Julep DD Creme

RATING (out of 5 stars):4.5 stars

COST: $36 ($28.80 for Mavens)

THE SKINNY: I am pretty suck of all the alphabet miracle skin creams, but Julep's DD Creme deserves an A+.

I have not been thrilled with many of Julep's other beauty products -- nail polish aside -- but this all-in-one super foundation is amazing. It's just as nice as my go-to Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm.

Both make skin look great without looking made up! A must have for me ... especially in the summer months!

Only a dab of the cream goes a long way to evening out skin and helping set the foundation for a great overall look. The formula is light, non-greasy and lasts all day without making you look shiny.

And best of all ... it contains SPF 25, unlike many of the other BB and CC creams on the market. This alone might be enough to encourage me to switch to this product permanently.

Comparably, the price is on par with other fairly premium brands, but for now it is only available through Julep. (Hopefully it will be added to their lineup at Sephora.)

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. What a great find in this month's Julep Maven beauty box.

CHECK IT OUT: Julep DD Creme comes in four shades -- light, medium, medium-dark and dark and is pretty true to tone.

-- Tested by Carrie

Julep Daylight Defense SPF 30

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $28 for 3 ounces

THE SKINNY: Julep Daylight Defense SPF 30 was an extra freebie in a recent Julep Maven box. I love the idea of a summer moisturizer that you can use on your hands and face with a high-level SPF.

The scent was light with a hint of oranges -- I loved the perfectly summer fragrance.

But the lotion was a little too thick for my combination skin. I really loved the feel and sun protection but was left with a lot of shine along the T-zone. So, for me, this is much more of a winter product. The moisture is just a little too much for the heat. (And SPF is good year round!)

I bet the formula is great for people with drier skin than mine.

But for now, I will probably use it on my hands rather than face because I can't get enough of the orange-y smell.

KEEP OR TOSS: I'll use the sample that came in my Julep Maven box, but it seems a little pricey for a product that I can't use for half of the year.

CHECK IT OUT: I really love the Julep Maven program. It allows me to try a lot of new products (not just nail polish) for $20 a month and you can skip months without foregoing the membership. Check it out and make sure to search for a promo code, you can usually get your first month for a penny! You can also but products such as Daylight Defense on their own -- no membership required.

-- Tested by Carrie

Julep Sea Salt Texture Spray

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $22 ($17.60 for Mavens)

THE SKINNY: Julep's line of non-nail polish products has been very hit-or-miss so far. (I am a Modern Beauty, meaning I get products each month unless I opt for polish.)

The Sea Salt Texture Spray was a miss.

I typically love products like this, but the Julep version fell flat. Literally.

Sadly, my hair did not have an ounce of body or beachiness to it. 

KEEP OR TOSS: I might try again, but I am thinking this will be a toss. (This is especially sad since they sent me a full-size bottle!) Maybe it works better on thinner hair.

CHECK IT OUT: I'm not recommending this product but I will tout Julep as an overall brand. The Julep Maven monthly subscription box is especially nice.

-- Tested by Carrie

Julep's The Best Pedi Creme Ever!

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 stars

COST: $22 for 2 ounces

THE SKINNY: I am terrified of my feet each spring when I break out sandals for the first time. Rough heels, chalky toes -- gross!!!! (But I know you can relate.) And every spring I struggle with several types of creams ans scrubs to get my feet back in pure summer form for all those great strappy shoes.

This year, it is a little more simple. In my April Julep Maven box (you can read about the program here), I got a sample tube of Julep's The Best Pedi Creme Ever! which is available for order online. It is my new favorite product.

After just two days, my feet are smoother. No extra scrubbing or exfoliation required. I have just been smoothing a light lather of the cream on my feet before bed, adding socks and ta-da! (Nothing is better than getting pretty with no hassle, right?)

The creamy formula, which contains shea butter, coconut oil and Vitamin E, has a great light cucumber and mint fragrance and really does feel nice. The lotion is not too goopy or thick. It glides on almost like a hand lotion but with extra benefits. (I have also been using a little on my hands as well to combat dryness.)

