Julep August 2014

[normajean2008]

Waleska looks just like Spa Ritual's "Off the Grid".  I bet Julep's will be a slightly thicker formula though, and require less coats than Off the Grid does.  

Here is a swatch from online--from crystalis007.com.  (not my picture or blog)

 

[Sun8shin3]

I'm also annoyed that it's 10:15am Pacific time and the Boho Glam box, and both polish upgrade boxes are already sold out, and the time that my window email was sent was 8-something Pacific. They really need to get on the ball and open the window at the same time for everyone instead of catering to the East Coast crowd and opening the window for them first then staggering it for the West Coast.

 I think they should pick a timezone and a time and open the window for everyone at the same time.  

 

[Sun8shin3]

Aaahhh!  You helped me put my finger on something that was bugging me but that I couldn't quite pinpoint:  A lot of these collections look like they're slowly trying to build a catalog of Zoya dupes.  If I want Zoya colors, I'll go to a local beauty shop (just off the top of my head, I can think of two non-Ulta stores locally with *great* Zoya selections, including older shades) and get the real deal for nine bucks a pop, and I won't have to wait.  I love Zoya. In fact, I'm going to use one today.  But if I put Julep up *against* Zoya, I'll go for the latter any day of the week.  Better formula, better bottles (and I'm comparing short-and-squat to tall-thin-and-tippy here), better price (and better value!  Less money for twice as much polish, if price-per-ml matters to you). 

To be honest my local drug store has the Julie G and the Sinful Colors displays right next to each other and I bet that I could dupe most of this collection from there.  I couldn't agree more on the Zoya comment.  I was excited about Tanzeen when I thought it was a greenish shade, but I have so much gold polish from Julep already and I just don't wear it that much.  

 

[Kelly Silva]

 I think they should pick a timezone and a time and open the window for everyone at the same time.  

It's the same time for everyone, they just send out the emails almost 3 hours later. Window opens at 5:30AM-6AM PST (8:30AM-9AM EST) and emails go out at 8AM PST (11AM EST). It's ridiculous to me that people on the west coast are expected to wake up that early just to insure they don't miss out on something they want, but they've never changed the time. It's always been at the same time.

 

[Flowerfish]

It's the same time for everyone, they just send out the emails almost 3 hours later. Window opens at 5:30AM-6AM PST (8:30AM-9AM EST) and emails go out at 8AM PST (11AM EST). It's ridiculous to me that people on the west coast are expected to wake up that early just to insure they don't miss out on something they want, but they've never changed the time. It's always been at the same time.

I feel this. I'm on the west coast and wake up at 7:45AM. I check Julep right away on the 20th of each month and sometimes items are already sold out. One time I recall having a chance to see everything available was when the 20th was on a weekend day and I was in Vegas and still awake when the Maven window went live /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Lolo22]

I logged in to check why I had so many Jules and it said on 7/14 they gave me 900 Jules for taking July's box and for a delayed box.  But my box was not delayed, actually I think I was one of the first people here to get my box.  Not complaining or anything, but maybe others got the extra Jules they weren't expecting too?

 

[sylarana]

I've only been with julep for a little over a year, but I'm still really happy with them. I never had to call anyone and always received replies to my emails within 2-3 days.

To me their collections are just the right mix of traditional basics, small twists on those and few more extravagant options. Rainbow honey is cute, but often too far out there for my taste.

I prefer the small bottles of julep or RH or other minis. I like to wear different polishes as often as possible ... large bottles would just go to waste and take up too much space.

I'm not sure how much longer I'll order Maven boxes. But, I'll always stay with them, skip and buy just the ones I like ... And do the RH mini mystery as fun extras ..

And I absolutely love the plie wand ...

 

[utgal2004]

I kept my classic with a twist box and added on Neha using jules.  I really would have liked a polish upgrade but just couldn't justify that extra expense this month.  Hopefully we can get the other colors later.  

I just realized I still haven't tried my plie wand.  I've gotten so used to painting my own nails now and feel like I have a method down.  I keep thinking the wand feels like a hassle with different lids, brushes to clean, etc.  But, I need to try it since it's been sitting out for months now.

 

[AshleyBeauty13]

I feel like we just had a bunch of metallic/exotic colors in April.  Or is it just me. haha either way, due to finances, I am forced to skip this month.  But really, the colors do not appeal to me.  I guess I would consider myself picky when it comes to nail polish..... -_- /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[AshleyBeauty13]

What I find 'Ironic' (to put it nicely) is that Julep said they were going to the no-skips system in large part so that things would NOT sell out.  Clearly, they have royally screwed this up (or else are just liars, which frankly is likely).

Also, I know this has been discussed to death but the increased price of add-ons really continues to tick me off.  Their polishes IMO simply are not worth the $7 add-on price.  I can almost get a non-discounted Essie for that price at my local Target.

If I could not skip, I would definitely quit the program at this point.

I think it is UNFAIR that new customers cannot skip.  (or can once every six months or whatever)  Poor things lol.  It's the only reason I am still a Maven.  If they change it for grandfathered people, I will be shocked.  I have taken only two boxes this year.  Jan and July.  (July I used with my Jules).  

