooling in my cuticles and self level, and dry fairly quickly.  They are often one-coaters, but I almost always prefer wearing two coats because I have thin nails that need extra protection.  My swatches all have two coats.

A quick run-down of this subscription service:  Julep is a nail polish company that offers a monthly subscription box.  Each month, Julep comes out with new seasonal colors of nail polish along with other nail and beauty goodies.  Subscribers can choose to have Julep pick their box items for a surprise, swap out items to create their own ideal box, or skip any month without being billed.  Subscribers can add on more items to their boxes for a fee (lower than it would cost to buy the items separately from the box), and they also get reduced prices site-wide.  With each box, subscribers accumulate points, called Jules, that can be used towards receiving a free monthly box or free add-ons (your choice how to use them).  Jules are also given out for milestones such as their birthday and the anniversary of subscription.  I think the subscription service is very easy to use.  This was only the second box I took this year, and skipping months is very easy and worry-free.

This is my personal referral link to join Julep Maven.  According to the Julep site, if you join using my link, you get your first box free (whereas if you just join without a referral link you get a box for half-off).  Your first box will not be the usual monthly box; it will be a special welcome box.  For every referral I give that leads to a new subscriber, I get $15 to spend on Julep.com.

[Haul] Zoya

Previously, I only had a couple bottles of Zoya nail polish, purchased from a local beauty supply store, and I was impressed with them.  In December, I made my first purchase from Zoya.com.  Now that I have more Zoya polishes, I think it is my new favorite nail polish brand.  I purchased 11 polishes, including 5 out of the 6 new colors from the winter Feel Collection.

Zoya nail polish haul

The polishes in the top row are (left to right)  Kristen, Carey, Megan, Kendal, Kennedy, and Porta.  The polishes on the bottom row are Nikki, Malia, Rea, Faye, and Moxie.  I've tried them all and love them all except for Kendal, which has a thick consistency and is not easy to apply, and Kennedy, which just looks like an odd color against my skintone.  You'll be able to see me wearing most of these polishes in upcoming posts.

Zoya Kristen | Zoya Carey | Zoya Megan | Zoya Kendall

Zoya Megan | Zoya Kendall | Zoya Kennedy | Zoya Portia

Zoya Nikki | Zoya Malia | Zoya Rea

Zoya Rea | Zoya Faye | Zoya Moxie

I love whites, baby blues, pastel pinks, and purples in the winter.  I noticed my latest nail polishes match the colors of my winter sweaters.

My winter sweaters in my favorite winter colors

With my purchase of those 11 bottles of polish, I received two sets of "spoons," swatches of some of Zoya's recent collections.  I also received a free 7-ounce container of Qtica Grapefruit Surprise Sugar Scrub and a free 2-ounce bottle of the Zoya nail polish remover.

[Freebies] Zoya Remove+ nail polish remover and Qtica Grapefruit Surprise Sugar Scrub

The Zoya Remove+ nail polish remover contains no acetone, works better at removing my nail polish  than my acetone-based remover, and it smells like lavender.  I love it, and I have already purchased a larger size.

The Qtica Grapefruit Surprise Sugar Scrub is the most amazing hand/foot/body scrub I have ever used.  I use a teeny tiny drop of the scrub on my hands and feet, and it makes them feel super smooth and moisturized.  The scrub smells deliciously like ruby red grapefruit and sugar.  It actually looks and smells like the filling from jelly candies that I used to eat as a child.  Every time I use it, I have to resist the urge to eat it.  I looked up the price of this product on the Zoya/Art of Beauty website, and this full-size container sells for $18!  One, that's an excellent freebie to include with my purchase! Two, Zoya sure knew what they were doing enticing me with this freebie scrub because I love it so much that when I run out, I'll probably fork over the $18 for a new one.

To celebrate the beginning of 2012, Zoya had offered two free nail polishes to everyone.  I only had to pay $7 for shipping for two bottles that would normally cost $16 (no including shipping costs).  I bought Zanna and Bela.