Julep has nailed it with the product.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. I will be ordering again for sure!

CHECK IT OUT: You can order Julep's The Best Pedi Creme Ever! direct from the company. Also check out the Maven program where you can get a box of goodies mailed to you each month. (Try the first month for just a penny with the link and code COLOR2012 or code PENNY. But note, coupon codes can change frequently.)

-- Tested by Carrie

Beauty Box No. 1

UPDATE (3/19/12): You can try Julep Maven this month for 1 cent! (And shipping is free.) Use the link and code SHAREONMARCH.

I got my first beauty box from Julep as part of the Julep Maven program and I love it!

I "tested" as an American Beauty on the site and less than a week later had a box of nail products that really do suit my taste. The box included polishes in "Bold Berry Red Shimmer" and "Gold Glitter" -- two staples you can never go wrong with and an essential cuticle oil.

And top top it off (and maybe in honor of the Oscars coming up), the box included a chocolate bar shaped like the classic statue.

One of the best features in the box came on the card describing this month's products with a tip to remove glitter polish (you know what a pain that can be). The tip: Hold a cotton ball with remover on the nail for several seconds before rubbing the polish off.

Beauty Test Dummies reviewer Shay also got a box -- Boho Glam -- with shades Oscar and Marine.

Let's just see if Julep can keep up the good work. My first box was $1 (and the packaging was superb) but will I be able to use enough nail products to justify $20 per month?

You can join the site and order your own Julep Maven box. Use code SHAREONFEB through the end of the month to try it for $1. And please share your thoughts with us!

We are also still looking for someone who might have bought a Birchbox or Cravebox to share their thoughts with us as well.

Julep Maven Beauty Box (Review and Giveaway)

RATING: 4 stars

COST: $20 per month

THE SKINNY: Julep Maven is a fun little beauty box program that allows you to get new nail polishes and products in the mail each month. (And they are giving away a box to one reader.)

I personally love this program. I have been a member for almost a year -- the company just celebrated its first anniversary -- and have yet to be disappointed. You get a box each month (typically two polishes and a bonus item) based on a beauty style profile. The introductory box comes with two polishes, The Best Pedi Creme Ever and toe separators in a beautifully wrapped package. (When you grab the box out of the mail, it will feel like your birthday!)

The great part about this program is the flexibility it offers. You can skip a month without cancelling your membership and you can change which box you are going to get. (They send a preview email before shipment.)

But best of all is the quality of products. These polishes come in hundreds of great colors. And they last. (My most recent Julep pedicure is going on two weeks with no chips!) You will be sold on The Best Pedi Creme Ever -- it smooths your feet like nothing else.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. And when you are overstocked, just pause for a month.

CHECK IT OUT: Take Julep's quiz to find out what box fits your personality and sign up. Even better Julep is offering Beauty Test Dummies readers their first month for just 1 cent! Just use code MAVENINTRO when you place your order.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Julep Oxygen Nail Treatment

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $18 or $14 for Mavens

THE SKINNY: Julep touts its new Oxygen Nail Treatment as "makeup for nails."

I think the slogan is silly but the product works pretty well. You use it instead of your regular polish to help build and grow nails. It has a pale pink tint that has shine and looks natural.

The catch? You need to use it alone. No topcoat, no basecoat and no polish. (Yes, this can be tough.)

But the results are worth it. My nails do seem stronger and they have been less likely to break. I was also experiencing some nail dryness and chalkiness. The Oxygen treatment has really helped there too. 

The only downside is that it is not a basecoat treatment. Maybe Julep will alter the formula later.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. This was a great addition to a recent Maven box.

CHECK IT OUT: You can buy Oxygen direct from Julep (please use my referral code 1520442). I've been a member of the Julep Maven monthly beauty box club since the beginning and love it. You get great discounts on items, new products and you can pause your monthly membership as you choose without losing any benefits. Subscribe today!

-- Tested by Carrie

Julep Eye Sheen (Pale Nude Shimmer)

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 stars

COST: $18 ($14.40 for Mavens)

THE SKINNY: Julep has slowly been expanding its line to include a variety of makeup products and the new Eye Sheen is absolutely fantastic.

