January Julep Maven Unboxing

It’s time for the first Julep Maven Unboxing of 2015! I told myself I would start being good and skip some boxes, but…I was a sucker for this collection. This month’s theme was the Chrysalis collection, and it surprised me by how pretty it was! Here’s what came in my box:

Phyllis (Classic with a Twist) is described as a “soft petal pink creme.” I really enjoy neutral pinks, but I didn’t have anything like this in my collection.

Margit (It Girl) is a “mushroom with rose shimmer” polish. I’ve been really into neutral greys lately as well, and this one adds just a little bit more punch to a regular neutral creme. I like it a lot as a winter neutral – reminds me of snow!

Shawn (Bombshell) is a “bright poppy creme.” I love how bright it is – not just a red, but not really a true coral either. This warm, bright polish will definitely brighten up winter gloom.

The beauty product in this month’s box was a Luxe Lip Conditioning Treatment. I added on the Luxe Lip Conditioner, a basic lip balm, and its tip is supposed to also help heal, soothe and improve circulation in the lips. The balm is a little thick, and I’m not sure how I feel about it yet. But with winter on its way into the harshest part, I’ll take all the lip conditioning I can get!

Close-up swatches

The allegedly fancy tip to this lip balm

This is a really nice January collection, and I’m pretty happy with it. What are your favorite polish colors for January?

2014 Favorites – Eyes

Happy New Year! We’ve made it to the last round of my 2014 Favorites! Make sure you’re caught up with Part 1 (Hair, Skin + philosophy behind favorites), Part 2 (Face Products, Tools) and Part 3 (Lips, Cheeks).

EYES

L’Oreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liner: I guess technically, this is a rediscovered as I used this all the time in high school, but it is amazing. This came back to me in May, and I’ve used it ever since. The felt tip is precise but can also can be built up to a desired thickness and is really dark and intense.

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette: You can see a full post about this palette here, and it is seriously one of my favorite purchases of the year! I love every look I put together with this palette. It is an essential.

Julep Eye Sheen in Pale Nude Shimmer: This is a beautiful shimmer base, like I say here, and it’s one of my favorite lid colors. I love the beautiful finish of this color and how far a little of this product goes. It’s neutral but still shimmery and goes with a lot of other eye colors.

Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade: The only brow product I use. There’s a whole post here that explains my feelings on how great this is, which is still true. I love this.

L’Oreal Pigment in Amber Rush: Like I say here, this pigment is so beautiful and impressive. I love the finish of this pigment and how long it stays. It mixes well with so many other shadows, and it’s great

Julep Gel Eye Gliders: I have two of these, and I love them. I mentioned them here, and I’ve used them a lot since. I love how they apply like a gel liner – very pigmented and longwearing. I really like how these wear and the color versatility, too.

Lorac Eyeshadows: I’m using the MegaPro palette as the representation for Lorac shadows, but I also love the original Pro palette. You can see thoughts about the MegaPro Palette here and the Lorac Pro Palette here. These shadows are so pigmented and buttery, and the range of shades is so impressive! You can create any kind of look that lasts all day with these amazing shadows. I just discovered them this year, but they are great.

Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Sticks: I’ve written a whole post about them here, and since I’ve picked up sticks in Khaki and Rose Gold. I love these so much – super pigmented, creamy and long lasting. I like how these fit in with other looks and how they wear on their own. It’s great for a lazy day or just in the waterline, too.

So that wraps up my 2014 Favorites! What did you love this year?

I’ve loved all of you taking time to read, like or comment on a post! I just started this for me, but the fact that people take time to read what I think and share in the beauty obsession really means a lot to me. So thank you for your time, and I’m excited to share more beauty love in 2015!