Zoya Zanna and Zoya Bela

I originally hadn't purchased Zanna because I thought it would be too similar to another Zoya polish I already owned, Mia.  I swatched them, and Zanna is darker and more blue than Mia.

Swatches of OPI Japanese Rose Garden (pointer), Zoya Zanna (middle finger), and Zoya Mia (ring finger)

On Valentine's Day, Zoya.com offered free shipping on all orders plus one free red nail polish.  I purchased a large container of the Zoya Remover+ (backordered), the Zoya Anchor basecoat, and the red polish Tosca.  Tosca is a bright pink red with orange shimmers, a summer color.  It appears more pink in person than in the picture below.

Zoya Tosca and Zoya Anchor basecoat

And that's everything I've bought from Zoya in the last three months!

[Haul] China Glaze 2011 Halloween Collection

I first saw online the China Glaze 2011 Halloween Collection, Haunting.  I loved the yellow-green glitter, glow-in-the dark, and black crackle polishes.  Sally Beauty Supplies had a set that also included a rust orange polish from the 2010 Halloween Collection.  The 4-set everywhere else included a clear top coat instead, so I ordered from Sally's.

Orly Nail Lacquer Thinner | China Glaze 2011 Halloween Collection

I also picked up the Orly Nail Lacquer Thinner because I still have nail polish from high school (I graduated in 2001).  I haven't tried the thinner yet, but I've tried or swatched all the polishes.

Cross Iron 360 :: This is a medium metallic orange.  It goes on the nail lighter than it looks in the bottle.  This is an all-around good autumn color.

It's Alive :: This is a yellow-leaning green polish with small and large flecks of yellow-green glitter.  It looks ghastly against my cool pink pale skin.  With this polish, I plan to rock zombie hands this Halloween.

Black Mesh :: It's a black crackle.  I've never used crackle polish before, but I think this will create some awesome Halloween manicures.

Ghoulish Glow :: This is a glow-in-the-dark polish.  It's a stereotypical glow-in-the-dark color: faintly green but translucent.  This needs at least 2-3 coats for the glow to be apparent in the dark.

[Haul] My First Zoya Polishes

Last weekend, I took a quick trip to the mall, and I bought more nail polish.  I just started painting my nails last winter, so I don't have many polishes.  (Well, I do now.)

I was looking for polishes in autumn colors.  The local beauty supply store in the mall had nail polish on sale: buy 2 get 1 half off.  I picked up these three beauties.

Zoya "Shivon" | Zoya "Mia" | Zoya "Nina"

As soon as I arrived home, I tested out the colors.  They are all beautiful and compliment my skin color (super pale and leaning towards a cool tone).  My favorite color for fall is "Shivon," and it's on my toenails now.

Zoya "Shivon" :: This polish is a vibrant pink-tone red with a gold shimmer.  It reminds me of autumn leaves and Thanksgiving and... cornucopias.  I'm odd.  Does any nail polish remind you of cornucopias?

Zoya "Mia" :: This is a lovely slightly-muted creamy pink.  If I was Zoya brand, I'd name this color Victoria. This polish is very similar to Essie's new "Lady Like" except "Lady Like" is slightly more purple/mauve while this is more pink.

Zoya "Nina" :: "Nina" is a dark (but not too dark) milk chocolate brown.  It leans towards a red-brown, which compliments my skin much more nicely than a green-brown.

[Haul] Trans Design Nail Polish

All Essie polishes were (and still are) on sale on Trans Design for only $4/bottle.  I love Essie!  So I went crazy.

My order from transdesign.com

That's what 14 bottles of nail polish (plus 1 bottle of cuticle oil) looks like. O_O

I just doubled my nail polish collection.

I wanted polish in autumn and holiday colors.  It appears I bought mostly reds for the holidays and nudes for winter.  Red and nude nails - classy.

I tried to snap pictures of swatches, but the light was quickly fading (since it was a rainy day here), so I'll show you just the bottles for now and follow with descriptions/first impressions of the colors.  I also have a (good!) review of the Trans Design customer service at the end.