I got one of the tiny pots in a recent Julep Maven box (highly recommended) and have been using it almost daily ever since. The creamy eye shadow is almost a liquid and glides on with the sweep of a finger.

The color is subtle (I am using Pale Nude Shimmer) and has a nice touch of sheen without looking like Kesha. I am pairing it with a colored liner right now for a simple look. The product comes in four colors and actually does last all day. (That is a definite bonus of cream shadows.)

The only downside -- also common with cream shadows -- is if you apply it a little too thick you can feel it on your lids for a while. So be careful.

I hope this is something that becomes a staple in Julep's ever-expanding line.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: Check out all the color available and order from Julep.

-- Tested by Carrie

Julep Pomegranate Scrub and Pomegranate Creme

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $18 each or $14.40 with Julep membership

THE SKINNY: This combination from Julep smells delicious, like candy. That's reason enough to give it a try. It's also a decent scrub-lotion combination for your skin.

The shea butter salt scrub is good for smoothing and moisturizing rough heels, elbows and knees. Immediately after using it, my skin feels a little oily, as if it's been slathered with a really thick moisturizer. It's not a bad sensation and it's not sticky. This isn't a miracle scrub, either. You have to use it a few times a week to make a lasting difference.

The lotion is not shea butter, so it's not as thick as I'd like it to be. (Maybe it's the packaging in the round tub that makes me want it to be shea butter?) But it goes on smooth, soaks in quickly and smells heavenly.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. These came in a $20 Julep mystery box with a bunch of other products, so I feel like I really got my money's worth.

CHECK IT OUT: We're big fans of Julep's Maven boxes.

-- Tested by Shay

Julep One-Step Polish Remover Pads

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RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $9.99 for 10 ($7.99 for Mavens)

THE SKINNY: Nail polish remover pads are a great idea but so far every one I have tried has fallen a little short.

The Julep One-Step Polish Remover Pads fell a little short as well. The pads contain aloe and don't have that super-strong smell that many other polish removers have (a real bonus). Each pad only contains enough solution to remove the polish from one hand (or foot) before getting too dry to work effectively.

You have to rub fairly vigorously to get results.

But it would be a great fix on the go because they are small and mess-free.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. Stash them in your bag for emergency travel touch ups.

CHECK IT OUT: You can buy direct from Julep ... and check out the Julep Maven program while you are there. The monthly boxes are pretty awesome.

-- Tested by Carrie

Julep Orbital Eye Shadow (Supernova)

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 stars

COST: $18

THE SKINNY: I know what I'll be wearing when the ball drops tonight -- the new Julep Orbital Eye Shadow in Supernova.

This new eyeshadow from Julep is a great color (how can you go wrong with purple) and is full of great little blue flecks that reflect light beautifully.

The color was very much what you would expect when you open the container, lasted all day and garnered a few compliments.

Use it as a liner shadow for day or full on smoky eye for a special event, such as New Year's Eve. Want more drama? Use this shadow wet for a super look.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: The new Julep eyeshadow line comes in six shades.

-- Tested by Carrie

Gift Guide & Black Friday Beauty Deals

Now that the holiday shopping season is officially here, we felt like we'd round up some of our beauty favorites for you. Following are some of our favorite products, packaged just for the holidays. Use this list to shop for the women in your life or print it out and give it to your significant other.

Favorite Beauty Sets

Smashbox

Create your own gift sets. You get to pick two top-sellers (be sure to check out all the styles), plus it comes with a free clutch and gift wrapping. We suggest pairing Limitless 15-Hour Cream Eyeshadow and Photo Set Pressed Powder. Prices vary.

