Julep Mystery Box January 2016

I'm generally not all too lucky with giveaways, but I was recently selected as winner of a complimentary subscription box from Lizz of Subscription Box Buzz. My prize was initially supposed to be a snack box, but after learning the company does not ship to Canada, Lizz was very kind to take the time and effort to replace my prize with a Julep Mystery Box. I collaborated with Julep on a blog post in 2014, and have been wanting to try its nail polish for years. So thank you, Lizz, for helping fulfill my curiosity!

The 'Tote-Ally Amazing Julep Mystery Box' comes with a canvas tote and at least $120 worth of nail and beauty products. My box came with eyeliner, lipstick, and five bottles of nail polish. I was overjoyed when I first laid eyes on everything - I could not have asked for better items!

First of all, the makeup. It's rare that I ever wear makeup (check out the first time I did here), but I consider eyeliner and lipstick to be fundamental products. If you're in a rush to get out of the house, I find doing your eyes and lips will make the biggest difference. The eyeliner I received from Julep was a gel pencil in bronze shimmer. I absolutely adored the shade! I have found in the past that black eyeliner looks too harsh against my features, and so this softer bronze added just the right amount of definition. As well, the lighter shade made it easier to hide mistakes and achieve a smokier look, which I think suits me better. The slight shimmer in the bronze was a nice touch, and the liner was very easy to remove afterwards.

The crème lipstick came in the shade Last Call. While it looked shockingly pink in the tube, it was actually exactly the kind of pink I prefer. I like to avoid red lipstick because it's too overwhelming on my fuller lips; as a result, I always gravitate towards more natural pinks. While this Julep bullet is bolder than my current shade from Elizabeth Arden, I'm happy to add a brighter colour to my arsenal for fancier occasions.

From left to right: Joy, Missy, Casey, Posey, Andie

But of course, it's Julep's nail polish that I've been dying to try. I tend to only like pastel, red, or sparkly colours, so I was pleasantly surprised to find Julep practically catered to my tastes with the shades it gave me! The formula was rich, and the brush fanned out nicely for smooth application. Although I haven't tried many nail polish brands, I would say Julep is good enough to rival Joe Fresh. Joe Fresh polish has amazing application, but I can tell Julep's formula is of higher quality.

The Posey shade stood out to me most, so I decided to try it first. I paired it with a Missy accent nail, which ended up looking like fantastic molten silver glitter. Very satisfied with the final result! I will be posting photos to Facebook as I go through the other bottles, so be sure to follow along if you're interested in seeing how the remaining shades look.

Thanks again to Subscription Box Buzz for hosting the giveaway!

I'll Have a Julep

Four years ago, I sloppily discovered nail polish in a university dorm room.  My friend had offered to help me paint my nails for the first time, and it was there I realized my nails had the potential to become amazing canvases for self-expression. It was like a whole new world opened up to me.  I couldn't stop staring at my nails - when I was typing, when I flipped through a textbook, or when I saw my reflection in the mirror as I brushed my teeth - because nail polish made everything I did with my hands just that much better. And because I don't wear makeup, nail polish is essentially my one and only beauty pleasure.

Throughout my nail polish adventures, there is one brand I've come across and have always wanted to try: Julep. Imagine my surprise then, when I incredulously found an email from Julep asking if I would be interested in sharing my holiday look with them. Let's just say it was a no-brainer.

Skirt: La Dive | Top: Alice + Olivia | Heels: Christian Louboutin | Earrings: Dolce & Gabbana | Clutch: Saint Laurent | Lipstick: Gucci | Nail polish: Julep 'Karissa' & Julep 'Oscar'

I'm a classic girl, as you all know, but I like my fashion drama. Whether it be a ball skirt in shocking holiday red, a simple tee covered in glimmering gold sequins, or a quintessential pump with a raised counter (and red sole, naturally), it's all about taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary. For my nails, I would do the same by taking classic red and pairing it with girlish glitter.  Whether I indulge in a glossy red manicure with glitter tips, or simply use the golden glitter as an accent nail, I know one thing for sure: I won't be able to stop staring at my freshly decorated hands.