Julep Maven Starter Kit

So I just recently signed up for my first Julep Maven box. As a new member, I also received a started kit. This is what came in my Julep Maven starter kit!

In the box I received two nail polishes. The first one, named Jodie, is a beautiful red with gold shimmer in it and the second, named Alfre, is a very unique bluish gray color. 

I painted Jodie onto my nails last night and I love it! It's such a nice red, almost a burgundy color in person, which makes it perfect for the winter season. Also, in regards to the actual nail polish formula, I found it to be very easy to apply and I only needed one coat on my nails, which is a plus. Also the polish seemed to dry more quickly than some of the other polishes I have used. Overall, I am definitely impressed.

The last two items I received were the Julep Essential Cuticle Oil and the Julep Daylight Defense Lip Balm. I have not tried out the cuticle oil, so I can't say much about it, but once I try it out, I'll be sure to give you my review. The Lip Balm was a special surprise and was a nice added bonus. It's a really nice chap stick for everyday use and the vanilla mint flavor is really nice.

I'm definitely glad I went ahead and became a Julep Maven. I'm already looking forward to February's box. Let me know what you think about the Julep Maven Program!

If you're not a Julep Maven, but you are interested in becoming one Click Here

January 2013 Popsugar Unboxing!

This is what the January 2013 Popsugar Must Have box looked like when I opened it.

The first item I pulled out was the Stott Pilates Stability Ball. I don't currently have a stability ball, so I was excited to see this in my box. When I lived with my parents I used to do Pilates and ab workouts with one, so that will be great to start up again. Thankfully it comes with an air pump so I don't have to use my breathe to blow it up!

The next items are the Pop bars and the Jet Puffed Mallow Bits. I received a milk and dark chocolate Pop bar. I am very excited to make myself some hot chocolate with these and add my mallow bits to my creation!

Next item is the Epicuren Lip Balm. This is a great product because I am always looking for new lip balms. This one has SPF 15 and tea tree oil to help moisturize and help dry, cracked lips. Definitely looking forward to trying out this product during these cold winter months.

There were also three different kinds of thinkThin bars in this box: the thinkThin crunch bar in caramel mixed nuts, thinkThin creamy peanut butter bar and the thinkThin Divine bar in dark chocolate coconut. I'm definitely going to have to give them to my boyfriend for his opinion because I am not a fan of caramel or coconut, but I'll be sure to get his review!

There was also a white remix watch in my box, by honestly that was the least exiting item in the box. I don't really ever wear watches, and when I do it's always small, feminine ones. This watch was just too big and clunky for my tastes. Also the light up feature for the watch was broken on mine :(

Finally there was also a $15 dollar coupon for a cell phone case on castagram and a card with several different photos adn descriptions of ways to use the stability ball. Overall, I definitely liked the December box better and was a little disappointed with some of the items in this months box. But I'm still looking forward to February's Box!

If you are interested in getting your own Pop Sugar box Click Here

Leave a comment and let me know what you thought about this months box!

My Cold Weather Essentials

I have combination skin, so in the summer my skin is oily, but in the winter my skin is dry, dry, dry. Living in an area that is sometimes brutally cold (as I write this, it is currently -7) and has very dry air does not help my cold weather skin problems at all. So the only ally my skin has is me, and thankfully I have found several products that really make a difference in bringing moisture back to my dried out skin. 

My first miracle product is the Lubriderm Intense Skin Repair lotion. The product contains "a blend of skin essential minerals" and is made with hydra release technology. What I like most about this lotion is that it is not greasy or oily. I use this product every day right after I get out of the shower. Another great thing about this lotion is that it moisturizes for up to 24 hours. It also has a nice light fragrance that lingers for several hours after use. 

My final lotion product is the L'Occitane Hand Cream. This product is made in France and contains 20% shea butter which really helps to protect, nourish and soften your hands. Importantly, it is made without parabens and Phthalates. This is the perfect size to fit into my purse or school bag. What I love most about this product is the feel, it is extremely creamy and buttery and leaves my hands feeling soft and smooth with no greasy residue. Also, the fragrance is refreshing and the packaging is adorable!

My last two items are my favorite lip products, both of which are made by the company Fresh. The first product is the Sugar Lip Polish which gently exfoliates and provides nourishment to dry lips. This product is also made without parabens and sulfates which is great. The product is made with real brown sugar crystals and smells amazing! I use this product 2-3 times a week and definitely notice it helps to keep my lips from getting dry and cracked. After loving this product, I really want to try out the body polish.

The second product is the Sugar Lip Treatment with SPF 15. I always use this product as a follow-up after I have used my Fresh Lip Polish. Of course that isn't the only time I use it since it makes my lips feel so soft. This lip treatment is not sticky at all and is long-lasting, which are very important to me.

I'd love to hear what your cold weather essentials are!

                                                   

Product Rave: Macadamia Deep Repair Hair Mask

I've always had really dry hair, which I like to blame on my very curly hair. It also probably doesn't help that I use a lot of heat on my hair- mainly my hair dryer and straightener. Because of this, I am always looking for products that are going to really moisturize my hair and leave it looking silky and shiny and feeling smooth and soft. I currently use the Joico shampoo for dry hair and love the way it cleans my hair, but I was still on the search for a deep moisturizer for my hair. Well, my search has officially ended now that I have found the Macadamia deep repair mask.

 

This product is absolutely amazing, I can not recommend it enough. It leaves my hair feeling extremely soft and silky and the smell is awesome. My boyfriend even commented on how much softer my hair felt and I never even thought he noticed things like that! Because it is an intensive treatment, this product should not be used more than twice a week.

How I use the product:

After I have shampooed my hair, I separate my wet hair into two sections. I apply about a quarter size amount to each section. I then take my wide toothed comb and, starting from the bottom, I gently comb through my hair. I them let the product sit in my hair for seven minutes. I always use this time to shave my legs. After seven minutes is up, I wash all of the product out of my hair, and even at this point, I can tell a huge difference in the way my hair feels.

Where you can get this product:  

You can pick up this product at Ulta stores and it retails for $33.00. Seems a bit on the more expensive side, but I can promise it is well worth it, plus the jar will last you for a long time.

Here is the link to the product on the Ulta website. Make sure to check out all of the awesome reviews!

www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod2530251