Fragrance for Him
The Leading Man Fragrance Sampler for Him from Sephora is a great first for the man in your life. The kit contains five deluxe samples and a certificate that is redeemable for a full-size of any one of the samples in store at any time. Included are BVLGARI AQVA Pour Homme Marine, DIOR Fahrenheit, GUCCI Guilty Pour Homme, John Varvatos and Paco Rabanne 1 Million. $42

fresh
Sugar Berry Merriment Set. The products in this line are phenomenal ... and expensive. But you get a good deal with this set which includes a Soy Face Cleanser, Sugar Lip Polish, Tinted Lip Treatment and Supernova Mascara. $28.

Julep
Julep has some great polish sets in its holiday gift guide with price starting at under $20. (We love the color choices and durability Julep offers.) Plus try anything in the Julep Gift Guide with free shipping and 20 percent off with code SEASON20. Or give the gift of a monthly box with a Maven subscription -- you can never have too much polish!


Clinique
One of our favorite brands with a ton of great sets for the holidays. Check out the Even Better Skin Care kit ($79.50) or for your guy Great Skin for Him ($39). And Clinique is offering various freebies with purchases through the holidays!

Urban Decay
Buy the Black Palette for a friend while it is on sale. This is a great mix of colors plus a primer potion. $16

Ole Henrickson
The Celebrate the Truth kit contains products with Vitamin C and will make skin feel amazing. $60

Black Friday Deals

Sephora is offering a variety of sets for just $10 ($12 in Canada) all day. Brands in the sale include Boscia, Philosophy, Ole Henrickson and Too Faced. 

Smashbox will continue its annual Friends and Family sale through Nov. 25. That's 25 percent off for everyone! Use code FRIENDS2012. (Check out our Smashbox reviews.)

e.lf.Cosmetics will have a a medium (83 pieces) makeup kit for $15 at Target. It comes with a ton of colors and we are loving the low-cost e.l.f. brand. The only con is that it looks like it might be online only. 

Ulta has an entire sales ad devoted to Black Friday if you have one nearby, check it out! The $1 stocking stuffers are awesome -- hair ties, pedicure kits, shower gels and nail polishes.


Happy shopping!
Carrie & Shay

Julep Pout Popper

RATING (out of 5 stars): 0 stars

COST: N/A

THE SKINNY: This product is no longer available on the Julep site, but consider this fair warning if you ever come across it. (My tube came in a Julep mystery box in June 2012.)

This lip gloss/plumper is painful.

I don't mind a little tingle from a little cayenne extract worked into a gloss such as Buxom's Big & Healthy. But about two minutes after I applied Julep's Pout Popper, my lips and the skin around my lips began to burn.

And by burn, I mean BURN. I looked in the mirror expecting to see blisters. Luckily, I did not.

It took about 20 minutes for the burn to go away once I scrubbed off the lip gloss. It never made my lips plumper, just redder from being irritated.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss. Once was an awful experience. Twice would just be stupid.

-- Tested by Shay

Julep Sweep Eyeshadow Palette

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 stars

COST: $24 ($19.20 for Mavens)

THE SKINNY: The new eyeshadow line (and palette) from Julep reminds me of the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette.

The small palette contains a great mix of neutral colors that blend with each other or other shades to create a simple or smoky look. The Julep Sweep Eyeshadow Palette is a great addition to the ever-expanding Julep line.

Every color -- there are five in the palette -- is beautiful and goes on smooth.

• Tiramisu: nude satin
• Glow: golden shimmer
• Dusk: mauve satin
• Toffee: bronze shimmer (my favorite)
• Cocoa: chocolate brown with gold shimmer 

With primer, the shadows tend to last as well as any others that I use regularly.
I only wish the case snapped shut (it is magnetic) so I could toss this small palette into my bag.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: See the palette for yourself or join the Maven program to get goodies in the mail each month.

-- Tested by Carrie

Julep DD Concealer

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $32 (25.60 for Mavens)

THE SKINNY: I'm not really sure why Julep didn't just call it concealer, but the new DD Concealer is a nice addition to the brand's expanding skincare line.

The small creamy concealer goes on easy -- just a dab has a lot of coverage -- and holds all day.

It worked great at covering up a small zit and some under eye darkness.

This product claims a lot of long-term effects, but those are hard to see. I'll give it the thumbs up for good color (it comes in light, medium and dark) and coverage.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. A little expensive but it works as advertised.

