I'm An It Girl, Thanks Julep!

In an effort to keep my idle hands busy, I've decided to start working on making my nails look nice.  I have never really fussed over my fingernails.  I will paint my toenails, but that's about as crazy as I get.  I am a fine artist, in addition to being a make-up artist, and I am very tough on my hands.  Usually when I put polish on, it's wrecked in a day anyway.  I get hangnails that I mutilate in an attempt to get rid of.  Cuticles...don't even get me started.

Anyway, I recently signed up for the Maven program from Julep.  They had a sale where the first month was only a penny!  AND that included shipping.  This was obviously a great opportunity to try their wares.  They have you fill out a little style survey then let you know what colors they think would work best for you.  It's a little silly in my opinion, especially since they give you the option to select a different mix of products every month anyway.  But I completed the survey and was pleased to find that I'm an "It Girl", was there ever any doubt that I was anything but??

What I liked about being chosen as an It Girl was that the Maven goodie box for the month featured 3 nail colors and a top coat.  Most other boxes have a couple of nail colors and some other hand product like a lotion or a scrub.  While I should probably use products like those, I like colors...so I gravitate towards the fun stuff first!  The colors selected in my goodie box were:  Megan (a nice metallic, mid-shade turquoise), Hayden (described as a "neon peach", more to follow on that) and Leah (a lovely, bright grass green with slight shimmer).  The fourth polish was their fast-dry top coat.

I sat down this morning and decided it was time to swatch.  First I applied Hayden and my initial thought of the color was confirmed:  it's the color of a slice of American cheese.  I suppose I thought it would have a little more pink/red in it.  Not a lot, mind you, just a smidge.  The first coat was streaked.  The second coat was even more disconcerting because it created a thick layer with indentations from the brush strokes in it.  And it STILL didn't create an even color. It took about three and a half coats to get a fairly even color, but it's still not 100% and the thickness makes it difficult to work with.

Next, I gave Leah a spin.  I really like that it is a fresh, bright green.  Again, it took about three and a half coats to get a somewhat even color.   The first coat was nice and thin, but upon laying down another coat this polish also seemed to get thick and hard to work with.  Three coats was almost the charm, but there was still a streak, caused by the brushstroke, right down the middle of the nail.  That's where the half streak came in.  The only other thing that I found disappointing was that the pretty shimmer didn't really show up once the nail was painted.  It's SO subtle, the color looks like a cream.

Last but not least, there's Megan.  I thought this one would be a "gimme."  The first couple of layers went down nicely, thin and easy to layer.  I was still having streaks though.  I'm sad to report that I can't remember how many layers and touch ups it took to get a nice, even color with this one.

I followed up with their fast-drying top coat.  Sadly, the layers were so thick, there was no way this topcoat was going to dry anything, much less, in a quick fashion.  It gives a nice shine, smoothed out some of the imperfections.  But I'm used to Seche Vite, so I guess I'm spoiled.  I just don't see myself using this top coat.

All in all, I am not really a fan of these monthly subscriptions.  There are so many nowadays.  Some send a mix of samples and full-sized products and some let you have a little choice, like the Julep program.  And one thing I can say for Julep is they are very flexible in order to keep your business.  If you want to skip a month, you can.  If you want to send you're monthly goodie box to a friend to hold onto while you're on vacation, you can.  But for me, the bottom line is that if I'm going to spend my hard-earned money, then I want it to be on something I want 100%, not a surprise.

The sales Julep has offered on the Maven program have been good ones.  It regularly retails for $19.99 a month.  Not bad when you consider that their nail polishes are $14 each.  Obviously the sales they have are to get you in the door and committed to the $20 a month.  But I couldn't refuse the offer for a penny.  Sadly, I do not see myself purchasing another Maven box.  I simply do not like the formulas of the nail polish and even $20 a month for two of them and another product is not enough to entice me to continue.

Tinted Lip Balm Heaven

Tinted lip balms are my favorite lip products ever!!  They are tinted just enough to give you some color on your lips and you can apply them without a mirror!  They make your lips feel good and moisturized without feeling heavy.  I know there have already been tons of reviews on Revlon's Colorburst Lip Butter, but here's my take on them.

As soon as I saw these in the store, I knew I wanted at least half of them.  I am a tinted lip balm junkie.  And I love all colors:  pinks, reds, nudes, berries, corals...you name it.  I don't discriminate.  And the range of colors they have are beautiful!  But this time, I decided to stick my toes in before I jumped headlong into a stockpile of new lip products!  Last week CVS and Walgreens had Revlon products "Buy one, get one 50% off", this week Rite Aid has that deal, if you are interested.  So, I went and picked up a couple.I got Berry Smoothie and Strawberry Shortcake.  And guess what?  Yep, you already know.  I fell in love with them.  They are moisturizing, the color is subtle and there is o overbearing fragrance or taste.  That's a big deal to me, if I find a smell or taste undesirable, I can't look past it.  I'm out.