 

[Lyllis]

I think it is UNFAIR that new customers cannot skip.  (or can once every six months or whatever)  Poor things lol.  It's the only reason I am still a Maven.  If they change it for grandfathered people, I will be shocked.  I have taken only two boxes this year.  Jan and July.  (July I used with my Jules).  

Eh, it's a business decision.  They're betting that limiting the number of skips will increase revenue, even if it does discourage some people from joining.  The gamble is that locking people in brings in more money than is lost in potential memberships.   It also gives them a more consistent revenue stream; with the unlimited skips it must have been hard to predict revenues month to month. 

I wonder if that was a condition of getting the venture capital.   

 

[DragonChick]

Eh, it's a business decision.  They're betting that limiting the number of skips will increase revenue, even if it does discourage some people from joining.  The gamble is that locking people in brings in more money than is lost in potential memberships.   It also gives them a more consistent revenue stream; with the unlimited skips it must have been hard to predict revenues month to month. 

I wonder if that was a condition of getting the venture capital.   

It probably was, that's my guess.

 

[AshleyBeauty13]

Eh, it's a business decision.  They're betting that limiting the number of skips will increase revenue, even if it does discourage some people from joining.  The gamble is that locking people in brings in more money than is lost in potential memberships.   It also gives them a more consistent revenue stream; with the unlimited skips it must have been hard to predict revenues month to month. 

I wonder if that was a condition of getting the venture capital.  

I def agree with you and understand where Julep is coming from, I just feel bad for the new customers in not getting the option, you know?

 

[meaganola]

I think they're counting on attrition via older members who *can* skip getting fed up and finally canceling.

 

[mandithomas89]

I just think that not being able to skip means there's no way I'll stay long term. May was my first month and I did the full upgrade, since then I've skipped one to spite them because CS told me I could after the super late May box debacle, got July and now August free with jules and will still have 2450 jules to get another free box. After that, if I don't want anything from a month, I'll either call when I know they're open and say I want to cancel because I don't like that month's options and can't skip and see if they offer to let me skip or else I'll just cancel. If I decide I just want to flat out cancel, I'll just call after they close and leave a message so I don't have to talk to anyone.

 

[Lolo22]

Here's the new FAQ re: cancelling via email.

 

[Lyllis]

I def agree with you and understand where Julep is coming from, I just feel bad for the new customers in not getting the option, you know?

Oh, I feel bad for them too.  I wouldn't have subscribed if they didn't have unlimited skips at that time.  I've getting a little bit of polish overload at this point, so I'll probably only take boxes if they have another product I want for the next few months.

 

[Lumaday]

I am getting Waleska, Tammi, Katie, and Kirti as my free add-on with Jules.  I thought this would be my last month for a pre-paid box but I guess I actually get 1 more after this, so that's good!  I do like this months colors a lot.  Even though the colors themselves are standard rainbow-ish shades I think the finishes are pretty fun.  I am passing on the eyeliner - I already have tons and I wasn't impressed with their dual-ended eyeliner which fades on me after a few hours.

I have to admit the fact that they are out of options by the time I got to customize my box is annoying.  I would be tempted to do the Polish Upgrade but it was sold out by the time I logged on, which wasn't even that late after it went live.  I think they should make enough stock out of each color so there's no 'selling out' of certain items so quickly.

After my 3 months are up I'm going to cancel again.  I do like the excitement of picking out a box and love that I can customize it now, but for $25 a month it just doesn't seem worth it for a few polishes and a beauty product.  They have enough sales that I can always hit those up.  

Honestly my least favorite thing about Julep is the quality issues.  Some polishes I have from them are great with no problems but some are gloopy, tacky, take forever to dry, or just don't apply well in general.  If they had consistently great quality I'd stay on as a Maven but it's too hit and miss for me at this point to want to stay with it.  Also - the photos, I've gotten so many that look really different than the photos and that's annoying!

 

[Kelly Silva]

I have to admit the fact that they are out of options by the time I got to customize my box is annoying.  I would be tempted to do the Polish Upgrade but it was sold out by the time I logged on, which wasn't even that late after it went live.  I think they should make enough stock out of each color so there's no 'selling out' of certain items so quickly.

Yeah, if they're going to make everyone that's new take a box every month, they darn well better have enough stock for all those people. It's annoying too when trying to buy a polish after the new collection is available on the site, and half of them are sold out. It's almost like what's even the point of taking a box or being a Maven at all if you can't get/buy the colors you want?

 

[MakeTime4Makeup]

I'm trying to think of what I'd like for the next few months with Julep, although I did like this month.  I hate textured nail polish with a passion - maybe it's just me, but I find that they get gross on my nails in no time flat.  I'm dying for black and white matte glitter in a clear base, which is really specific and random, but I've been eyeing some sketchy ones on amazon and just don't want to splurge on a formula I don't now.

September - creams glitters

October - all duochromes 

November - Deep burgundy/neutral harvesty colors but with a metallic finish

December - super chunky glitters, or more like 'paris'

January - some super edgy colors with latex finishes mixed with full coverage micro glitters

On the other hand, I've been watching so many Robin Moses videos that I just want to paint tiny pictures on my hands all the time and then I get so excited when they come out nice that I don't want to change my polish over and end up only doing my nails once every week or two... so I don't really need to add to my stash right now!  But who cares... I'm addicted...