China Glaze "Ruby Pumps" | China Glaze "Deck the Halls" 3/pack

China Glaze "Ruby Pumps" :: This polish looks just like Dorothy's ruby pumps.  It's a medium red jelly base with tiny red glitter.  I love it.  It's a perfect festive Christmas color.

China Glaze "Glittering Garland" :: I am typically not a fan of wearing green (as it doesn't go with my complexion), but I bought this polish to create Christmas manicures.  The base is green with tiny green flecks of glitter.  This is a beautiful glitter polish.

China Glaze "Holiday Berry" Cuticle Oil :: I have never used a cuticle oil before.  I normally hate scented things, but this smells really lovely, like Christmas fruit cake - fruity and spicy.  It's red though, so it is noticeable when I apply it.

China Glaze "Champagne Fizz" :: I didn't try this one out, but looking at the bottle, it seems to be a gold metallic polish with some silver glitter.

Essie Winter 2011 Cocktail Bling Collection in colors "Size Matters" and "Bangle Jangle"

Essie "Bangle Jangle" :: The color is a muted light lavender.  It appears to be a one-coater.  I look forward to wearing this polish in the winter.

Essie "Size Matters" :: This one is a very dark wine red with a slight blue undertone.  It almost looks like a deep wine stain.  I think this is a one-coater as well.  Yay for one coaters!

Essie "Size Matters" | Essie "Plumberry" | Essie "Watermelon" | Essie "My Place or Yours"

Essie "Plumberry" :: This polish is a dark raspberry (blue-pink red) color with very slight shimmer.  I love this color.  I picked this polish as the first to try out, but I totally botched my manicure.  I even got nail polish on my face (how? why? how?).  This one takes two to three coats for total opaque-ness.

Essie "Watermelon" :: This is summery medium bright pink.

Essie "My Place or Yours" :: I think any place else, this color would be called "Guava."  It's a corally light pink.  I think this will be a great color for summer.  It matches my bikini!

Essie "Pink Glove Service" | Essie "Cloud Nine" | Essie "It's in the Bag" | China Glaze "Inner Beauty"

Essie "Pink Glove Service" :: I already own this polish, and I'm giving away this bottle.  It's a sheer pink-toned polish.  It is wonderful as a it-doesn't-look-like-I'm-wearing-polish, healthy-nails look.

Essie "Cloud Nine" :: This is a sheer white jelly.  It's not streaky at all.  I foresee this on my fingernails most of the winter.

Essie "It's in the Bag" :: Maybe it's just me (I don't apply polish well), but this is a little streaky.  However, with three coats, it's almost opaque.

China Glaze "Inner Beauty" :: This could be worn as one coat or more.  It's an incredibly pale (almost white) sheer pink.  The nail line is visible with three coats, but I like that.  It's not streaky.  It's demure, and I love it.  I'm wearing it now.

Orly "Witches' Blue" | Orly "Candy Cane Lane" | Orly Ridgefiller base coat | Orly Flash Dry drops

Orly "Witches' Blue" :: This is a mini bottle of polish.  The color is sapphire blue and shimmery and gorgeous.  It might be a bit too dark for my pale skin, but I love the color.

Orly "Candy Cane Lane" :: This color is a deep red red, like the red part of candy canes (whoulda thunk it?).  I think it has a jelly-like finish, but it's hard to tell in this poor lighting.  This doesn't apply as well as the Essie or China Glaze polishes.  It's only my second Orly polish (the other is a glitter), so I don't know if this is true of all Orly or not.  Also, the bottle didn't arrive 100% full.  I don't know if that's typical or not. 

And that's all except the for the Orly Ridgefiller base coat and Orly Flash Dry drops, which I haven't tried yet.

How was my experience with transdesign.com?  Awesome!  I placed my order Friday night.  On Sunday, I noticed an email from the company stating that my credit card wouldn't go through.  (Long story short: bank canceled the debit card because it might have been "compromised.")  Trans Design said they would hold my order for 10 days, and I could email or call to pay or cancel the order.  On Sunday, I called and placed the order with a new card, and it shipped that day, and it arrived to me on Thursday.