Have I mentioned the packaging?  No??  Well, I love it.  The tubes are silver and come up to the top of the lip balm, so it's not packaged like a lipstick there.  But from the outside it looks like a lipstick.  The cases are clear, with a frosty finish.  There is a diamond pattern on two sides, with the other sides just plain frost.  And the case is a color some-what representative of the color inside!  Fabulous!  Perfect for the "throw it in your purse before you run out the door" types.  No one likes picking up a lipstick only to find it's not the shade they thought it was because the packaging was identical.

All in all, I have picked up a total of 7 of these.  The colors are mostly pinks and reds, although I'm eyeing up Creme Brulee which is a gorgeous nude.  But let's break down the colors I have:

• Red Velvet - A deep, red with cool tones.  Creates a lovely stain with a little more "oomph" or drama.
• Berry Smoothie - If you want a pinky color that is a tad darker than Strawberry Shortcake, this is for you.
• Pink Truffle - More of a nude color than a pink color.  This shade is universal and would work on everyone.
• Peach Parfait - A very sheery, shimmery coral.  
• Strawberry Shortcake - A very sheer wash of a basic pink that is not too bright.
• Sweet Tart - A lighter, warmer, bright pink.  Almost a coral, but not quite.
• Lollipop - A really fun, bright, mid-tone pink with a blue undertone.

I love these and I think you will too.  I am a huge fan of make-up that is quick and easy.  These fit the bill perfectly.  You will find these at most drugstores/big box stores for around $7.  Some places are a little less, some are a little more.  But you will usually find a sale at one of the drugstores around you, so be sure to check the weekly flyers.
 

Wholesalers and Discounters: Do or Don't?

I've been lurking around various cosmetics discount and wholesale stores that sell to the general public.  I've done my research and read blogs and reviews of sites.  I've taken into consideration that most of the time, products are dead stock or testers.  Sometimes the products may be sold because they are "scratch and dent" products or they may have the wrong label, be not quite the color they should be, there are any number of reasons products end up in the hands of these discount sites.  Does this mean they are not usable?  No.  Does this mean they are beyond their shelf-life?  Maybe.

I took a chance and ordered from AllCosmeticsWholesale.com.  I came across their site and they have an incredible selection of stuff on clearance, there are like 47 pages of it!  (I always check sale stuff first.)     Some brands you may have heard of like Stila, Lola, Pop Beauty, Pixi and MAC.  Other ones, like Gaultier's Le Male line (I am guessing it's make-up for men?), you may not have ever seen before.  But with the great prices they have to offer, it's worth it (to me) to try something out.  Nothing I ordered was over $6.99!!

I read some reviews about AllCosmeticsWholesale.com and the thing that worried me the most is that if you have any problems and need to deal with customer service, apparently it is a huge hassle and their customer service is sub-par.  And if any of you are regular followers of my blog, then you know I am a magnet for problems when I place orders!  So, I hoped Murphy's Law may kick in and I placed a small order.  That way if there were any problems, I wouldn't be out a lot of money. 

Now, to the good stuff.  I placed my order on the 12th and it arrived on the 14th.  Two days from Washington State to North Carolina is pretty darn good!  It was packaged well, in a USPS Priority box which was inside a USPS Priority envelope.  Once I opened the box, I found all the products securely wrapped in bubble wrap.  It was great.  Now, one gripe I have is that the shipping is EXPENSIVE.  I paid over $10 in shipping and the small flat rate box mails for $5.25.  And since they used USPS packaging, the only separate shipping expense they had was the bubble wrap, gas and time to take it to the post office.  So, when you think about it, it's not THAT bad.

  I got two mini Pixi eyeshadow palettes, a Pixi blush, three pots of Stila Barbie stuff, two Pop Beauty eyeliners and the Tokidoki eyeshadow Smashbox put out.  Everything was pristine.  The Pixi blush was labeled "tester", so it did not come with a brush in the little tray that slides out underneath.  That bummed me out a little, but it's no biggie, it's not like I don't have any brushes of my own!

Overall, I had no issues with AllCosmeticsWholesale.com.  The shipping was fast and packed well.  The items were pristine.  I think as long as you stick to powder products and some pencils, you really won't have to worry that they are going to expire.  I would worry a little more about lipsticks and lip glosses.  When they go rancid, you will know it and it won't be usable.   When looking at these sites and reading reviews, I'd say go with your gut.  I know ACW was very clear about if something was damaged or mislabeled, not all sites may be like that.  If you feel like it's too much of a gamble, don't do it.  But I tend to be adventurous when looking for deals. 

Have you purchased from any discount site before?  What sorts of experiences did you have?  Please comment below.