CHECK IT OUT: While some Sephora has some Julep products, your best bet to find this one is directly from Julep online. And if you are not a part of their Maven program, check it out. This is a fun and flexible beauty subscription program! (Get your first box free this month with the link above and code FREEBOX.)

-- Tested by Carrie

Julep Giveaway

Thanks for helping us reach 1,000 Facebook fans! We are sharing that love right back with you by giving one Beauty Test Dummies reader a box of awesome goodies from Julep.

This prize pack includes three Julep nail colors (Clara, Rose and Alfre), a Pomegranate Body Scrub, Strawberry Mint Lip Balm and three ribbon hair ties.

We're reviewed a ton of Julep products (including some in this box.) The Maven program is a fun way to try new products each month. You can learn more and sign up.


This box is a great value! Enter today using the Rafflecopter form below.

This contest runs through Aug. 31 and is open to U.S. residents. Thanks and good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Julep Reveal

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $38

THE SKINNY: Julep's nail growth revitalizing serum is one of the few products that helped my thin nails grow longer. You apply this thin clear serum all around your nails, twice daily, to encourage growth and nail health.

I used the product for a few weeks before I saw results. My nails are just thin and are prone to breaking. Wearing any sort of polish or growth formula seems to make the problem worse.

With Julep Reveal, my nails did grow longer but weren't much stronger as a result. Once I stopped using it regularly, they all broke again.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. It does work and the bottle does last for a while.

CHECK IT OUT: If you don't know about Julep, you should. It's one of the few beauty boxes you can opt out of from month-to-month and it offers great polishes and beauty products.

-- Tested by Shay

Julep Luxe Lip (Sheer Coral)

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2.5 stars

COST: $24 ($19.20 for Mavens)

THE SKINNY: Julep's new Luxe Lip treatment is more than just a lip conditioner, it contains a nice gloss color as well. The lip glosses were introduced in a recent monthly box and online.

I liked the color a lot (Sheer Coral). It was not sticky and lasted as long as you would expect from a gloss.

But the metal tip applicator was a little odd. First, it was cold. (Not something I want in mid-January.) Second, the color was super sheer. I liked that, but if you are looking for color, this is not the product for you. (It's also something buyers have complained about on the Julep website.)

After a few days, I am not sure about the "treatment" part either. It works fine, it feels fine, but my lips are not any smoother or less dry.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: Julep's new Luxe Lip line comes in four colors.

-- Tested by Carrie

Julep Clean Invisible Dry Shampoo

RATING (out of 5 stars):1 star

COST: $22, $17.60 for Mavens

THE SKINNY: Julep has been experimenting with more products in addition to a successful nail polish line and subscription service. But their dry shampoo missed the mark.

Because it is not dry at all.

The dry shampoo went on quite wet and left my hair limp and liftless. It did nothing to perk up my strands after a quick nap.

Thankfully, it was residue-free. A real bonus compared to some other "dry" shampoos that seem to leave a chalky film behind.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss. Too bad too, because the sample container is pretty large.

CHECK IT OUT: The reviews from other users are a little more favorable. You can read them and try Julep for yourself. I am a fan of the subscription service, which is very flexible.

-- Tested by Carrie

Julep Doublestep Friction Stick

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $22 ($17.60 Mavens)

THE SKINNY: As a runner, friction sticks are an important part of my "makeup" collection.

Julep's new Doublestep friction stick is just as good or equal to the others I have tried, such as Band-Aid's version. 

While the product itself is pretty nice -- I love the super moisturizing formula that protected and left my skin soft -- the packaging leaves something to be desired.

The tube is an odd shape and somewhat hard to manage. The applicator wheel is a little difficult to turn. And the stick wants to slide out of the tube.

Plus it is pricey, at $22 compared to about $7 for the Band-Aid brand.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. But when it's time for more, I'll likely go back to Band-Aid.

CHECK IT OUT: You can buy direct from Julep and Mavens get a discount. Join here!

-- Tested by Carrie